亿万富翁的生活有何不同？：英语精读讲义

Forbes reports that in 2017, there was a record number of billionaires in the world, 短語搭配

《福布斯》报道称，2017年全球亿万富翁人数创下新高，

2,043 to be exact. 短語搭配

确切地说是2043人。

This number is quite small

这个数字其实很小，

when we consider that there are over 13 million millionaires in the world,

考虑到全球有超过1300万百万富翁，

people that are sometimes referred to as high net worth individuals. 講解

也就是有时被称为高净值人群的人。

Although it is unlikely that any of us will become billionaires,

尽管我们中不太可能有人成为亿万富翁，

if you are a White American with a good education,

但如果你是受过良好教育的美国白人，

reports suggest that you can have as high as a 1 in 5 chance 語法

报告表明你有高达五分之一的几率

of becoming a millionaire by the time you die, 語法

在有生之年成为百万富翁，

but billionaire, that's a bridge too far 習語

但要成为亿万富翁，那就太遥不可及了，

for most but the extremely fortunate.

除非你是极少数极其幸运的人。

The psychological theory known as the happiness paradox

被称为“幸福悖论”的心理学理论

tells us wealth might not even make us happy, 語法

告诉我们，财富甚至可能不会让我们幸福，

but you can judge that for yourself 短語搭配

但你可以自己来评判，

after watching this episode of the Infographics Show,

就在看完《信息图表秀》的这一集：

"How Is Life Different for Billionaires?"

“亿万富翁的生活有何不同？”之后。

Don't forget to subscribe and click the bell button

别忘了订阅并点击小铃铛按钮，

so that you can be part of our notification squad.

这样你就能加入我们的通知小分队。

First of all,

首先，

we can't exactly say how all billionaires live.

我们无法确切说明所有亿万富翁是如何生活的。

We can, however,

但是，我们可以

take a look at some billionaires

看看一些亿万富翁，

and perhaps see if there are recurring traits for many of them.

也许能发现他们许多人身上是否有共同的特征。

For instance, Bill Gates is said to live quite frugally, 語法

例如，据说比尔·盖茨生活相当节俭，

even though he's the richest man on the planet, 語法

尽管他是地球上最富有的人，

while Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani,

而印度亿万富翁穆克什·安巴尼，

born in a home,

拥有一栋房子，

which many people might say

许多人可能会说

is the most lavish abode one could buy. 用詞

这是一个人能买到的最奢华的住所。

His skyscraper, called Antilia,

他那座名为“安蒂利亚”的摩天大楼

is 27 stories high

有27层高，

and cost him around $1 billion.

花费了他大约10亿美元。

He's worth around $23 billion,

他的身价在230亿美元左右，

give or take a few billion, 短語搭配

上下浮动几十亿，

depending on which source you read. 語法

取决于你看的是哪个消息来源。

We used Forbes real-time rankings.

我们使用的是《福布斯》实时排行榜。

Bill Gates is worth around $86 billion,

比尔·盖茨的身价约为860亿美元，

and his Medina, Washington estate

而他在华盛顿州麦地那的庄园

cost him just $63 million to build.

仅花了6300万美元建造。

While still lavish,

尽管仍然很奢华，

this might give you an idea 短語搭配

但这可能会让你了解到

of how these billionaires have dissimilar lifestyles.

这些亿万富翁的生活方式有多么不同。

Nonetheless, they both have huge houses

尽管如此，他们都有大房子，

and no doubt their lives have many similarities 語氣意圖

毫无疑问，他们的生活有许多相似之处，

because of their great wealth.

因为他们都拥有巨额财富。

But not all billionaires live in mansions, estates,

但并非所有亿万富翁都住在豪宅、庄园

or luxurious high-rises.

或豪华高层建筑里。

In 2017,

2017年，

Forbes put Warren Buffett

《福布斯》将沃伦·巴菲特

in the top five of richest people in the world

列为全球前五大富豪，

at $75.6 billion,

身价达756亿美元，

but he lives in a house

但他住的房子

in a small neighborhood of Omaha, Nebraska

位于内布拉斯加州奥马哈的一个小社区，

that he bought for $31,500 in 1958.

是他在1958年花31500美元买下的。

That would be about $250,000 in today's money, 短語搭配

换算成今天的货币大约是25万美元，

although it's said his property is currently worth about $650,000,

尽管据说他的房产目前价值约65万美元，

according to Realtor.com,

根据Realtor.com的数据，

that is only slightly more than their average 3.3 bedroom, 2.6 bathroom house

这只比他们网站上挂牌的平均3.3卧2.6卫的房子

listed on their site

略贵一点，

at the end of 2016.

数据截至2016年底。

That cost was a little over $400,000.

那个平均价格略高于40万美元。

Talking about the house,

谈到这座房子，

Buffett said, "I'm happy there.

