Business | Technology
A life up for sale on eBay
An eccentric British millionaire has put his entire life up for sale on the internet - including his title of Lord of the Manor of Warleigh - in the hope of converting his assets into cash
- Reuters
- Published: 00:02 August 10, 2008
London: An eccentric British millionaire has put his entire life up for sale on the internet - including his title of Lord of the Manor of Warleigh - in the hope of converting his assets into cash.
David Piper, a hotelier who made headlines six years ago after advertising for a wife to become his "lady of the manor", wants to sell his west of England existence on the auction site eBay and move to London to be closer to his children.
He is selling two hotels, two Bentleys, a collection of paintings and his title of Lord of the Manor - which he bought along with a large estate for £1 million ($2 million).
"This sale is brought about as the present lord has been diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer," the advertisement for the sale explains. "For sale as a whole or in part... Can include David, the existing eccentric lord of the manor, physically as well to a suitable purchaser."
Piper, who is well known in his hometown of Plymouth for his antics, is hoping to raise up to £4 million, although he estimates that the total value of the estates was as much as £6 million before property prices fell. More than 100 bids have been received so far, with the current offer standing at £1.3 million. Bidding closes on Monday.
Piper's move follows that of Ian Usher, a British-born man living in Perth, Australia who earlier this year auctioned off all his worldly goods, including his home. He ended up raising much less than he had hoped - barely making $380,000.
More from Technology
More from Business
Business Editor's choice
-
‘Wrong Way' Krugman
The source of our economic malfunction lies with government-mandated bank regulations
-
Greek exit could make Eurozone stronger
Departure will show limits of bailouts and allow remaining members to act much more like a unit
-
UAE upholds values of free trade
Recently released statistics confirm an established fact, namely that of the UAE embracing the free trade principle in general and imports in particular
