Has anyone become famous, and not bought a mansion?
musicismylife78
Posts: 6,116
We all know how it works, a person, gets famous, whether we are talking an author, musician, a filmmaker, an actor or any other profession, and they buy a huge house, in a gated community. While it makes sense that if one attains a great deal of success and wealth that it would be tough to live on main street, I find it interesting and rather disappointing I cant come up with any famous names, in regards to people who have gotten rich and famous, and stayed in the who continued to live in the same old house, same modest house they always lived in.
It would be facinating indeed to come up with a hip hop musician who grew up in the inner city, and got famous but stayed in the inner city. Again, I cant come up with any examples, but I am sure at least one such person exists.
It would be facinating indeed to come up with a hip hop musician who grew up in the inner city, and got famous but stayed in the inner city. Again, I cant come up with any examples, but I am sure at least one such person exists.
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Admin
Social awareness does not equal political activism!
5/23/2011- An utter embarrassment... ticketing failures too many to list.
Who knows ?
The ONLY thing better than a glass of beer is tea with Miss McGill
A protuberance of flesh above the waistband of a tight pair of trousers
"It wasn't easy for me to be a scared white boy in a black neighborhood..."
The ONLY thing better than a glass of beer is tea with Miss McGill
A protuberance of flesh above the waistband of a tight pair of trousers
i have to agree tho, i don't think it's 'disappointing' at all that poeple who become rich and/or famous choose to live in nicer homes. most average people, even with average successes, do the same. and those truly rich people also happen to help keep many, many people employed...housekeepers, gardeners, electircians, interior designers, archetects, etc, etc. it's not all 'bad', at all...
Let's just breathe...
I am myself like you somehow
I dont know, I like to believe in something. I like to believe not everyone thinks that having money, and having a huge house will bring you happiness.
And the fact that I cant think of any famous person, who has the wealth and the success, but also has a small house, in the middle of the city, is indeed disappointing.
Again, read my post. I said, I understood why the big house is needed. or why after getting some success someone would feel they deserve a big house. Yet, there are many people who have said money doesnt equal success. Some of those folks who have said that have been rich themselves.
You dont find it odd and strange, there isnt a person that comes to mind when asking my original question?
Lets be real here chromiam. We are talking in most cases about people in the arts. Writers, musicians. Artists. Actors.
For me, and I guess its apparently a naive belief on this board at least, that money doesnt equal happiness. That having that huge mcmansion doesnt equal happiness. That if you star in a big film or make the next Nevermind or American Idiot, that having a ton of material objects will not bring you happiness. That bulldozing out to the suburbs or a gated community, and leaving the city, the homes you grew up in, that that wont neccesarily make you happy.
Silly me for having such ideas
sometimes you'd send me a birthday card with a 5 dollar bill...
Admin
Social awareness does not equal political activism!
5/23/2011- An utter embarrassment... ticketing failures too many to list.
that said, again, I just find it interesting.
HaHa !!
Just heard that actually the other day !
The ONLY thing better than a glass of beer is tea with Miss McGill
A protuberance of flesh above the waistband of a tight pair of trousers
choosing to move into a larger home, a better neighborhood, whatever....is not necessarily equated with 'happiness'.....it really isn't. as i said, i am sure there are people who do so, but b/c they keep a lower profile, more than likely you wouldn't know. reminds me, don't know if it still holds true b/c i read about it quite a few years ago now....but benecio del toro stayed living in a small apartment for a good # of years after becoming 'famous'...but i think too, certain 'famous people' are better at being less recognizable, thus makes it easier for them to do so. a woman i used to work with, her neighbor used to be a regular character on law & order...came into the store we worked regularly....and yes, while she lived in quite a nice neighborhood, it certainly isn't where you'd think some famous person would live. that's the point....famous people who keep themselves on a smaller scale, obviously, aren't going to advertise it...and you'd not know about it...and i am sure that's how they want it.
Let's just breathe...
I am myself like you somehow
Not really. Both are reasons one could come up with for living in a big house, with security and a huge fence away from
Dylan said he was freaked out after Lennon was killed, that "if they could kill Lennon, they could kill us all", he was refering to famous musicians.
