Think certain well to do people are spoiled? There are some pets who are pampered even more. In fact, some of the world’s wealthiest people would much rather leave their fortune to their furry friends than friends and relatives.

Behold the World’s Richest Pets

1. Gunther IV - Gunther IV is considered the world’s richest dog. His dad, Gunther III, was bequeathed a $124 million trust  in 1992 when their owner, Countess Karlotta Lieberstein passed away. Since inheriting his former mistesses millions, Gunther III has passed on his fortune and legacy to his son Guther  IV. The German Shepherd has successfully bid on Madonna’s old Miami mansion and a rare white truffle. For the latter, Gunther himself attended the auction accompanied by two handlers. There are reports however, that Gunther may be a hoax.

2. Kalu the Chimp - You think it’s nuts to leave millions of dollars to a German Shepherd? How about a chimpanzee? Kalu inherited Patricia O’Neill’s $109 million fortune to ensure her husband wouldn’t get a penny. The fortune includes a farm and mansion in Australia.

3. Tobey Rimes – Tobey wasn’t your ordinary dog, he enjoyed living a life opulence in the New York City home he shared with Ella Wendel. He didn’t have to worry about giving up that life either as she left him $92 million upon her death.

4. Gigoo the $10 Million Chicken – If there’s any proof rich people are a little screwy, this is it. Gigoo, a hen for Pete’s sake, inherited $10 million.

5. Frankie – Frankie the dog resides in a mansion in San Diego. He inherited $5.3 million upon his owner’s death.

Image via stck.xchnge

Think you’re high end because you’re driving a CLK? That’s ok if you’re worth a couple of mil, but if you’re worth more you need the wheels to show it. Check out some of the world’s most expensive cars.

1. Bugatti Veyron

Why is the Bugatti Veyron worth $1.7 million? Besides taking you to speeds of up to 255 miles per hour, The Veyron also features a W16 engine featuring 16 cylinders at four cylinders per bank in four banks. Hand crafted by Volkswagon, the Bugatti Veyron is said to have a horsepower of 1001.

2. Enzo Ferrari

Another million dollar car, the Enzo Ferrari, is course, named after the sports car company’s founder. Featured are carbon-ceramic brake discs and F1-style sequential shift transmission.

3. Pagani Zonda C12 F

At $750,000 this isn’t for driving back and forth to work. The C12 F cruises at a top speed of 215 MPH..

4. Koenigsegg CCX

Retailing at just a hair under $700,000 the CCX , which stands for Competition Coupe X, boasts a 4.7 liter V-8 engine and has clocked in at 250 MPH. It’ll get you from 0 to 60 in about 2.3 seconds.

5. Porsche Carrera GT

The Porsche Carrera GT is powered by an all-new 5.7 litre V10 engine producing 612 SAE horsepower. This beauty retails for $484,000.

6. Mercedes SLR McLaren

A car of choice for celebrities, the McLaren will set you back $460,000

People with money to burn can spend their money on some pretty silly things. Does a $2,000 bathtub work the same as a $54,000 bathtub? Would you buy a $75,000 French fry if it was shaped like a former President? What would you spend your millions on?

Here’s a look at some more of the world’s most expensive items.

1. Archeo Copper Bathtub

From Kohler’s Kallisa line, the Archeo Copper Bathtub will run you about $54,925. That’s a helluva soak. I could relax in there with a good book.

2. The Neorest Toilet

Made by Japan’s largest toilet maker, the Neorest toilet cost about $5,000. And really, given how much time we spend in the john, shouldn’t that be the best seat in the house?

3. Cor Soap

Cor Soap by plank is the most expensive bar of soap you’ll ever use. At $428 per pound and $115 per bar, it better work miracles.

4. The Thousand Dollar Bagel

At $1,000 it better be damn good. The bagel at the Westin Hotel in New York city is topped with white truffle cream cheese and Reisling jelly infused with goji berries and golden leaves.

5. The Sveid Corkscrew

At $71,000 I hope this corkscrew is going to pour and serve the wine too. The Svied Corkscrew is made up 51 pieces of aviation titanium and cast in your choice of yellow or white gold.

6. Henry IV Dudignon Heritage Cognac

The Dudignon family has been making cognac for centuries and produce the most expensive cognac in the world. To make it even more over the top, they’re containing this particular brand of cognac in a bottle encrusted with 6,500 brilliant cut diamonds. How much will it run you? $2 million!

7. Fund.com

How much would you pay for a domain name? It depends on how badly you want it.  Just this past March Meade Technologies bought Fund.com for $9,999,950 cash. They changed their name to reflect their million dollar domain.

8. The Illinois Cornflake

I have to start checking my cereal more often. This cornflake, in the shape of the state of Illinois, was sold to TriviaMania.com for $135.00.

9. The Lincoln French Fry

And while you’re dumping those cereal boxes, check your french fry bags too. This french fry, supposedly in the shape of President Lincoln sold for $75,000.

10. The $25,000 Gameboy

Don’t let the kids see this. A Gameboy made of 18K gold and peppered with diamonds. Why?