巴菲特说：“我在那里很开心。

I'd move if I thought I'd be happier someplace else." 語法

如果我觉得在别处会更开心，我早就搬了。”

Still, the house is guarded

不过，这座房子还是有人看守的，

and there are plenty of security cameras.

并且有很多监控摄像头。

Ingvar Kamprad,

英格瓦·坎普拉德，

the Swedish founder of IKEA,

宜家的瑞典创始人，

is also not too fond on being extravagant. 語法

也不太喜欢铺张浪费。

While his net worth has fallen sharply over the recent years, 短語搭配

尽管他的净资产近年来大幅缩水，

and he's now said to be worth just $6 billion,

据说他现在的身价只有60亿美元，

down many billions,

减少了好几十亿，

he might not need the cash.

但他可能也不需要那么多现金。

While some people say he's stingy, 用詞

有些人说他很吝啬，

others just say he doesn't enjoy living the lavish lifestyle.

也有人说他只是不喜欢过奢华的生活。

Business Insider wrote in 2016

《商业内幕》在2016年写道，

that he lives in a one-story home,

他住在一栋单层平房里，

sometimes takes the bus,

有时乘坐公交车，

flies economy, 短語搭配

坐经济舱，

and drives a decades-old Volvo. 語法

开着一辆有几十年历史的沃尔沃。

So it's not all glamour and decadence

所以这也并不全是光鲜亮丽和奢靡腐化

for our billionaires.

对于我们的亿万富翁们来说。

But one thing is certain for most,

但有一件事对大多数人来说是肯定的，

many of them just don't go out in the street

他们中的许多人不会像我们一样上街

and walk around as we do.

到处闲逛。

In fact, according to some sources,

事实上，根据一些消息来源，

billionaires work their socks off 習語

亿万富翁们工作非常拼命，

and don't have very much free time.

并没有太多空闲时间。

Co-founder of Google,

谷歌联合创始人

Larry Page,

拉里·佩奇

said he would sometimes work around the clock, 習語

说他有时会夜以继日地工作，

literally 24 hours a day.

毫不夸张地说是一天24小时。

Elon Musk,

埃隆·马斯克，

the man behind Tesla and SpaceX,

特斯拉和SpaceX背后的男人，

says you need to be putting in around 100 hours a week 短語動詞

说你必须每周投入大约100个小时，

just to get ahead of the rest. 短語搭配

才能领先于其他人。

In fact,

事实上，

if we look at what Elon Musk does on average,

如果我们看看埃隆·马斯克的日常表现，

the man seems to be pretty busy.

这个人似乎相当忙碌。

Not all billionaires are still at the forefront of their industry, 習語

并非所有的亿万富翁都仍处于他们行业的的最前沿，

but let's take a look at the average day in the life of Elon Musk. 短語搭配

但让我们来看看埃隆·马斯克生活中平均的一天。

Fortunately, Musk has let this be known,

幸运的是，马斯克已经公开了这些，

so we can give you a rundown. 短語搭配

所以我们可以给你简单介绍一下。

He gets up at 7:00 a.m.

他早上7点起床，

after 6 hours of sleep.

睡了6个小时。

He often skips breakfast,

他经常不吃早饭，

but never forgo a shower. 用詞

但从不放弃洗澡。

He divides his work between Tesla and SpaceX,

他的工作在特斯拉和SpaceX之间分配，

which adds up to about 82 hours at work. 短語動詞

加起来大约有82小时的工作时间。

He even sometimes puts in more hours on the weekend,

他甚至有时会在周末加班，

but also enjoys spending time with his sons.

但也喜欢花时间陪儿子们。

He tries to never work on Sundays

他尽量不在星期天工作，

and instead travels or hangs out at his Bel Air mansion.

而是去旅行，或者在贝莱尔的豪宅里休息。

He doesn't eat much,

他吃得不多，

but will sometimes go crazy during business meals.

但有时在商务聚餐时会狂吃。

He also admitted to being kind of addicted to Diet Coke, 講解

他还承认自己有点对健怡可乐上瘾，

something he isn't too proud of.

他对这件事不太自豪。

He says he also finds time to go to the gym twice a week,

他说他每周还能抽出时间去两次健身房，

and he says he is a passionate reader of novels

并说自己是小说

and non-fiction books.

和非小说类书籍的狂热读者。

But, like most billionaires,

但是，像大多数亿万富翁一样，

you won't find Musk just wandering around any old high street. 用詞

你不会看到马斯克在任何一条商业街上闲逛。

In fact, according to an article in the British media,

事实上，根据英国媒体的一篇文章，

even London's multi-millionaires won't go out without a bodyguard,

即使是伦敦的千万富翁，不带保镖也不会出门，

which apparently costs around $500 for one man for one day.

