In what must be the priciest ever trim, Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, one of the world’s richest men and the Sultan of Brunei, is reported to have spent in excess of $24,000 on his most recent haircut.
Prompted by his fear of catching swine flu, the Sultan of Brunei outlaid £11,000 (US$18,000) to fly his favorite barber, Ken Modestou, from London in an isolated private luxury cabin on board a Singapore Airlines flight.
Modestou runs a barber shop at the Dorchester Hotel in central London and normally charges his clients just £30 for a haircut, but the billionaire sultan pays him thousands of dollars for every haircut, as well as paying for his flights and putting him up at a luxury hotel for a few nights.
What a sweet deal for the barber!
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Luxury Haircut Services
- There is a growing demand for luxury and exclusive haircut services catering to the ultra-rich that could disrupt traditional barbershops.
- Health-related Luxury Services
- With increasing health concerns, there is an opportunity for luxury services and products catering to the rich that prioritizes safety and personalized attention.
- Private Travel Services
- Personalized and private travel services could disrupt traditional commercial airlines as the wealthy increasingly seek isolation and exclusivity.
Where This Applies
- Luxury Services
- Luxury service providers could benefit from catering to the specific needs of the ultra-wealthy who have concerns about safety and exclusivity.
- Personal Transportation
- There could be a growing demand for personalized and exclusive transportation services, such as private jets and luxury car services, as the wealthy seek isolation and exclusivity.
- Health and Wellness Services
- The health and wellness industry can benefit from providing exclusive and personalized services that prioritize safety, health, and exclusivity for the rich.