At a loss over what to get Mom for Mother’s Day? Had enough of the same old flowers or earrings? Here’s a few Mother’s Day suggestions for the Mom who has everything….and trust me, she’s worth it.

1. Give mom the gift of good oral hygiene with the $1750 water fountain toothbrush. Well, the prototype is $1750, eventually this puppy’ll cost $3 – which makes one wonder why one wouldn’t want to wait until the cheaper model comes out? Why so special? Because the toothbrush directs water into your mouth for rinsing.

2. Is Mom into a little social networking or computer gaming? Then she’ll surely want this 18K White Gold computer mouse. Retailing for a mere $24,180, this mouse contains 59 brilliant cut diamonds personalized in the pattern of your choice.

3. Sparkly mice not your thing? Maybe Mom is more about accessories and this one doesn’t disappoint. How about a $20,000 Hermes Birken Bagi It looks like an ordinary bag for sure, but the Hermes people pretend they’re very hard to obtain so all the bored rich people have to have one.

4. Won’t Mom enjoy tooling around town in this the Porsche Speedster replica covered with Swaorvsky  crystals? She’ll be the envy of the early bird buffet crowd when she pulls up in this puppy.

5. Perhaps Mom is a fan of the fragrance?  If so, you”ll just have to buy her a bottle of this $230,000 perfume.  The perfume, 500ml of Clive Christian’s No.1 Imperial Majesty perfume, comes in a bottle featuring a 5 Carat diamond and a solid gold collar.

6. If mom truly does have everything, why not buy a present for her favorite pet? This Amour Amour dog collar contains 1600 hand set diamonds including a 7 carat diamond centerpiece can be bought for a mere $1.8 mil.

7. At $250 this Swavorski Crystal bra is a more affordable option. How special will mom feel wearing this on Bingo night?

8. Keep in touch with my by giving her this diamond encrusted cell phone. Choose from white or yellow gold or platinum. But hurry, these $88,000 beauties are made to order.

How much would you pay for an expensive toy? hundreds? Thousands? Millions? You’d be surprised at what some people are willing to pay for jewel encrusted cars or top of the line Barbies. If you balk at paying $30 for a box of tinker toys, what follows probably isn’t for you.

1. 23 Carat Hot Wheels

This 23-carat  jewel encrusted Hot Wheels retails for $140,000. Not sure why you would want one of these but if you’re rich and bored you’ll probably fine a reason to own one. It’s considered the most expensive toy car in the world.

2. Diamond Studded Barbie

As if Barbie doesn’t have enough bling, now she comes with diamonds. That’s right . Nothing is too good for Babs as she sports160 diamonds and miniature white gold jewelry. I’m guessing this one won’t be storied in Barbie’s Town House. Interested? This dolly doesn’t come cheap. She’ll run you about $85,000.

3. Swarovsky Crystal Studded Etch a Sketch

AT $1,500 it’s not as expensive as the above glittery toys, but it still begs the question…why? Only a dozen of these Etch-a-Sketches featuring 14,400 Swavorsky crystals were made.

4. Baltic Amber Chess Set

This $25,000 chess set features Christians on one side and Muslims on the other. The pieces are carved from genuine amber and the board is made from "expensive wood." Whatever that means.

5. Sidney Mobell Monopoly Set

Sidney Mobell’s $2 million Monopoly set  features 23K gold houses and is studded with rubies, diamonds and sapphires. Somehow I don’t think they’ll be selling this one at Toys R Us.

6. Ferrari Go Cart

That $300 battery powered Hummer you told your kid he can’t have because it’s too expensive might look a lot more affordable after this. The $50,000 Ferrari Go Cart from FAO Schwartz. The cart features . a 7-foot-long fiberglass body, rack-and-pinion steering, four-wheel disc brakes, three-speed transmission (including reverse), rubber tires and full suspension plus luxurious leather seats. At $50,000 it costs more than my car.

7. Neiman Marcus M. & Mrs. Potato Head

Ok. This is carrying things a bit too far. There is no reason anyone should pay $9,000 for a gem-encrusted Mr. & Mrs. Potato Head. The pair is covered in 23,000 Swarovski crystals in 14 different colors.. They’re pretty darn ugly to boot.

8. Most Expensive Ball in the World

You can’t toss this one around on the front lawn. This gold and diamond bauble is worth $1.29 million!

9. Hello Kitty, Goodbye Credit Card

Honestly, I don’t get this whole Hello Kitty thing. What’s the big deal? Here’s one for the serious collector. This Hello Kitty is worth $161,000 and contains a ruby studded ribbon with sapphire, diamond, brown diamond, amethyst, topaz and quartz.

10. Cold Fusion Yo-Yo

Though this yo-yo originally retailed for about $150. it was sold at auction for $16,000! Cold Fusion is made of aircraft-grade aluminum, features a ball-bearing axle and a brake pads for quick response.

Hungry? Rich? If so, you might be willing to indulge in some of the world’s most expensive foods. From $425 beer to the $1000 sundae, there’s no shortage of overpriced food for those with money to spare.

