Robert Friedland appears intent on buoying Santa Barbara's ultra-high-end real estate market single-handedly. Just five months ago, the multibillionaire mining tycoon, known for his role as chairman of Ivanhoe Mines and as a business mentor to the late Steve Jobs, made headlines when he acquired an oceanfront estate on Carpinteria’s prestigious Padaro Lane for approximately $47 million. Now, Friedland has made another significant purchase. Records indicate that the charismatic 73-year-old was the buyer who recently paid a substantial $32 million for a stunning Montecito compound formerly owned by Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi. Although located only about four miles...

Accor's opulent cruise liners may soon transition from mere fantasy to tangible reality. In January of last year, the esteemed French hospitality conglomerate unveiled plans for a novel Orient Express vessel set to debut in the spring of 2026. Presently, it is engaged in discussions with investment firm Dubai Holding to secure funding for the approximate $867 million (€800 million) development of this vessel along with another, as reported by the Financial Times. Should the agreement come to fruition, Dubai Holding would assume majority ownership in the property company responsible for these luxury yachts, thereby enabling Accor to remove these...

Never underestimate the allure of a well-preserved ghost town. Italy's Castelfalfi, recently reimagined and rebranded, stands as a testament to this notion, with several hundred million dollars invested to transform an 800-year-old abandoned village into a luxurious five-star vacation destination. Nestled halfway between Florence and Pisa, the sprawling 2,700-acre compound officially reopened its doors in February. While it initially launched as a resort with residences back in 2014, the project struggled to gain traction despite a hefty $350 million investment from its former owner, the TUI Group. However, after a decade and another substantial renovation, courtesy of the new billionaire...