The man who helped make the "pursuit of happiness" an inalienable American right certainly practiced what he preached. Jefferson's father deeded him 2,500 acres (as well as, infamously, several slaves), but he lived like he’d inherited 2.5 million. During his eight-year stint as President, Jefferson splashed out the equivalent of $120,000 on fine wine; in one month.
He ordered almost 400 bottles. What's more, he added special wine elevators to his spread in Monticello (which itself took 40 years to build and had a room for each of those years, wow - this would put MTV cribs to shame lol) all so that his beloved Bordeaux could be shot through the walls directly from the cellar to the supping room. At the time of his death, Jefferson left behind the Declaration of Independence, the Louisiana Purchase, and the modern equivalent of $2 million in personal debts.
No comments:
Post a Comment