What I Saw as a Fake Billionaire | Fakes, Frauds and Scammers

Summary

The video script narrates the intriguing story of Andi Schmied, an artist who, under the guise of a billionaire named Gabriella, infiltrates New York's most exclusive real estate market to capture and expose the opulent lifestyles of the ultra-wealthy. Through her experiences, she uncovers the stark socio-economic disparities, the empty luxury of high-end properties, and the shadow these buildings cast, both literally and figuratively, on the city and its inhabitants.

Takeaways

• 😲 Real estate agents often don't know the true identity of their clients, who could range from billionaires to scam artists.
• 🏙️ Andi Schmied pretended to be a billionaire to gain access to New York's most exclusive apartments as part of her project.
• 📸 Her project aimed to document the views from these luxury towers, which are considered some of the best in New York.
• 💰 The properties she visited ranged from $10 million to $85 million, highlighting the extreme wealth of the top 1% of the population.
• 🏠 Ultra-luxury apartments are often sold based on the lifestyle they offer, with amenities like private chefs, chauffeurs, and even yachts.
• 🚪 These buildings are highly exclusive, requiring potential buyers to go through doormen and real estate agents, unlike normal real estate markets.
• 👠 Schmied had to meticulously create and maintain her billionaire persona, complete with luxury items and a convincing backstory.
• 🏢 Many of these high-end apartments remain largely empty, serving as investments rather than homes, which contributes to a lack of housing.
• 🌇 The ultra-luxury buildings, although visible from all over the city, cast long shadows and take away natural light from other areas.
• 📉 The presence of these ultra-expensive properties raises the value of everything else in the city, exacerbating economic disparities.

Q & A

What was the primary purpose of Andi Schmied's project?

The primary purpose of Andi Schmied's project was to explore and document the views from New York City's ultra-luxury apartments, which are typically inaccessible to the public.

How did Andi Schmied manage to gain access to these exclusive apartments?

Andi Schmied posed as a billionaire named Gabriella, using a false persona to convince real estate agents she was interested in purchasing a property. This allowed her to enter and photograph the apartments.

What was one of the challenges Andi faced during her project?

One challenge Andi faced was maintaining her billionaire persona, including ensuring she looked the part and answered questions convincingly, such as whether she had a chef or chauffeur.

What did Andi discover about the amenities in these luxury buildings?

Andi discovered that these buildings often had extravagant amenities, such as golf simulators, Michelin-starred private restaurants, theaters, swimming pools, and even yachts as gifts for purchasing an apartment.

What was a common feature of the ultra-luxury apartments Andi visited?

A common feature of these apartments was their standardized design, often featuring the same materials, such as special types of marble and oak floors. They were generally soulless and uniform.

Why do some of these ultra-luxury buildings remain mostly empty?

These buildings often remain mostly empty because they serve as investments for wealthy individuals, who either leave them vacant or rent them out, using them to hold value over time.

What societal issue did Andi's project highlight?

Andi's project highlighted the stark inequality in society, showcasing how the wealthiest individuals live in luxury while many others struggle with poverty and lack of affordable housing.

What impact do these luxury buildings have on the surrounding city?

These luxury buildings often cast large shadows over areas like Central Park, affecting the availability of natural sunlight for the rest of the city. They also contribute to increased property values, which can make housing less affordable for others.

How did Andi feel about her experience in these ultra-luxury apartments?

Andi felt conflicted; while it was cool to see the views from these high points, it didn't feel good because it highlighted the extreme disparities in wealth and access.

What did Andi ultimately learn from her project?

Andi learned about the obscene differences in society and how these differences are manifested in the city's physical form, particularly in how luxury buildings dominate the skyline and impact the urban environment.