Wednesday, October 8, 2008

The Real Housewives of Atlanta: Are they headed to the poor house?


The Real Housewives of Atlanta is the most Beautifully Hideous show on television! On the one hand, I'm excited that the world is finally getting a glimpse into the lives of wealthy African-Americans, and it's not just in a Tyler Perry movie, on the other hand, with the exception of 1 person, all of the ladies are wealthy because of the athletic prowess of their spouses or ex-spouses, thus perpetuating the stereotype of African Americans and Sports, (I could have used a little more diversity there...where was Dr. Huxtable and his beautiful wife Claire, the attorney, when you needed them???!!!)

Don't get me wrong I'm excited to see these women whip out their checkbooks to write a check for $68,000 for a truck or $6000 for a dress and purse. I loved seeing their "castles" brimming with chef's, nannies, maids, makeup artist, hairstylist, clothing stylist, and assistants but I couldn't help thinking about an article that I once wrote about the startling number, (something like 80-90%), of pro athletes that were broke after they retired. I started thinking about those athletes who played long past their viable years because they couldn't afford to retire. After watching the show I could see why. Did these women hear about Major league baseball player Cecil Fielder and the estimated $45 Million fortune he lost, or Boxing champ "Iron" Mike Tyson and the estimated $500 Million he lost, including selling a 52 room mansion for just $4 million because he was bankrupt? None of these wives' husbands are making anywhere near what those guys made yet they are spending money like the proverbial "well" will never run dry.

I was reminded of a dear friend of mine who, like the lone Vanilla drop on the show, was the pampered pooch of a very successful man. She had condos and penthouse suites and extravagant clothes, jewelry, and cars but one day she got old, (Old is 45 when you're living in the fast lane). She soon went from a luxury penthouse to a hotel room to a friends couch, after her "big Daddy" sold the penthouse out from under her when his fortune changed.

My advice to these women ENJOY the life but be smart!!!! Create your own identity and cash flow. I'm sure its not a mistake that the one "housewife" with a career is the ex-wife of R&B crooner Keith Sweat, presumably she learned a lesson or two about having her own income from her previous marriage. A smart woman learns from their mistakes a smarter one learns from someone else's! I suggest these ladies start doing some serious homework! Starting with math!

~d-the-VIP

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