America's Road to Wealth

Chapter 291 The chain of contempt among wealthy families
When you come to the first floor and face the entire reception venue.

On Abel's face, his business-like smile was put on again.

His smile was called "Apollo's smile walking in the world" by Ms. Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief of the American version of the world's first fashion festival "VOGUE", a well-known female devil in the fashion industry.

In many American fashion magazines and entertainment magazines, those photos taken by "VOGUE" with this kind of smile are very popular among American women and even many women in the world.

To a certain extent, he has become the perfect man and god in the minds of many women.

At this moment, the owner of "Apollo's Smile Walking in the World", as Anna Wintour said, was looking for little Laura among the crowd.

Abel soon discovered that she was at the core of a group of ladies and ladies, and she happened to be smiling at the moment, and she seemed very comfortable.

Next to him was Joanna, a senior housekeeper, who helped and supported her. Abel was very relieved of little Laura.

Madam diplomacy and handkerchief diplomacy are also a crucial part of this kind of reception occasion.

With herself, little Laura had to adapt sooner or later.

And with her status, the energy and fame of her family, father and brothers, women of any status will respect her somewhat when they see her.

Combined with the identity of Abel's female companion.

The sum of all these is enough for little Laura to face any female guests with an equal, even somewhat superior attitude.

This is the reason why many big families in the world are pursuing the right family.

Not to mention the right family, the most important factor is the strong alliance between the two sides.

Only in relatively simple social situations.

If the hostess' portal status is not high enough.

When holding a reception like this tonight, something embarrassing might happen.

For example, if now, replace little Laura with Annie, Jessica and the others.

These Hollywood girls may not even understand the unspoken rules and etiquette rules of many receptions, and they will definitely make jokes.

Behind it will definitely attract discussions in the circle.

Although it is harmless overall, the big families are not willing to have this happen.

Let alone Annie and the others.

On occasions of this level, even Ikana's background is not enough.

Don't think Ted Lerner is a billionaire.

Ikana is as remarkable as the daughter of a billionaire.

Inside the billionaires, there are also ranks and chains of contempt.

For example, Hugh Hefner, the founder of Playboy, is the lower ring of the chain of contempt in the rich circle of the United States.

In the eyes of traditional American giants, Hugh Hefner is an old man selling pornographic magazines.
Ted Lerner, Ikana's father, is better than Hugh Hefner. He is a real estate businessman and a rich second generation.

But real estate developers are also relatively low-end in the food chain of American commerce.

What's more, what Ted Lerner did made him very criticized in the circle.

Even his family members have no sense of presence in the circle.

Above the Ted Lerner family, there is a family like Hilton that has some heritage but lacks wealth.

The Hilton family has not been the top family in the United States from the beginning to the end, but just a family with heritage in the hotel service industry.

Not even the most exclusive in the hotel.

Last year's Forbes ranking, Barron Hilton was at the bottom of the list of the 30 richest people in the United States with assets of about [-] billion US dollars.

Barron is also a bit better than Ed Lerner, and Ikana's dad isn't even on the 400 list.
Those wealthy families above the Hilton family are the real wealthy families.

For example, the Hearst family of the Amanda sisters.This family holds most of the shares of the Hearst Group and is one of the old wealthy families in New York.

According to Forbes, its property is about 165 billion US dollars.

However, the shares within the family are relatively scattered, and the Hearst family has many members, and it does not rank high on the 400 richest list in the United States.

To count the wealth of the entire Hearst family, there is only one place.

The families above the Hearst family can be regarded as princes in the whole United States.

Take the Adelson family in Nevada, for example.

The family owns the world's largest gaming company, Las Vegas Sands.

It's a casino empire with $140 billion in annual revenue.

Adelson holds a 52.3% stake in the company, and Forbes calculates the family's wealth at $389 billion.

In addition, Adelson is an oilman. He is also one of the big men in the oilman.

Above the Adelson family, there are only Koch and Cargill.

Above Koch and Cargill are the leading families of the top ten consortiums in the United States.

For example, even the names of Morgan and Rockefeller will become asterisks when they are typed.

It's the bosses of the Federal Reserve, the real family of controllers in this country.

In the contempt of this rich consortium.

Internet upstarts like Bill Gates and super-rich new billionaires like Buffett are in another strange position.

And outside of this food chain, there is another chain of family contempt.

That's the Shrubs, the Kennedys, the Adamses, and the like.

There is no doubt that among these chains of contempt, the shrub family belongs to a very high-end existence.

The previous Smith family did not belong to a wealthy consortium, but because of their influence and connections, they belonged to a wealthy family in a small place.

It can be regarded as a member of the chain of Zhengzhi clan.

In this chain, from a national point of view, the former Smith family has a similar ecological niche to Ikana's family in this chain of contempt.

It's just that the Smith family has an Abel.

Abel attracted the bush family, and the two sides combined wealth and power.

All of a sudden, the status of the Smith family was extremely elevated.

It's a bit like the Buffett family, with a Warren Buffett.

Like this evening, there were even scenes of British diplomats and diplomatic envoys from various countries.

With the current connections and aura of Ikana's family, there is a high probability that she will not be able to hold it.

Her father came here at this time, and his position was always on the lower side.