World’s Most Expensive Beer   Danish Brewery,Jacobson Brewhouse’s, has produced the most expensive beer in the world. Setting a new record for brewed extravagance, Vintage Nr. 1, is corked and wax sealed for maximum flavor. How much will a bottle of this high end brew run? About $425!

Do you like to talk the talk but have trouble convincing others you walk the walk?

Do you brag about your net worth when the truth is, you haven’t two dimes to rub together?

Don’t despair. No one has to know you’re flat broke.

Here are some ways to give the illusion of having money, when you may really just be a step above living in a double wide.

1. Buy all your designer clothes secondhand on Ebay, at consignment stores, thrift shops or through freecycle. No one has to know you’re wearing WalMart underwear underneath.
2. Have several credit cards but don’t use them. Save them for nights out with the friends so you can whip out your card at the end of the night and say, "I’ll get this" like it’s no big deal.
3. When vacation time comes around, tell everyone you’re going off on your own to a luxury resort in  Belize or San Tropez. Instead, go camping.
4. Buy a third hand Mercedes or Bentley. Fix it up – at least on the outside because appearances are what counts.
5. Make friends with someone who drives a limo. Every now and then have him pick you up and drive you around. Not much, just enough to impress the neighbors.
6. Look for a house near an upscale area like Princeton or Cambridge. Buy a house about ten minutes away – enough so the prices are cheaper but you can still say "Oh yes, I live in Princeton" or "I live just outside of town where it’s not so crowded."
7. Go to the hottest clubs and position yourself so you’re photographed walking next to celebrities and socialites. You don’t actually have to go in.
8. When staying in Las Vegas or New York City, stay at a crappy motel but make sure you’re seen reading newspapers in upscale hotel lobbies.
9. Visit upscale hotel bars and nurse one drink the entire night. Unless some one you want to impress comes by, then you’re buying.
10. Have a friend who works in a financial institution call you often at work. "Hello? This is Michael from Merrill Lynch calling, may I speak to Harold?"
11. Save your money and buy tickets for charity events, art auctions and polo matches.
12. Never brag. It’s a mystery how you came by your money.
13. Learn how to be creative about your career. For instance, if you drive a sanitation truck, say you’re "in the carting industry" and if you clean hotel rooms say you’re in the "hotel hospitality industry."
14. If it comes to a point where your rich friends want you to spend money you don’t have, tell them you can’t this week because you’re paying off back taxes. They’ll understand.
15. If you haven’t a clue what you’re talking about, use words such as "whimsical" or "amusing." "This wine has the most amusing oak barrel flavors…" or "Ah yes, that reminds me of the time I stayed in the most amusing little village in…."

In the Internet age it’s easy to live large without spending big. Thanks to eBay, Amazon and a variety of first and secondhand online retailers we can buy real designer items instead of the Chinatown kiosk knockoffs of days gone by. In fact, by playing one’s cards right one can dress chiefly in designer wear for the same price – or a tiny bit more – one would pay for averaged priced items.

Let’s take, for example, your basic Jimmy Choo. For those of you not in the know (namely men) Jimmy Choos are the ultimate shoes. They’re gorgeous, flattering and very expensive. Yet women of every budget want at least one pair.

I’m happy to report Jimmys can be had at a discount. Let’s browse, shall we…

Submitted for your consideration is your basic Jimmy Choo open toed slingback. You can buy this one at upscale retailer Bergdorf Goodman for $585.00. Cute, right?

I don’t know about you, but I don’t spend that much on myself the entire year, especially on shoes I can’t wear to a soccer meet or cub scouts. Let’s move on…

Overstock.com also has an adorable pair of Jimmy Choo slingbacks up for offer at $479.99. Still a little too rich for my blood, but at more than a hundred dollars cheaper it’s definitely more affordable.

I’m still not feeling it though. I’m thinking my husband might take issue with my spending almost $500 on a pair of shoes, even if it is to wear to his cousin’s wedding.

Moving along…

If one really wants the Jimmy Choo experience on a Ked’s budget one only needs to go to America’s bargain basement, that’s right Ebay. This week features several options:

These new Jimmy Choo slingbacks are up for auction with a starting bid of $249.00, with a buy now price of $259.00. We are now at more than half the price off the original Jimmy from Bergdorfs. See where I’m going with this?

But wait, there’s more…eBay has lots more to offer. Now, this Jimmy doesn’t have an open toe but it’s a cute strappy model with a decorative front. They’re starting at a bid of $159 and the owner claims the only wear is from in-store tryons.

At $25 we’re clearly in second hand territory. Still if it doesn’t bother you to put your feet where others have gone before, these pointy Jimmys are quite the bargain. Impress your friends.

What’s the moral? If luxury designer goods are your thing, you can find the name brand items for less. Ebay and garage sales are great for designer finds. Better yet, check out some consignment stores located in upscale areas. Wealthy people get rid of their cast offs often and many of them do it so they’ll get money back in return. Consignment shops in wealthy areas yield some fabulous treasures.