What I Saw as a Fake Billionaire | Fakes, Frauds and Scammers

Summary by Krater

Artist Andi Schmied discusses her project 'Private Views', for which she pretended to be a billionaire to tour Manhattan's ultra-luxury high-rise penthouses, exploring the absurdity of these exclusive properties and the inequality they represent.

From the video

Answers: How did an artist pose as a billionaire to tour Manhattan's most expensive penthouses?

• Manhattan ultra-luxury high-rise penthouses
• Real estate speculation in New York City
• Wealth inequality and luxury housing
• Artist residency and guerrilla photography

What it concludes

• Ultra-luxury real estate developers manipulate the city to the disadvantage of everyone else by catering to overseas and local investors who often leave apartments empty.
• The ultra-luxury real estate market in New York City creates a trickle-down effect that raises the value and cost of everything beneath it.
• Ultra-luxury high-rise buildings are primarily a form of investment rather than homes, leading to buildings that stand mostly empty and cast massive shadows over the city.