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| credit: LuxuryFashion.com |
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The Beckham Lifestyle
 There
aren't many who can spend like P. Diddy, get hooked up
with more designer garb than J. Lo, and give most of the
rappers featured on MTV Cribs a run for their
money. But then again, there aren't many couples like
the Beckhams who, despite lacking the bloodline
connection, have been declared England's Royalty for
over five years. The 29 year old former Spice Girl and
the 28 year old world famous soccer player spend like
it's their purpose on Earth. With over $3 million valued
in cars, more than $7 million in real estate, and
countless other millions in clothing, jewelry, and toys,
just how do the Beckhams fuel their extravagant spending
habits? Together the couple is said to be worth over $82
million- $16 million of which is Victoria's. David, who
used to earn $163,000 a week as England's highest paid
soccer star, just recently signed a deal with Spain's
team that will make him $40 million richer. Then there
are his endorsements with brands like Police sunglasses,
that gave him an additional $1.6 million alone. He
designs a hot selling line for Adidas, known as the DB
Range and inked a deal with top UK department store
Marks & Spencer to design children's clothes.
The couple's recent promotional tour in Japan- where
they sold their face to everything from chocolate bars
to used car dealers, put an estimated $10 million in
their pocket. Not bad for one week of work. England will
have to bid adieu to the couple as they scramble to
establish a life in Madrid with sons Brooklyn and Romeo.
Victoria is hoping to keep busy by possibly opening up a
fashion boutique with her sister, Louise, where she can
hock her $285 per jar line of skin moisturizers. If that
fails she can always dig into the $1.5 million she got
from Penguin Books for her life story, or fall back on
modeling for Rocawear or Samantha Thavasa Handbags (who
paid her $1.6 million to pose on a couch for a few
photos). Like Nicky Hilton, who designs a range for
Samantha Thavasa, Victoria has expressed interest in
having an accessories line with them. So with all this
income, just how does Posh & Becks feed their
spending addiction? |
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The Real Estate
 The
couple's main base is their massive estate (left, photo)
in Hertfordshire, a town north of London. Dubbed 'Beckingham Palace', the couple purchased the former
orphanage for $4 million and spent an extra $5 million
in modifications, including a $500,000 security system
and $410,000 in landscape and gardening. Brooklyn's
bedroom features a $43,000 fibre-optic lighting scheme
that recreates the night sky. One of the seven bedrooms
is known as the Audrey Hepburn room. Guests will find a
gigantic four post bed, a silver chandelier, and a black
and white bathroom- not to mention pictures of Ms.
Hepburn everywhere. Another guest bedroom is done in all
leopard print and another done in black-and-gold vintage
Hollywood style. There have also been reports of gold
toilet seats in the bathrooms. A $160,000 bronze
sculpture of the family sits on the grounds.
In town for pre-season training, the Beckhams are living
at an exclusive rental house in a in La Moraleja, Spain,
with the Madrid team footing the bill until he finds a
home. If that's not tough enough, on days off they go
down to the French Riviera to relax at friend Elton
John's French mansion. It is odd that they don't just go
to their own home on the nearby Cote d'Azur in Bargemon,
which they recently forked out over $2.5 million for.
Perhaps because it's under a million dollar renovation,
ensuring it will be fit for the Beckham standards. While
in the US for their promotional tour they stayed in a
$20,000 per week Beverly Hills mansion. Their most
recent purchase is a 5 bedroom luxury villa on a $1.6
billion resort island called The Palm, to be completed
in 2005. David, along with 11 teammates from his former
Manchester United team, bought into the man made island
currently being built off the coast of Dubai in the
Middle East. Each of the luxury villas (there are 28
styles to choose from) each come with their own 130 foot
private beach and a swimming pool. The island, which can
already be seen from the moon, will be constructed into
the shape of a massive palm tree. It will feature 2000
of these villas, plus 50 luxury hotels, gigantic
shopping complexes, theaters, and mega-yacht marinas.
Owned and financed by a Sultan, this, perhaps, will be
one of the most exclusive island in the world. Finally,
at just 4 years old, Brooklyn has a place to call his
own. Recently Victoria bought him a $13,000 tree house
carved from Scandinavian Redwood. The mini-home features
a weather-proof exterior, a spiral staircase, and a fake
chimney. |
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The Garage
- A $400,292 special edition BMW 750i Saloon
(Victoria's). It was designed for state of the art
secured transportation. It weighs over a ton, is
fitted with armor, and able to take the force of a
bazooka.
- A $224,180 BMW 540i Saloon (David's), also
designed for security. It is bullet proof and
armour plated.
- A $96,076 BMW X5 (SUV model). Like the Osbourne
family, this car is for the transportation of
bodyguards, personal assistants, nannies, and
other household regulars.
