It’s an old party game: “If you could live the life of another person and not your own, whose life would you choose?”
I know, I know: most people would turn down the choice and want to live their own lives, thank you very much.
And even if they did decide to play, first choices are generally not so good after a little reflection, e.g. “Jesus Christ” (crucified at age 32, after an admittedly-virtuous life), “Errol Flynn” (died of cirrhosis at age 50, after an anything-but-virtuous life), and so on. Most lives are either noteworthy but short, or else pretty much unremarkable and not worth the substitution.
However, allow me to suggest just one alternative: Flavio Briatore
Who he, you ask? Well, under “Bad Boy” in the dictionary you will find this photo:
Allow me to present the salient facts (as I see them) of this man’s extraordinary life.
- failed high school repeatedly;
- started off life as a ski instructor, then a restaurant owner; and when the latter failed, changed to selling insurance;
- escaped multiple prison terms and bans stemming from “questionable” activities such as fraud, race-fixing and so on;
- during exile from Italy, started a successful string of clothing-store franchises, ending up as CEO of Benetton USA and, by the way, stinking rich as a result;
- was engaged to supermodel Naomi Campbell, then left her for Heidi Klum;
- fathered a child with Heidi, left her and then got her next husband (Seal) to adopt it (ergo no child support);
- co-owned a British Premier League football team (Queen’s Park Rangers);
- ran two successful Formula 1 racing teams (Benetton and Renault, with all the perks therefrom), and along the way:
- discovered not one but two Formula 1 champion drivers (Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso, FFS);
- is married to Wonderbra model Elisabetta Gregoraci, who is (duh) thirty years his junior;
- lives in Monaco (see details below).
Former Bandmate Knob’s little palais is near Briatore’s in Monaco, and he contributes these two factoids:
Tell me this isn’t at least a somewhat decent alternative to your life… and now you can scurry off to Wikipedia to get all the details.
Feel free to offer your alternatives in Comments, but they’re better be good to beat this guy.
It would be fun to be Dieter Meier. Born into millions, decided to be an artist. Professional poker player and member of the national golf team. Practically fell backwards into being vocalist for Yello (they did the Ferris Bueller song Oh Yeah, the “da bao bao” song).
Went from that to designing scarves and watches because he wanted to. Bought and ran a ranch in Argentina because. Put a winery on it because. Sells it all in a shop in Zurich. Currently owns a chocolate factory in an apparent (and so far successful) bid to literally become Willy Wonka.
Yeah, but has he escaped prison and shagged supermodels?
Dieter’s just an eccentric and talented rich guy (e.g. Richard Branson).
He’s not a Bad Boy.
Donald Trump is who I would swap lives with. He is filthy rich, has a full head of hair, is married to a supermodel, and makes the liberals angry. How can you top that? Second choice would be JFK. As the late Sam Kinison once said “JFK, F&&&&d Marylin Monroe”.
” …… shagged supermodel…” More than likely not a good experience.
1. At the top corner of the Hot / Crazy Spectrum. 2. Very high expectations on her part – Impossible to meet. 3. Extremely high maintenance. 4. Expects to be the center of attention …. yet doesn’t like being fawned over. 5. Run and hide when she is having a bad day. 6. Never been told No.
As for Other Possibilities
Nick Cage ……. Nope… destined for a bad end … and Broke
Johnny Depp …. Nope see above times 5
Steve McQueen …. Maybe — But died to soon
Dean Martin …. not really a bad boy — just a drunk — Also dead
See? Anyone can be a poon hound and/ or eccentric — but it takes extra balls to become fabulously rich from nothing, as well.
Neil Armstrong.
He got the USG to pay him to go to be the first person to walk on the f*king moon. That is bad ass.
Lots of people shag supermodel grade broads. Only 12 have walked on the moon.