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The billionaire summer calendar: How the world’s wealthiest business icons spend their warmer months

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Olympics: July 26-August 11


The Olympic Games are a favorite for sports-loving billionaires like Bill Gates, seen here in 2008 at the Beijing Games.

Tony Marshall – EMPICS/Getty Images



While the Olympics are, in theory, an event for every spectator, billionaires enjoy the games a little differently and will do so in Paris this year.

For starters, one of the richest families in the world, the Arnaults of LVMH, is a major sponsor of the Games, and its members — including the third-richest person in the world, Bernard — will likely be highly visible attendees. One of Paris-based LVMH’s jewelry houses, Chaumet, is designing the medals; Moët & Chandon and Hennessy will be flowing at various events, and Sephora will host activations along the Olympic torch’s route.

Billionaires with no official connection to this year’s Olympics will no doubt be there, too, and in style.

Bill Gates and Rupert Murdoch have attended the event with their families in years past, and newly minted billionaire Magic Johnson has played for Team USA and carried the Olympic torch.

This year, the ultrarich are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to watch the most covetable events, meet athletes, and have a front-row seat for the Opening Ceremony, the Guardian reported. Tickets to events like the women’s gymnastics final cost $6,500 each from the official ticket seller.

Vistajet has seen an uptick in private flights booked to Paris around the Olympics, and luxury yacht brokerage Fraser has fielded a number of requests around the Games — including one client chartering a yacht to follow the windsurfing competition live.

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