- A $265,842 V8 Bentley Arnage. Outfitted with
leather baby seats and a trunk large enough for
their shopping needs.
- A $240,195 Mercedes S500. The car they mostly
use, it, too, is bullet proof and armour plated.
They also have a 'regular' Mercedes S500, worth
only $80,446 and a V-class 230 worth $144,119.
- A $217,210 Ferrari Modena Spyder and a $189,000
Ferrari 550 Maranello, which Victoria bought him
in the beginning of their relationship.
- A $154,000 1997 Aston Martin DB7
- A green $152,275 Porsche 911 Turbo
- A customized $144,146 Lincoln Navigator
- A $112,537 Jaguar XKR
- A Chrysler Voyager mini van at $34,500 (yes,
that says a Chrysler mini van)
- A $43,000 customized Harley Davidson edition
truck.
- A $98,000 TVR Cerbera (Victoria picked the
color)
- A $110,000 Range Rover V8 Vogue edition that has
a 12 speaker built-in DVD system labeled as a
"a mobile theater" and a satellite
navigation package.
- In part of their sponsorship deal with Real
Madrid, Audi is letting every player on the team
pick out a car of their choice. David chose the
$90,000 A8 model. He asked them to bullet proof
it.
Total worth of cars: $3,025,818 (including the
special edition Mercedes limo mentioned below, valued at
over $230,000).
The everyday drive around autos owned by the Beckhams
are worth over $3 million, but that's nothing to them.
According to reports, it would take only 10 days of
playing soccer for David to pay for his $265,842
Bentley. Recently the couple paid $150,000 to have a bed
big enough for 4 installed into their Mercedes limo.
This way the soccer ace could get a proper nap while his
$75,000 a year private chauffeur drives him back from
practice. In addition, the Benz also has bullet proof
glass, 2 plasma TV screens that emerge from the roof and
a 10 disc DVD entertainment system.
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| One of David's beloved Ferraris |
A replica of the $224,
180 BMW 540i Saloon |
The $110,000 Range Rover |
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David and his $144,
146 Navigator |
$43,00 Harley Davidson truck |
Victoria and one of their
Mercedes |
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Events
 The
Wedding: Held in a castle in Dublin, their July 4th,
1999 wedding cost a reported $800,000. It took 14 months
to plan, with 3 months of scouting for the perfect
location. During the ceremony the couple sat on thrones
(seen rehearsing at left).
The attire: Victoria wore an $80,000 Vera Wang gown made
of the best Italian satin in the world. Underneath the
skirt she wore a petticoat made with 50 meters of tulle,
stuffed with horse hair. Underneath that she wore a
Victorian corset by Mr. Pearl- the number one choice of
top couturiers. Two young bridesmaids dressed as fairies
in costumes made by Angels & Bermans, complete with
wings and fake ivy around their wrists and ankles. The
third bridesmaid wore a Stella McCartney crystal and
lace corset suit. David wore a suit by England's
premiere suitmaker, Timothy Everett. After the ceremony
the couple slipped into matching purple Antonio Berardi
outfits, she paired hers with silver Manolo Blahniks.
Gifts: Bridesmaids were given Tiffany diamond necklaces.
The best man received a personally engraved Cartier
watch, while ushers got gold Rolex watches. David gave
Victoria a pair of Asprey & Garrard emerald cut
diamond earrings and a belly chain featuring an Eternal
cut diamond- both in 18-carat gold to match her wedding
ring. She presented him with an Asprey & Garrard
Brequet steel watch.
Other:
-Before leaving for Spain they threw a $160,000 going
away party. 300 of their closest pals joined the couple
at London's Nell's Bar and downed several bottles of
Crystal, at $350 a pop.
-Before the World Cup the couple held a $3.3 million
party for 350 guests. They constructed tents in the back
of their home, ordered 60,000 orchids, and served
$125,000 worth of champagne and Japanese food.
-One year they held a charity event where VIPs were
welcome but lesser known types had to pay $3500 per
person to party.
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| Now that you know about the insane lifestyle of the
Beckhams, would you expect their wardrobe to be anything
less? Check out some of the stories we gathered up on
their lavish spending habits. |
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Jewelry
When your collection of jewelry out-bling's P Diddy's,
it's about time to check yourself into Jewelry Hoarder's
Anonymous. However, David and Victoria keep spending,
picking up some of the world's most stunning rocks. Just
some of the pieces in their collection:
-The proposal: Not just any ring would do- he asked
Asprey & Garrard to custom make matching his and
hers engagement rings. David gave Victoria a Marquis cut
diamond framed in baguette diamonds, on an 18-carat gold
band with an additional 12 diamonds in the setting. For
himself he got a band filled with 7.5 carats of
diamonds. The estimated value of the two rings reached
almost $200,000. Another $250,000 reportedly went to Van
Cleef & Arpels when they got matching his and hers
wedding bands after they were married.
