They don't concern themselves with value meals or club cards. They spend their days basking in the glory of their riches -- diving into bouncy houses full of cash, swimming in infinity pools filled with Cristal, and jet-setting into different time zones to eat meals that cost more than most tax-payers' monthly paychecks.
They are the elite One Percent, and like their lifestyles, their gadgets are lavish, amazing, and categorically ridiculous. Here are some of the hardware treasures they might be buying with their 2011 tax refunds -- if, in fact, they're paying any taxes at all.
![]()
Speakers: Megatrend MkIII - $80,000
The term “wall of sound” is often thrown around too liberally in reference to large stereo systems. But the Megatrend MKIII speakers really do form an actual wall at seven feet tall and more than three feet wide. And that’s just one speaker. They come in pairs.
Each speaker (if you can call it that) comes in two pieces: the aforementioned wall with 24 eight-inch woofers, and an accompanying ribbon-line speaker tower for the high end. With four separate pieces covering the lowest lows to the highest highs, the Megatrend MKIII is a more than just an expensive speaker system -- it’s an audiophile's dream.
According to the manufacturer, Transmission Audio, the Megatrend MKII uses a dipole system that doesn’t rely on a cabinet case, yet delivers superior sound with only an eight-inch baffle. In lay terms, the speaker sounds amazing without having to rely on a deep speaker cabinet.
![]()
Watch: Harry Winston Opus 12 - $260,000
While many of us have forsaken wristwatches in favor of smartphones, the wealthy still adorn their wrists with amazing pieces of art. But unlike those Rothko paintings that simply surround the uber-rich with pure abstract emotion, an elite wrist-worn timepiece still fulfills a utilitarian task. Albeit in beautiful fashion.
The Harry Winston Opus 12 forgoes traditional minute and hour hands for startling blue metal arms that resemble daggers. A long hand indicates five-minute intervals, while a short hand indicates hours. A driving wheel turns the hands from grey to blue to indicate the time. At the top of the hour, the inner crown wheel rotates all of the hour hands in succession, then rests on the current hour. All this fancy technology is demonstrated in the video below.
The watch is constructed of 18-karat white gold with an anti-reflective sapphire crystal. The band is hand-sewn black alligator leather. Announced March 2012, only 120 pieces will be made, so sell your home and get your orders in soon.
http://bcove.me/lp6cqm5m
![]()
Motorcycle: Ecosse Titanium Series RR - $300,000
Before anyone brings up the $555,000 Dodge Tomahawk, let’s agree that it’s barely a motorcycle and more of a four-wheeled abomination. A real motorcycle has two wheels, and is a metaphor for freedom, justice and being a badass while whipping through town.
The Ecosse motorcycle is a piece of art that just happens to blow the doors off of every car you’ve ever owned. With a titanium chassis atop carbon fiber wheels, the bike might empty your bank account, 401(k), and any sort of college fund you've saved up for your kids. But when you’re barreling down the road with 200hp between your legs, you won’t care. You also might want to invest in a gym membership; 210-foot pounds of torque will rip your arms off if you’re not careful.
![]()
PC Workstation: MWE Emperor 200 - $45,000
All the ergonomic challenges of sitting at a mass-produced desk should disappear when you settle into the custom-built Emperor 200 -- or at least they better for $45,000. Each scorpion-shaped workstation is hand-built to customer specifications with three monitors, touchscreen control panel, air filtration system, light therapy illumination, and electric powered leather seat.
Upon sitting in the Emperor 200, users tap on the touchscreen to lower the monitors and nestle themselves into a computing bubble worthy of a Bond villain. Because each workstation is built to order, MWE labs can customize each installation to handle different computing platforms, even adding peripherals like iPhone docks. But this level of customization doesn't come quickly. After placing your order, it’ll take six months to build your Emperor 200 -- just enough time to get the volcano hollowed out for your secret lair.
They are the elite One Percent, and like their lifestyles, their gadgets are lavish, amazing, and categorically ridiculous. Here are some of the hardware treasures they might be buying with their 2011 tax refunds -- if, in fact, they're paying any taxes at all.
Speakers: Megatrend MkIII - $80,000
The term “wall of sound” is often thrown around too liberally in reference to large stereo systems. But the Megatrend MKIII speakers really do form an actual wall at seven feet tall and more than three feet wide. And that’s just one speaker. They come in pairs.
Each speaker (if you can call it that) comes in two pieces: the aforementioned wall with 24 eight-inch woofers, and an accompanying ribbon-line speaker tower for the high end. With four separate pieces covering the lowest lows to the highest highs, the Megatrend MKIII is a more than just an expensive speaker system -- it’s an audiophile's dream.
According to the manufacturer, Transmission Audio, the Megatrend MKII uses a dipole system that doesn’t rely on a cabinet case, yet delivers superior sound with only an eight-inch baffle. In lay terms, the speaker sounds amazing without having to rely on a deep speaker cabinet.
Watch: Harry Winston Opus 12 - $260,000
While many of us have forsaken wristwatches in favor of smartphones, the wealthy still adorn their wrists with amazing pieces of art. But unlike those Rothko paintings that simply surround the uber-rich with pure abstract emotion, an elite wrist-worn timepiece still fulfills a utilitarian task. Albeit in beautiful fashion.
The Harry Winston Opus 12 forgoes traditional minute and hour hands for startling blue metal arms that resemble daggers. A long hand indicates five-minute intervals, while a short hand indicates hours. A driving wheel turns the hands from grey to blue to indicate the time. At the top of the hour, the inner crown wheel rotates all of the hour hands in succession, then rests on the current hour. All this fancy technology is demonstrated in the video below.
The watch is constructed of 18-karat white gold with an anti-reflective sapphire crystal. The band is hand-sewn black alligator leather. Announced March 2012, only 120 pieces will be made, so sell your home and get your orders in soon.
http://bcove.me/lp6cqm5m
Motorcycle: Ecosse Titanium Series RR - $300,000
Before anyone brings up the $555,000 Dodge Tomahawk, let’s agree that it’s barely a motorcycle and more of a four-wheeled abomination. A real motorcycle has two wheels, and is a metaphor for freedom, justice and being a badass while whipping through town.
The Ecosse motorcycle is a piece of art that just happens to blow the doors off of every car you’ve ever owned. With a titanium chassis atop carbon fiber wheels, the bike might empty your bank account, 401(k), and any sort of college fund you've saved up for your kids. But when you’re barreling down the road with 200hp between your legs, you won’t care. You also might want to invest in a gym membership; 210-foot pounds of torque will rip your arms off if you’re not careful.
PC Workstation: MWE Emperor 200 - $45,000
All the ergonomic challenges of sitting at a mass-produced desk should disappear when you settle into the custom-built Emperor 200 -- or at least they better for $45,000. Each scorpion-shaped workstation is hand-built to customer specifications with three monitors, touchscreen control panel, air filtration system, light therapy illumination, and electric powered leather seat.
Upon sitting in the Emperor 200, users tap on the touchscreen to lower the monitors and nestle themselves into a computing bubble worthy of a Bond villain. Because each workstation is built to order, MWE labs can customize each installation to handle different computing platforms, even adding peripherals like iPhone docks. But this level of customization doesn't come quickly. After placing your order, it’ll take six months to build your Emperor 200 -- just enough time to get the volcano hollowed out for your secret lair.
