Vast fortunes are no guarantee of good taste, a truth repeatedly demonstrated by the world's wealthiest individuals through their often bewildering interior design choices. From sprawling country estates to minimalist Texas abodes, the homes of billionaires frequently become showcases of excess or puzzling austerity, drawing sharp criticism from design professionals.
The Garish World of Jeffrey Epstein
Recently released images from the US Justice Department have revealed the interiors of Jeffrey Epstein's New York townhouse and private island, providing a disturbing glimpse into the convicted sex trafficker's world. The decor, described by experts as an overload of vulgarity, featured bizarre and clashing themes.
One bedroom followed a blue and cream scheme with a sapphire chandelier and mahogany bed, while another had bright pink walls paired with a green velvet headboard. A particularly sinister note was a giant oil painting depicting an aroused young boy. The bathroom boasted black marble, a light-up mirror, and speakers, starkly contrasting with a light wooden door frame.
Interior designer Lisa Marconi of Design Led stated: 'This is the classic case of money doesn't buy taste. Everything in these rooms is undoubtedly the most expensive... and yet, it does not look beautiful.' She criticised the tendency to 'chuck everything into a space together,' citing a marble bathroom framed by paisley wallpaper. Designer Benji Lewis simply called the rooms an 'overload of vulgar and bad taste,' accurately reflecting their owner.
Minimalism to an Extreme: Elon Musk's Spartan Box
At the opposite end of the spectrum lies Elon Musk, the world's richest man with a net worth of $749 billion. In 2020, he sold his grand houses and moved into what biographer Walter Isaacson called a 'spartan two-bedroom house' in Boca Chica, Texas.
The minimalist property features a dark wooden table, matching floors, and a white kitchen, with a spaceship sculpture as a nod to his SpaceX ambitions. Lisa Marconi commented that the home looks like that of 'a twenty-something man who's just left his parents' home for the first time.' She noted the billionaire owner of X, Tesla and SpaceX had 'kept the kitchen the home came with' and bought only the bare minimum furniture, concluding: 'It's not the home of a fully grown, mature man.'
Gold, Statues and Replica Mansions: Other Questionable Choices
The list of wealthy individuals with dubious decor is extensive. Donald Trump's Trump Tower apartment, revealed in 2018, is a monument to opulence, with angelic painted ceilings, diamond chandeliers, and gilt everywhere. Designer Nichole Smith labelled it head-to-toe in 'gaudy gold,' defining the 'you can't buy good taste' side of the spectrum.
Mark Zuckerberg commissioned a 7ft tall oxidised copper statue of his wife, Priscilla Chan, for their garden, claiming to bring back a 'Roman tradition.' Lisa Marconi said she would be 'hiding her head in shame' if her husband did the same, calling the sculpture 'absolutely hideous and incongruous.'
Former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was caught in a colour clash in a 2021 pre-budget photo, sitting on a light blue sofa against royal blue cabinets. Marconi pointed out the 'cardinal sin of putting shades together that clash.'
Other notable mentions include:
- Lauren Sanchez, wife of Jeff Bezos, whose office with lip-motif curtains was mocked for looking like 'Barbie' and giving 'elementary school vibes.'
- Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch cinema, described as having 'strong school auditorium vibes.'
- Vijay Mallya's bizarre two-storey White House replica perched atop a Bangalore skyscraper, called an 'absolutely hilarious show of wealth.'
Interior designer Nichole Smith summarised the dichotomy, stating: 'The super wealthy either stay wealthy by making choices that prioritise practicality over pretentiousness. Or, on the other side of the spectrum, we see people like Trump who are consistently "poster-children" for old sayings such as "more money than sense."' The evidence suggests that when it comes to creating a beautiful home, limitless budgets are often the greatest hindrance.
