hollywood billionaire

Chapter 288 National Treasure
"1.75 billion..."

"EUR."

After staying with Han Yi for too long, Xu Yiru has lost her due sensitivity to large figures that can easily reach tens of millions of dollars.

When we usually go to and from school together, we ride in the US$141 million Ferrari 250 GT SWB. This racing red retro sports car is the focus of the entire street no matter where it is.Exclaiming, whistling, and quietly raising the mobile phone lens to the chest are the daily routines that Xu Yiru and Han Yi have become more and more accustomed to when traveling.

In the USC parking lot, even if the parking spaces are full during peak hours, cars on the left and right will deliberately keep a distance from it, for fear of getting scratched.Occasionally when passing by The Row, Xiaoru could even see rich kids from Sigma Chi or Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity jumping up from their patio chairs, following the direction of the Ferrari and screaming and cheering.You can also see the Kappa Kappa Gamma and Delta Gamma girls competing at the gate of the sorority, taking off their sunglasses that almost never leave the bridge of their noses, twirling their deliberately highlighted blond hair with their fingertips, whispering, and silently reciting the license plate.

2689GT.

Except for a few students who have received half or full scholarships, a considerable number of USC students are from well-off families. After all, the annual tuition of this university alone exceeds US$[-]. If it were not for the financial support of their parents, , few American students would choose to take on such high loans.In sororities and fraternities, the proportion of children born with silver spoons in their mouths is disproportionately high.After all, The Row is the street where USC places the most emphasis on appearance, body shape, fashion taste and family heritage, and these are all advantages that require money to cultivate.

Only when you hold gold bars in your arms will you be more in awe of those who hold gold mountains.

A sports car is equivalent to 30 years of tuition.

Dozens of fraternities and sororities at the University of Southern California are counted together. How many parents of the so-called campus figures have such financial resources and can afford such a pure and ultimate luxury?

Fortunately, most of the courses for Han Yi's graduate degree in arts management are in the Price School of Public Policy and a small part in the Thornton School of Music. These two schools are not as full of sorority members as Annenberg. Otherwise, he should have every day We have to passively endure all kinds of "unexpected encounters".

Realizing this, Han Yi began to intentionally switch to Bentley Bentayga for transportation to and from USC. Only then did the eye-catching situation improve.Although this luxury SUV also costs close to 20 US dollars, you can still occasionally see the same model in school, and it is no longer a unique replica treasure.

Of course, Xiao Ru can not only feel the huge changes brought about by wealth all the time on campus, but this feeling is even more obvious when she meets Han Yi on weekends.

Every time she sets off from The Vermont to No. 864 Stradella Road, Xu Yiru will be tightly wrapped in a strong sense of unreality - seeing the scenery outside the window change from white office buildings lined with Korean signs to the sky-covering She saw the black metal door slowly opening behind the privacy tree wall that blocked out the sun. She quickly walked towards the mansion housekeeper Corey McIntosh and private security guard Foam Derwig. In the salon area, Han Yi was immersed in handling official business on his mobile phone. When he heard her footsteps, he turned around and smiled warmly at her...

Is this the boy I like?
This is... his life?
This could be... my life too?
It has been almost a year since Han Yi first revealed his true situation in Sushi Gen.In this year, Xiaoru and Han Yi have experienced a lot together and gained a lot. The Harry Winston haute couture necklace that is still lying quietly in the safe and has not seen the light of day is the beginning of this wonderful period. The best proof of time.

But even so, she would still ask herself the same questions in her heart every day that could not be answered effectively.She worked hard to adapt to a new life and a new situation. She had learned not to be moved by any amount, but there were always some surprises that would pop up from Han Yi's side or even from his own mouth inadvertently, making her feel again. Fresh, interesting, fascinating, but also small, powerless, and at a loss.

Two months ago, I followed the invited Han Yi...and Zhao Youzhen to have dinner at 900 Errol Road, and met Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox and Lisa Kudrow. And playing pool with Rachel, Monica and Phoebe is an example.

Why did Jennifer Aniston invite Han Yi?
Because Han Yi is the major shareholder of UTA.

The 22-year-old boy I like is the major shareholder of the world's third largest entertainment agency.

A month ago, when she came to the office to follow her, she received a white envelope from Han Yi. When she opened it, she saw an invitation printed on coated paper:

[The Recording Academy sincerely invites you to participate]

[Sunday, February 2, 12]

12: 30PM
Grammy red carpet premiere
Microsoft Theater, LA Live
5: 00PM
Grammy televised awards ceremony

Staples Center, LA Live
9: 00PM
Grammy Official After-Party
Los Angeles Convention Center, West Building
【Black Tie Party】

【CBS Television Network】

[AEG-Elrich Venture Capital]

Invitation to the Grammy Awards.

