Rhiannon
02-09-2010, 08:27 AM
Austrian millionaire gives away fortune for happiness
An Austrian millionaire "can't wait to be free" of his wealth, after revealing plans to raffle his luxury Alpine home and give away his fortune.
Karl Rabeder, 47, will pour all the proceeds from the sale of his business, two homes, private jet and cars, into charity.
The trappings of a fortune worth $5.4 million have never made him happy, Mr Rabeder said, but he was not "brave" enough to give it all up until now, he told UK newspapers.
Mr Rabeder has sold more than 20,000 raffle tickets, at $158 a ticket, for his Alpine retreat, which is worth around $2.5 million and boasts stunning mountain views, a lake and a sauna.
He also plans to sell his farmhouse in Provence, the South of France, for as much as $1.1 million, six gliders worth $631,000 and his Audi A8, valued at $79,000.
From humble origins as the son of a painter, Mr Rabeder has built up his fortune through his interior decorations business – which is now worth some $4.8 million. However, the millionaire plans to give it all up to live in a simple mountain hut or flat, on an income of $1,442 a month.
The turning point for him came during a 5-star holiday in Hawaii with his wife in 2004.
"It was the biggest shock in my life, when I realised how horrible, soulless and without feeling the five star lifestyle is," he told the UK's Daily Telegraph.
"In those three weeks, we spent all the money you could possibly spend. But in all that time, we had the feeling we hadn't met a single real person."
He returned from the holiday with the realisation that he was "dying through consumerism", he told The Daily Mail.
"It has taken me until now to realise that I don't need money and possessions," he added.
Mr Rabeder plans to donate the proceeds from his belongings to charity, funding orphanages, small businesses and development projects in Central and Latin America.
The Austrian millionaire, who is now divorced, told the Telegraph he wanted to have absolutely nothing left, as "it prevents happiness to come".
http://money.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=1010030
***I recon the ex-wife didnt have a good enuff lawyer lol
An Austrian millionaire "can't wait to be free" of his wealth, after revealing plans to raffle his luxury Alpine home and give away his fortune.
Karl Rabeder, 47, will pour all the proceeds from the sale of his business, two homes, private jet and cars, into charity.
The trappings of a fortune worth $5.4 million have never made him happy, Mr Rabeder said, but he was not "brave" enough to give it all up until now, he told UK newspapers.
Mr Rabeder has sold more than 20,000 raffle tickets, at $158 a ticket, for his Alpine retreat, which is worth around $2.5 million and boasts stunning mountain views, a lake and a sauna.
He also plans to sell his farmhouse in Provence, the South of France, for as much as $1.1 million, six gliders worth $631,000 and his Audi A8, valued at $79,000.
From humble origins as the son of a painter, Mr Rabeder has built up his fortune through his interior decorations business – which is now worth some $4.8 million. However, the millionaire plans to give it all up to live in a simple mountain hut or flat, on an income of $1,442 a month.
The turning point for him came during a 5-star holiday in Hawaii with his wife in 2004.
"It was the biggest shock in my life, when I realised how horrible, soulless and without feeling the five star lifestyle is," he told the UK's Daily Telegraph.
"In those three weeks, we spent all the money you could possibly spend. But in all that time, we had the feeling we hadn't met a single real person."
He returned from the holiday with the realisation that he was "dying through consumerism", he told The Daily Mail.
"It has taken me until now to realise that I don't need money and possessions," he added.
Mr Rabeder plans to donate the proceeds from his belongings to charity, funding orphanages, small businesses and development projects in Central and Latin America.
The Austrian millionaire, who is now divorced, told the Telegraph he wanted to have absolutely nothing left, as "it prevents happiness to come".
http://money.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=1010030
***I recon the ex-wife didnt have a good enuff lawyer lol