Giving Up Money For Love At 85? Let’s Hope They Have A Nest Egg
So according to the BBC, the Duchess of Alba at age 85, is giving away her personal fortune to marry a civil servant, a man 24 years her junior. She’s one of the richest women in Spain with a reported net worth of somewhere between $850 million and $5 billion – at least until she gives it to her kids.
It’s a smart move on her part since her children, until now, have opposed her plains to marry Alfonso Diez. What kid wouldn’t approve Mom’s marriage if they were to receive their inheritance in advance? I mean, they’ve been around her a lot longer than Mr. Diez, although it sounds as if the Duchess’ suitor has been of great comfort to her since the death of her two previous husbands.
Of course one could ask why an 85-year old woman needs anyone’s position to marry. She can damn well do as she pleases. And if Mr. Diez makes her happy, she should have married him a long time ago. But marriage is, ultimately, an economic union and if it makes it easier to see her grandchildren, I can understand the desire for her children’s’ blessing.
It’s terribly starry-eyed to postulate that her fiancé doesn’t want her money – only her. However, the reality is that some pocket change couldn’t hurt. After all, Mr. Diez, at 61, is no spring chicken himself and could be close to retirement. If they are not in tip-top health, they could go bankrupt fast.
I’m not sure what the figures are like in Spain, but according to the Agency For Healthcare Research & Quality, which is part of the U.S. Department of Healthcare & Human Services, reported that older people, age 65 and up, are more likely to consume a greater percentage of healthcare costs. Makes sense: our bodies wear out, habits catch up to us, and we don’t rebound as easily as we used to.
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