Next February.

According to Yi Yi, this is the first batch of invitation letters sent by the Recording Academy to major record companies.

There was no name written on the letter itself, but it was indeed Grace Hsu on the envelope.

Why did the Recording Academy invite Xu Yiru?

Because Han Yi founded Han Music, which has suddenly emerged this year. Last time Xiaoru was unable to go to New York to attend the VMA because of her busy schedule. This time it is held in Los Angeles, and Han Yi will definitely not forget to get a place for her.

The boy whom he wanted to put into a Poké Ball and keep by his side at all times was the driving force behind three consecutive Billboard hit singles and an indispensable emerging figure in the annual music event.

This was the second surprise in the past three months that caught Xu Yiru off guard, but it was natural to think about it carefully.

Today’s “Flag Bearer” worth 1.75 million euros is considered the third example.

Rembrandt is indeed great. If Xu Yiru were to rank the most outstanding painters in history, he would definitely be in the top three.

The greatest visual artist in Dutch art history.

Portrait paintings, landscape paintings, genre paintings, allegorical paintings, historical scene paintings and religious scene paintings are all proficient and masterful.

His "Night Watch" is known as one of the three most famous paintings in the world.In Xu Yiru's heart, it even has more artistic value than the "Mona Lisa".

Even so...the price tag of 1.75 million euros is really too high.

"Yi Yi, wait a moment."

Xu Yiru put her phone aside, activated her laptop, opened Google, typed in "the most expensive painting in history" and clicked search.

“The Exchange, Willem de Kooning, $3 million. Seller, David Geffen Foundation. Buyer, Kenneth C. Griffin. Private sale.”

"The Card Players, Paul Cézanne, $2.5 million. Seller, Georges Embiricos. Buyer, Qatar. Private sale."

“When Will You Marry,” Paul Gauguin, $2.1 million. Seller, Rudolf Staichlin. Buyer, Qatar. Private sale.”

"Number 17A, Jackson Pollock, $2 million. Seller, David Geffen Foundation. Buyer, Kenneth C. Griffin. Private sale."

"Water Snake II," Gustav Klimt, $1.838 million. Seller, Yves Bouvier. Buyer, Dmitry Rybolovlev. Private sale.

"EUR 1.75 million, which is almost...$1.9 million."

"That is, if you buy this painting, it becomes..."

"The fifth most expensive painting in history." Han Yi helped Xu Yiru finish her sentence.

"The fifth most expensive in history..." Xiao Ru took a deep breath, "Yi Yi, you..." "Don't worry."

Han Yi smiled and raised his hand.

"I didn't place an order."

"Oh." Xiaoru breathed a sigh of relief, "That's good."

"Don't you like this painting?" Han Yi observed the changes in Xu Yiru's expression.

"It's not that I don't like it, it's just..." Xiao Ru pursed her lips and hesitated, "The price is too exaggerated."

"I think so," Han Yi nodded. He admired Rembrandt and his realist paintings, second only to Caravaggio, but he didn't think the single portrait "Flag Bearer" was artistically important. It is said to be worth the sky-high price of 1.75 million euros.Even with the brand effect of Rembrandt and the scarcity of the era of creation, it was not enough to convince Han Yi to willingly write a nine-figure check.

For Han Yi, "willingness" is the top priority for any consumption.

Without a happy mood and spontaneous willingness, there would be no reward he needs.

"Besides, didn't I tell you just now? Even if I spend 1.75 million to buy it, this painting will not leave France."

"That's right, you haven't told me the reason yet... Why can't you get out?"

"Because... France being France." Han Yi shrugged and joked, "Similar to the portraits of the two couples, the French government does not want this Rembrandt to leave the country."

"The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam wanted to buy it, but the cash has been drained by Mardan Suleman and Opkin Gobi. They are currently seeking help from the Dutch government and the Rembrandt Society to raise funds, but in recent years There shouldn't be anything I can do. So, Joshua told me that if I wanted to win Flag Bearer, now would be the right time."

"Take it now, and wait for the Dutch government to raise the money in a few years, then sell it to them and make a small profit?" Xu Yiru guessed.

"Joshua didn't say so, but that was probably his suggestion."

"But... in just a few years, I shouldn't be able to make much money?" Xiao Ru pondered for a moment and then said, "Taking into account the interest on the funds, calculated based on five years, it will be 1.75 million euros... and then it will be sold for 2 million euros. , you can’t get your money back, right?”

