Constructed between 2008 and 2011, the French chateau is (one of the many) home to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman Al Asad (or MBS), who purchased the property in 2015 for US$301 million. That’s a freakin’ world record right there for residential property. Called the ‘Château Louis XIV’ the extravagant palace is a homage to King Louis XIV a.k.a the Sun King of the country who reigned the nation for over 72 years till his death in 1715. The residence is developed and designed by Emad Khasoggi, a French-Saudi property mogul.
Bahot badhiya! Ati sundar. That’s all for the real estate bite. Onto what matters really now. The Saudi Prince is currently on a visit to France, unwinding with fine European revelry. Macron the French President, meanwhile has been lambasted for his courtesy visit to the chateau! His reluctant handshake with MBS has drawn ire and so did Biden’s fist bump with the Saudi Royalty. For the uninitiated, the 36 y/o ruler has been accused of getting Jamal Khasoggi assassinated in cold blood in 2018. The dissident journalist was columnist for the Washington Post and the editor in chief of Al-Arab news channel. However, MBS has denied any involvement in the journalist’s covert execution . Whilst there’s been a global backlash, the crown prince is on his videsh yatra to make more mitra.
Hope the president raises human rights issues with the Saudi Prince besides oil diplomacy.
There’s a real need for leaders who would call upon the autocrats and the theocrats around the world and the autocrats disguised as democrats. As lay there’s as much one can do and accomplish with platitudes of placards. While the richie rich’s dine with the finest, the honest and the hardworking lay is murdered, mutilated and the sheeples are manipulated to feed these brats become morally bankrupt billionaires building castles cast on the blood sweat and soul of us servant class. Will this misery ever end?
Bonus question – Are technocrats better? Whom would you choose if you had a Musk and a Gates to rule over you?