So no its not two different sides of the coin, its the same coin same side.
Lennon was shot outside a famous hotel. So it follows, that the thinking would be, buying a huge house, away from the city, with major security would be an option to preventing this
http://www.reverbnation.com/brianzilm
But in many instances, its all about fear. Yes, there are crazy fans, and numerous instances of fans going nuts and killing, assaulting, or intending to rape, kill or harm a famous person. But I am sure there are also alot of fans that would be harmless.
Its the same mentality in many ways, in reguards to gated communities of rich whites. Lets wall ourselves off from the other. We are mightier and look down on those poor folk, those blacks, those hispanics, those others. Thats not a rational belief but its what many folks believe.
So, my point of this thread was, to come up with names of folks who bucked the trend, and to suggest the fear of crazy fans is just that, fear. Arent we all in danger of being robbed. In my hometown just the other day a homeless guy was mugged and murdered. And normal middle class folk, or lower middle class, have reason to fear theft as well.
But isnt that just what it is, just a fear?
Yeah, you are naive. I think there are plenty of these people buying bigger places not because they think it will make them happy, but because they want some measure of privacy in their lives. And they're tired of having a shit apartment/house with roaches and a shower that doesn't have hot water. Is that so awful.
And to set your mind at ease, all of the guys from Flaming Lips still live in their same old houses in Oklahoma. Watch the Fearless Freaks documentary... I think Wayne Coyne is even on his neighborhood block watch or something.
Yes, we all are. But not to the extent celebrities are. I know a certain rock star named Eddie Vedder that has talked about a fan that tried to drive her car into his house, jeopardizing his family's safety. But shame on him for putting the safety of his loved ones ahead of pleasing an internet fan's belief that he shouldn't sell out to whitey and should go live in the ghetto to get some cred. :roll:
security and privacy are desired by MANY people, of all races....and of all income levels too.
Let's just breathe...
I am myself like you somehow
I disagree. Sure there are rich black people. But look at the Forbes list of richest americans. Or the Fortune 500 companies. Most if not all are led by white males, a few white females. There are exceptions Robert Johnson I think is his name is the owner or was the owner of BET and a billionaire. And I think Time Warner was once owned by a black man as well.
But lets be real people, you have got to be kidding me if you think the gated communities are made up of a diverse folk.
You been to Laguna Beach? You really think The Hamptons are made up of a bunch of diverse folk? Nantucket? Cape Cod? Name all the famous, wealthy places, and locations in America, sure its not 100 percent white, but come on, lets be real, it isnt diverse.
It might not be just about fear but probably more just annoyance. Sure if Brad Pitt lived in a little house in downtown LA the odds of someone trying to kill him would be pretty small, but the odds of people knocking on his door and asking for a picture or autographs would be much higher, or even people asking to borrow money. Not to mention photographers trying to get a picture of him. So if he has the money to eliminate, or at least minimize those problems, and live in comfort at the same time, why wouldn't he, its not like you can take the money with you when you die.
i didn't realize we were only focused on the forbes list of THE richest people, nor of only the uber-rich areas.....but simply rich, gated communities. and amongst the rich, gated communities where i live, they are diverse. they may predominantly be white, but there are still a VERY high # of asian, indian and middle easterners as well.....with most definitely a far smaller # of hispanic or blacks. the evil white man schitck is simply old, and for the vast majority of citizens walking around, even dealing with the rich, it is not this big evil thing so much anymore. as more and more minorites become exceedingly wealthy, the more and more diverse ALL areas will become. even hampton parties are a LOT more diverse than they once were, even if the vast amount of estates are still predominantly owned by whites. i am sure in many of the truly wealthy pockets within florida, there is probably a good percentage of rich latinos in gated communities. what 'rich white men' have to do with rich and famous people choosing security and privacy for themselves....i have no idea......you seem to think it's some vast conspiracy, or some character flaw, for anyone with means to want privacy and security. as i said, people of all races and income levels also very much want these things. these aren't only 'rich and famous' people desires, and nor is there anything wrong or disappointing about em.
edit....