"It depends on what you think of this matter." Han Yi curled his lips and breathed a sigh of relief, "It's purely for the purpose of changing hands. It has to be saved for a long time until the next generation of collectors grows up... Well, I should say, I Only when a generation is fully grown can there be room for profit. In the short term, it depends on whether the Dutch government is willing to treat me as an art dealer and give me some commission. If you can, you will make a profit. If you don't, you will definitely lose. .”

Art collection is not suitable for short-term trading.

How long ago did the Rothschilds buy "The Standard Bearer"?
1844 years!
And how long ago did they put it up for sale?

2016 years!
172-year holding period.

This is a life insurance policy bought for future generations, not a hedge fund portfolio that can be exited in three years.

"So you are unwilling to do this business yourself."

"I definitely don't want to. It's not cost-effective for me to invest 1.75 million euros and just rely on the 5-10% commission to make money. If I put this money elsewhere, I don't know how much more I can do." Things." Han Yi shook his head, "Moreover, even if the capital guarantee is 2 million euros, I will add an additional 2000 million euros in commission, and 2.2 million euros will be almost the same as the selling price of "The Card Players". At that time, the Netherlands will still want to If you don’t want such an expensive painting... it’s really not necessarily true. Anyway, there is “Night Patrol”. In addition to the sense of national honor, how much income can a “Flag Bearer” increase?”

"Sounds like...the risk is too high."

"Not only the financial risk, but also the political risk. The Louvre is also very interested in this painting, and they are also trying to find ways to raise money. Although the French government cannot co-finance, it will use other methods to help the Louvre palace."

"what way?"

"The French government can grant certification of "The Flag Bearer" as a national treasure at any time. Once certified as a national treasure, according to French law, the painting will face a thirty-month export ban."

"Can't it be shipped out of France in two and a half years?"

"Yes. That's why I can only see PPTs at Christie's in London, but not the originals."

"Then... what about two and a half years later?"

"Let's see if the Louvre can raise the money. If it can, the painting will definitely be bought by them, because French museums have the first right to purchase national treasures in France. If they can't raise the money, the Louvre will have to I must first renounce my right of first refusal before I can bid. Of course, once the bid is made and the painting is obtained, the French government will have a hundred ways to delay its departure date."

Han Yi rubbed his temples in distress. Apparently he had discussed this topic in depth with Antoine Gachet. The French government could launch more countermeasures and delaying measures than the collections in the Louvre.

"The Netherlands wants to bring Rembrandt's paintings back to the motherland. It has been bidding with France for two years. In the end, it had to compromise. The National Museum and the Louvre each bought one, and the two countries took turns to exhibit it. This is a dialogue at the national level. Ah, I don’t have any foundation here, and if they want to keep their things... there’s nothing I can do about it.”

There is another reason that Han Yi did not say, that is, he does not want to stalemate the relationship with the Dutch government.People are actively welcoming national treasure-level artists back to their homeland, and they intervene and buy the paintings themselves. This kind of thing may even cause waves in the mass media and gain unnecessary negative attention.

More importantly, Han Yi, who hopes to develop deeply in the field of electronic music, also has many businesses he wants to expand in the Netherlands, known as the kingdom of electronic music. Therefore, although the lowland is small, Han Yi does not intend to offend the politicians here. and people.

At least for now.

"No wonder you gave up." Xiao Ru understood. "If you really want to buy it, you have to be prepared for a long-term battle... buy an apartment in Paris, or rent a vault to keep it."

"I have thought about it... but it's still not safe. What the French government wants is for "The Flag Bearer" to be exhibited in France and bring economic value to the country. The Rothschilds cannot interfere, but once the work changes hands this time, they will see When the new buyer is...me, they will definitely try every means to get me to cooperate with an organization for an exhibition."

"That means we may force you to rent it to the Louvre."

"It's very possible." Han Yi nodded and whispered something that made Xu Yiru a little confused. "Then it would be a forced compromise, rather than a genuine consumption."

"It's okay, Yi Yi." Xiao Ru never thought that she would say these words one day. She never dared to be so bold, but the reality is that she did say it like this, "I can't buy it this time. It doesn’t matter…you can always find Rembrandt who has the right price and is not restricted.”

"Lin Bran... let's talk about it later." Han Yi protracted his voice and winked at Xu Yiru with a smile, "Let's buy something else first this time."

"Eh, still... or did you buy it?"

"I bought it anyway."

Han Yi enjoyed the feeling of holding Xu Yiru's emotions up and down... It sounded like the devil, but he really didn't have any bad intentions, he just liked that someone could be immersed in the stories he told.

Breaking a chapter when it's time to break it is not a magic trick, it's an art.

“When you buy a painting, you don’t have to worry about whether it can be shipped out of France or England.”

"Because it's...in America."

(End of this chapter)