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Image via Shutterstock
People in Hong Kong love their supercars… and their vanity plates. Just watch this. (This is also one of my favorites.) So why would the employees of Goldman Sachs be any different? Good news, they’re not.
We spent five minutes (literally one lap) last week driving through the parking garage at Cheung Kong Center, home of Goldman Sachs Asia, and here are just a few of the highlights.
The premise is more light-hearted and whimsical than it is literal exposé — I have no idea who these cars actually belong to. Although Goldman Sachs is the largest occupant in Cheung Kong, other tenants include Jefferies, RBS, BlackRock, and of course, Li Ka Shing, who has an indoor pool and private garden on the top floor.
The amazing thing is that, as is customary in the region, most senior bankers are chauffeur driven (A Pilipino driver costs a mere $1,500 a month), so this isn’t even the most accurate (or ostentatious) reflection of reality.
Just to put this slideshow into perspective, you need to understand how much more expensive luxury cars are in Asia. According to Mercedes Benz, a new S600 sedan that runs $166,900 in the U.S. will set you back $386,000 in Hong Kong – or 21 years of servitude for a Pilipino chauffeur.
Let’s get started:
Mercedes SLS A MG
$400,000
“This country does a great job of creating wealth, but not a great of distributing it. But I don’t want to do something that stops our ability to build wealth.” – Lloyd Blankfein
Lamborghini Huracan
$450,000
“The tradition of individual philanthropy remains a core tenet of our culture.”
“Current and retired senior employees of the firm granted over $400,000 via Goldman Sachs Gives to One Fund Boston to assist victims and families affected by the tragic events at the Boston Marathon.” – Goldman Sachs
Ferrari 612 Scaglietti
$250,000
“This is a sensitive time for us, and [the firm] wants to make sure that we’re not being seen living high on the hog.” – Anonymous Goldman Sachs employee (via New York Post)
Ferrari 458 Speciale
$550,000
“We’ve got banks like Goldman Sachs ready to invest billions in renewable energy.” – Barack Obama
Ferrari F12 Berlinetta
$580,000
“Goldman Sachs and its people are committed to helping communities where we work and live — and in places more distant — where our ideas, people and resources can make a difference.” – Goldman Sachs
Aston Martin V8 Vantage S
$290,000
“One of the great things about Goldman Sachs is that it allows individuals to be who they are.” – Gary Cohn
Ferrari F12 Berlinetta
$600,000
“The people of Goldman Sachs are committed to assisting those in need and the communities around the world through volunteer endeavors and partnerships with nonprofit organizations.” – Goldman Sachs
Ferrari 458
$475,000
“We take seriously our responsibility for environmental and social stewardship and are committed to leveraging our people, capital and ideas to further effective marketbased solutions that help address critical environmental issues.” – Goldman Sachs
Ferrari 458 Speciale
$550,000
“[We are told that] nobody should be able to identify us as Goldman employees once we leave the office.” – Anonymous Goldman Sachs Analyst (via New York Magazine)
Lamborghini Gallardo LP550
$300,000
“We commit ourselves to taking philanthropic action based on discipline, innovation and a strategic approach over the long term.” – Goldman Sachs
McLaren MP4-12C
$450,000
“Is it possible to make too much money, to have too much ambition, to be too successful? As the guardian of the interests of the shareholders and, by the way, for the purposes of society, I’d like [my employees] to continue to do what they are doing. I don’t want to put a cap on their ambition. It’s hard for me to argue for a cap on their compensation.” – Lloyd Blankfein.
Respond
I couldn’t even afford the wax they put on those cars
The quotes added to this piece are pure fucking gold.
Haha “donated $400,000 to charity” but drives a $450,000 car. TGSM
Thoroughly enjoyed this. One note- the third 458 is not a Speciale.
Having seen the way these fuckers drive on their home turf in Hong Kong, I’m assuming none of these cars make it more than 12-18 months
3rd from the bottom is not a Speciale. Get it right, LeFevre
This is the closest I’ll get to any of those beauties.
And we wonder why all the Asians have nice cars on campus? Well, it’s 1/3 the price here and they just lease them. I bet it’s their only chance to ever own one once they go back to Ching Chong….
Not at all angry, my beater truck would still win in a game of chicken.
Hey folks, just an update on the facebook group idea that I posed last week: A few people have gotten a hold of me over it and connected/ joined the group. If you are interested just dm me over twitter (@tjeffersona) and we can connect.
You strike me as the type that pays the monthly fee for Tinder Plus.
Please just go to a bar and make a friend.
Too poor for that. PGP.
But seriously, all these people want a forum to post on. I’m offering a fairly decent solution. The only real downside is that you have to give up your annonimity.