-David's prized pieces include a $20,000 Cartier
bracelet, a $35,000 diamond crucifix, and a limited
edition platinum Panerai watch. He is also rarely seen
without a $15,000 diamond stud in his ear. David once
got a $24,000 Franck Muller watch as a thank-you for
being best man in his friend's wedding.
-Every big name knows the watch to have is Jacob the
Jeweler's 5-timezone diamond encrusted beauty, that's
why the couple got purchased one each at $72,000 and the
"cheaper" $12,000 version for their 5 year old
son. Can he even tell time yet? While on the Jacob spree
(Sir Elton John was also with them), Victoria picked out
an additional diamond stunner for herself and a pair of
dog tags for David. |
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Clothing
Back in the days of the Spice Girls, Victoria got her
"Posh Spice" name for only wearing high-street
designers such as Gucci, Pucci, Prada, and Versace.
David's style has been celebrated in countless
magazines, he's widely known as the world's best dressed
athlete. Together, the high maintenance duo rip through
the newest loot from the world's best designers, months
before any other soul can get their hands on it. To
them, top designers aren't just what they wear, they're
best friends. They stay at each other's houses, dine and
travel together, and even show up at events together.
If the couple could only choose one label to wear for
the rest of their lives, it would without question be
Dolce & Gabbana- and not just because of their
"friends-of-the-designers" sized VIP discount.
From boxers and bras (David once spent $8500 on 200
pairs of undies for the couple) to $35,000 crystal
dresses for awards shows, the Beckhams can literally be
outfitted head (scarves & hats) to toe (shoes)- and
all layers in between. Victoria wears so many Dolce
creations that their factory has a mannequin of her body
so clothes are cut and tailored specifically for her
body. David is so accustomed to visiting their London
stores that he finds alternative methods of shopping.
Take, for instance, the time he couldn't be bothered to
get out of his Bentley in the drizzle of rain, so he
parked outside the shop, called inside, and had a sales
assistant come out and take his order. 20 minutes later
several sales people filed out with all of David's
wants, packed up the Bentley, and he was on his way. No
stranger to the shop, Mrs. Beckham stopped by this past
Christmas and, armed with 12 of the boutiques staffers,
spent $40,000 on various coats and dresses, as well as
12 pairs of sunglasses. Other favorite UK shops of the
couple include Harvey Nichols, Selfridges, Marks &
Spencer, Harrods, and Agent Provocateur, where David
plunked down $1700 on two crystal encrusted whips and
some lingerie. Whenever in the US, the couple always
check out Barneys (NYC) and Fred Segal (LA). |
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Maintenance
No surprise here - the duo only go for high-class
grooming. It's been reported Ms. Victoria spends around
$5000 a week on her Spanish hair extensions, while David
gets one $500 haircut per week and will often fly his
stylist out to wherever in the world he may be for
proper upkeep. Victoria's beauty cabinet is stocked with
such products as La Prairie's Skin Caviar Luxe Cream
($400 for 50 ml), Creme de la Mer (approx. $90 per
ounce), Heaven SkinCare, and make-up from Christian Dior,
Nars, and Bloom. Like many celebrities, she swears
by YSL's Touché Éclat concealer. |
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| Style Profiles:
David "Goldenballs" Beckham
Daywear: Armani
Exchange, Diesel,
WORD, Echo, Bathing Ape, Commercial Underground, Jakes,
and Pringle.
Night Attire: Dolce & Gabbana, Emporio Armani, Gucci
Best online shop to get David's style: shotgun.tv
Victoria "Posh Spice" Beckham
Day Wear: Juicy, Earl, Miss Sixty, Joseph, Walé Adeyemi, James Stuart,
TopShop, Missoni, Von Dutch,
DSquared2
Night Attire: Dolce & Gabbana, Julien Macdonald,
Lyall Hakarail, Valentino
Lingerie: D&G, La Perla, Agent Provocateur, Janet
Reger
Best online shop to get Victoria's style: www.shopbop.com
or www.net-a-porter.com
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| In a slit-to-the-bum Maria
Grachvogel dress and a "sex!!" painted
clutch in London |
At the Beverly Center in LA she
made purchases from Rampage and Traffic |
In light jeans leaving Prada with
several shopping bags in London |
At Disney Land in a tank, a D
Squared skirt, and Frye boots |
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| In LA in a basic black tee, a Miss
Sixty mini skirt, and again in Frye boots |
On TV sporting a Burberry
headband, bra, and stilettos |
In New York wearing her beloved
watch from Jacob & Co |
Leaving Dolce & Gabbana in
London with a gigantic bag and a bodyguard |
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