显然，雇佣一名保镖一天的费用约为500美元。

Many of them travel by private helicopter

他们中的许多人乘坐私人直升机出行，

and do not take public transport anywhere. 短語搭配

无论去哪里都不乘坐公共交通工具。

Other media reported that Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg

其他媒体报道称，Facebook的马克·扎克伯格

has around 16 bodyguards

有大约16名保镖

working shifts at his home in Silicon Valley. 短語搭配

在他硅谷的家中轮班工作。

In fact,

事实上，

it's reported that his neighbors have even complained

据报道，他的邻居们甚至还抱怨过

about all those guards illegally taking up parking spots 短語動詞

这些保安非法占用停车位，

in the neighborhood.

就在这个社区里。

In fact, way back in 2008,

事实上，早在2008年，

Forbes interviewed Russ Alan Prince,

《福布斯》采访了拉斯·艾伦·普林斯，

president of the private wealth research firm

私人财富研究公司

Prince and Associates,

普林斯及其同事公司的总裁，

who told them that 98% of people with over just $25 million

他告诉他们，在拥有超过2500万美元的人中，98%

have spent money on special security services.

都在特殊安保服务上花过钱。

This might be hiring Navy SEALs

这可能是雇佣海豹突击队退役队员，

or even employing high-tech security robots

甚至雇佣高科技安保机器人

that can take down home intruders. 短語動詞

来制服闯入家中的不速之客。

So, even with all that wealth,

所以，即使拥有如此多的财富，

you could say a billionaire's life is somewhat made unhappy at times

你也可以说，亿万富翁的生活有时也会有点不幸，

from fear of being a victim of robbery

因为他们害怕成为抢劫

or kidnapping.

或绑架的受害者。

Maybe they counter this by eating loads of amazing food. 語法

也许他们通过吃大量令人惊叹的美食来缓解这一点。

Well, not Warren Buffett,

好吧，沃伦·巴菲特可不是，

who famously said he lives on fast food and Coca-Cola. 短語動詞

大家都知道他说过自己靠吃快餐和喝可口可乐度日。

He's apparently been eating McDonald's for breakfast for many years,

显然他已经吃麦当劳早餐很多年了，

but being a big shareholder in the fast food company,

但作为这家快餐公司的大股东，

maybe he's just advertising.

也许他只是在打广告。

Richard Branson once said he drinks 20 cups of tea a day,

理查德·布兰森曾说他每天喝20杯茶，

while Donald Trump also loves his junk food.

而唐纳德·特朗普也喜欢他的垃圾食品。

But this surely is all talk for the media.

但这当然都是说给媒体听的。

Some of these people must eat well.

他们中的一些人肯定吃得很好。

In fact,

事实上，

many reports suggest a lot of the world's billionaires hire chefs,

许多报告表明，许多世界上的亿万富翁会雇佣厨师，

sometimes Michelin-starred. 文化背景

有时甚至是米其林星级厨师。

These might work in the house

这些厨师可能在家里工作，

or even on a private yacht.

或者甚至在私人游艇上。

Many billionaires own private yachts.

许多亿万富翁拥有私人游艇。

The Sheikh of Dubai

迪拜酋长

apparently owns a $350 million yacht.

显然拥有一艘价值3.5亿美元的游艇。

Chelsea soccer club owner Roman Abramovich

切尔西足球俱乐部老板罗曼·阿布拉莫维奇

owns a yacht called the Eclipse,

拥有一艘名为“日蚀号”的游艇，

which has an estimated value of $450 million to $1.2 billion.

其估计价值在4.5亿至12亿美元之间。

It even has a submarine attached to it.

它甚至还配备了一艘潜水艇。

One of the world's most expensive yachts,

世界上最昂贵的游艇之一，

with a value of $1 billion plus,

价值超过10亿美元，

doesn't seem to have an owner yet.

似乎还没有主人。

That's called The Streets of Monaco.

它被称为“摩纳哥大街”。

The most expensive yacht,

最昂贵的游艇，

The History Supreme,

“历史最高点号”，

was commissioned by a Malaysian businessman 用詞

是由一位马来西亚商人委托建造的，

for $4.8 billion.

耗资48亿美元。

Apparently,

显然，

the yacht cost him around a third of his net worth. 語法

这艘游艇花费了他大约三分之一的净资产。

So,

那么，

what would you do with a billion dollars or more? 語法

如果你有十亿美元或更多，你会做什么？

Would you live similar to the way you do now

你的生活会和现在差不多吗？

or would you become very extravagant?

还是会变得非常奢侈？

Let us know in the comments.

请在评论区告诉我们。

Also,

此外，

be sure to check out our other video called "What If the World Was One Country?"

请务必查看我们的另一段视频，叫做《如果世界是一个国家会怎样？》

Thanks for watching,

感谢观看，

and as always,

一如既往，

don't forget to like, share, and subscribe.

别忘了点赞、分享和订阅。

See you next time.

下次见。