and fyi - examples have been given:
i mentioned benecio del toro....and also pointed out the fact that if such famous people DO want to live in their communities, fly under the radar...well yea, YOU aren't going to be aprised of it, b/c yes...they ARE trying to maintain a low-key life. it isn't so odd. i think i am others also suggested that oftentimes it isn't so much a DESIRE to have a bigger/better home - not that there's anything wrong with that - it simply becomes a NECESSITY when one gets *really* famous.....from a safety and privacy pov. you can white-wash that fact all you want, but seriously....why should anyone care if you find it 'disappointing' that someone famous wants to try and maintain some privacy and security....and even then, they still manage to get people breaking into their homes, taking pics, etc.....it's simply common sense to get out of the 'average neighborhood' and somewhere you can have some distance and privacy.....
Let's just breathe...
I am myself like you somehow
happy now musicismylife?????
Admin
Social awareness does not equal political activism!
5/23/2011- An utter embarrassment... ticketing failures too many to list.
rich and famous people don't all buy mansions in any case. they may live in extremely expensive/exclusive areas, but not necessarily in mansions. some live in apartments in NYC....some live in beautiful bungalows along the coasts.....some buy farms and ranches on acres of property. you know, like other people of means do. most people choose to buy and live the best they can afford, and not because one equates $$$ with happiness, but sure....living by the ocean is beautiful and peaceful....or having lots of land/mountains/space is great for privacy and being close to nature.....or living in a damn nice apartment in NYC is safer, nicer amenities and views.......:P gawd knows one of the first things we did when we bought our little home was plant a perimeter of shrubs to have a private oasis in our own garden. crazy, wanting sanctuary and privacy....
Let's just breathe...
I am myself like you somehow
Do you have a house or apartment....? if so, how does it make you a "happy"...? or are you a sellout because you don't live in a tent...or is that selling out, too....?
alls I know is Happiness is two bowls of Ice Cream, finding a Nickle, Tying your Shoe for the Very First time....
Is it really different sides of the coin?
George was attacked in his own mansion.....
Its like trying to tell someone the sky is blue and they keep saying, no its maroon.
I have tried again and again to say I understood why people move out of their small houses once they get famous. In fact i said that in my first post. I said I understood. I even said there is a genuine threat of people killing or assaulting celebrities.
Yet this thread is made up not, of constructive insights into why or why not people do this, but bashing my thread and saying I am an idiot or I am insensitive to peoples need for privacy.
What do you want from me.
This board has some great people, and its a board dedicated to a great band, but alot of you are pretty insensitive.
If a person disagrees with the band or with an idea, its bash so and so time.
And lets be real here. Lets be honest with each other. The whole idea of suburbs came out of the fear of blacks and crime. Thats the truth, whether you folks want to mock me or not, its fact. White flight, urban decay, crime, racism, gentrification.
So excuse me for suggesting
I dont tow the party line and never will reguardless of if I am bullied on this board or elsewhere. I dont agree with PJ all the time, and I dont think they are above criticism. If they do something I dislike I aint gonna lie, I will say what I think. But the thread isnt about PJ, its about society, and how modern society is.
When people get wealthy they move to a big house away from other folks, and around people like them. That may be human nature or normal, I just find it odd.
The fact you all seem to see it as no big deal is even more the point of the post.
I dont know, maybe I am different, I just think, you make a million bucks, and you buy a house, maybe a new sportscar, but what does it all do for you?
Dont pretend you havent all seen Mtv's Cribs. Its more than, "I am proud of my house and my success", its showboating. Its showing off. Its status.
I understand but I also disagree.
How about the issue of race. What about the african americans who grow up in squalor and make it out, take Tupac for example. Or Biggie. Its interesting indeed how they came out of a bad situation, a horrific situation and moved away, yet their music was about and for, people in the situations they escaped. You dont find that interesting?
Further, making money, and being a big star like biggie and tupac, you start to get accepted into white culture. How does that mesh with the radical messages both brought to the table? The fact they were living large, while all the while speaking to, and for impoverished people? Would a gated community welcome a Tupac or Biggie? What would be the reaction?
Its a complicated issue. Its more deep than privacy or success or wealth. Thus the reason why I started the thread.