Who is Petra Ecclestone and why is she famous?
Socialite and fashion designer blows PR for idle rich —
[Jul. 29]
Petra Ecclestone is the daughter of Bernie Ecclestone, famous for controlling Formula One auto racing for years. She just bought Candy Spelling’s mansion — you know… the one owned by recently deceased super producer Aaron Spelling, father of disinherited Tori Spelling from 90210? At any rate, the luxury mansion is one of the largest property sales in recent history for a private mansion. Bought by the 22-year-old daughter of the über wealthy F1 magnate for $85 million, she spoke out to the press about why she was willing to invest so much money in a property she had never seen, why at such a young age and single she needed such a big place, and why she elects to spend money like wasted tap water rather than doing anything to give back to the community when she is given a chance.
Good Morning America reports, “When asked why she didn’t use the money to pay for affordable homes for 1000’s of families — she replied, “I help as much as I can, but at the end of the day … however much the house has costed, that’s not going to kind of I dunno … like change the world I don’t think.”
Wrong, honey. Just ask actress Angelina Jolie and actor Brad Pitt about what good a small fortune can do to help the underprivileged. They donate nearly half their capital gains to help the less fortunate and volunteer a ton of time traveling to third world countries. Their experiences have produced transfromation not only in themselves but to those less fortunate whose lives they have been able to touch.
The obnoxious Petra, when referring to her own lack of charitable giving or willingness to compromise her own lifestyle for the sake of the greater community added, “I’m not going to not live in a certain way … just because there are people less fortunate than I am.” Taking private jets and helicopter rides on a near daily basis to be able to spend her time as an idle rich person — shopping, sunning herself on board her super yachts, and essentially doing nothing other than being self-indulgent is simply the way she chooses to live.
While we get it that being rich does have its advantages, being poor but a good person who does good deeds for our fellow-man does have a certain level of reward. It’s called character, babes. You earn it while growing up or being raised by good parents who teach you strong moral values related to little things like family and having respect for others. You learn it through empathy — not sympathy. And you can’t buy it with your American Express Black Card.
With so much money and nothing but free time on her hands, Petra Ecclestone could have used her fame and fortune to change the world. Her parents should be ashamed of her and she of them… buying that mansion to hide her mother’s divorce winnings from Bernie Ecclestone and to shift funds for tax purposes we understand. But to speak out so publicly and rudely about her own privileges and speak of those less fortunate with such disrespect?
Petra Eccelstone just became the poster child for everything wrong with overindulged children and the anti-charity spokesperson for the worst of the idle rich who have done nothing but inherit. That goodness Prince William and Prince Harry act better than this… and that people like Sir Richard Branson use their time wisely rather than like this little $itch.
The only thing she does do right — from what we can tell — is to support a UK based charity called the Meningitis Trust. Why? Because she contracted the virus as a child and — get this — developed empathy for people who have suffered with the affliction.
To that end, maybe this daughter or a supermodel and kajillionaire who designs men’s clothing for fun ought to be forced to live in a third world country [or even on the streets of an American City] for a year without access to her daddy’s money. If she was forced to see how the other half live and to fend for herself for a while she might develop a hint of compassion and life experience that would give her a more sage perspective about the power of wealth — and how she could spend her family fortune in such a way that she continue to be able to enjoy a luxury lifestyle while also growing her net worth as a human being. She does not need to give away her money — she simply ought to act better as a person.