Her family's status is extremely high, so unless her father is the one you know, he will be considered one of the real rich families at that time.

In this kind of scene, if a rich consortium lady is allowed to come, at least Cargill and Koch will be able to handle it with ease.

The status of shrubs in the contempt chain of Zhengzhi clan is slightly higher than that of Koch and Cargill in the contempt chain of plutocrats, but it is also the existence of different chains at the same level.

Looking at the little Laura who was able to do everything with ease, Abel also had to admit it in his heart.

In the European and American world, especially in the United States.

If I really want to develop into a wealthy family, I need a suitable mistress, the mistress of my own family.

Both identity and ability are indispensable.

The most typical example is the shrub family.

This family was able to make a fortune because there were two consecutive generations of good mistresses.

Little Laura's great-grandmother, Dorothy, brought help from the Walkers to the Bush family.

Back then, the Walker family had a great influence on Wall Street and belonged to one of the financial giants.

Little Laura's grandmother, Barbara, was originally named Barbara Pierce.

The Pierce family is a colonist family from New England.

Barbara is related to Franklin Pierce, the 14th General of the United States.

From the point of view at the time, the two sides were a strong alliance, and the bush family became stronger.

After the marriage of these two generations, the shrub family took off completely and became a wealthy family.

The Smith family relies on only one financial powerhouse super predator, at most it can develop into a strengthened version of Buffett.

If it goes well, it may become a new family like Morgan in a few generations.

If it doesn't go well, it's probably just the second Vanderbilt family.

Abel knew that, and so did Alexander and Alex.

Father and son Alexander and Alex are so eager for the marriage between Abel and the shrub.

Because in this country, wealth plus power is the foundation that will last forever.

Abel also understood this point, and later, little Laura's character could be accepted by him.

He only agreed to this union.

Thinking of this, Abel couldn't help sighing in his heart.

In the beginning, he was a reborn traverser.

But he is ambitious and wants to break this order and build another order of his own.

It's a pity that the talent is not strong, and it is only useful in finance.

In other respects, he found himself no different from ordinary people.

At most, if you have better physical fitness, you may live longer than others in the future.

It is impossible to break reality by relying on finance alone.

Even if the power of finance is strong in the United States.

Because those with vested interests, they can completely disobey financial rules and fight him in the financial battlefield if necessary.

But in the actual battlefield, Abel knew that he couldn't fight these old bastards.

It's just a matter of unplugging the network cable, and it's not like they can't do it.

Unplugged the network cable, or lost finance.

It ruined more than half of Abel's talent.

In the end, Abel, who originally wanted to break this order and create his own order, chose to integrate himself into this order.

He wants to climb up in this order, and eventually become the existence at the top of the pyramid of order.

If you can't beat it, then join it, and even become its brain.

This is Abel's choice.

After all, it's collusion.

Abel smiled wryly, but watched the scene of the fire cooking oil and flowers.

Abel felt that being in the same boat had its benefits.

For example, in this order, he is high enough to be able to do whatever he wants most of the time.

For example, now, after he appeared at the reception, someone with a heart came to him.

are two lawyers at Clifford Chance LLP.

Barrister Timmy Owen, and trainee solicitor Aymo Alamuddin.

Timmy Owen is still the kind of gentleman who is extremely gentle, no matter his appearance or clothes, he is explaining the appearance of "gentle scum".

As for Aymo Alamuddin, Abel almost thought he was wearing a hat.

Because tonight's Amo Alamuddin looks too much like Abel's Annie.

Especially that kind of temperament, when Anne is not stupid, when she smiles, she is almost carved out of the same mold as Aimo Alamuddin in front of her.

When people who don't know the truth see the two, they will definitely think that the two are related by blood, sisters, or even twins.
This Amo Alamuddin, this evening, is wearing a Burberry backless white tuxedo.

This beautiful dress helped her outline the perfect curve of her back.

A slender golden ribbon looped around her neck, blocking the heart clasp of the crescent chain.Wearing a Swarovski crystal bracelet on her wrist.There is light makeup on her face, and a unique crescent chain hangs obliquely around her neck.

This dress also resembled Annie, which made Abel couldn't help but take a few more glances.

After looking at it carefully, Abel felt that Anne was more refined.

In contrast, Aymo Alamuddin has a more exotic feel in the desert area and is a little thinner.

What makes the two more alike is their temperament when they are neither talking nor laughing.

"Mr. Smith, good evening." Timmy Owen saw Abel staring at the trainee lawyer.

The barrister was very happy.

He felt that the rumors were true, and the beauty trap was indeed useful to this super rich man.

Young people, no matter how rich they are, they are more powerful.

In the face of beauties, there is no resistance.

Timmy Owen, who also came from a young age, thought so in his heart.

"Good evening." Abel and Timmy Owen shook hands with a smile.

Clifford Chance is as good in London as Ms. Caroline in New York.

Abel's several companies here have signed strategic cooperation agreements with Clifford Chance.

This law firm is very sincere, and the price and treatment given are very high.

Abel was very satisfied with this, so he naturally maintained a certain degree of respect for the senior management of this law firm, such as Timmy Owen in front of him.

It's Aymo Alamuddin tonight, whose temperament and dress are too similar to Annie.

Abel couldn't help shaking hands with her, "Hello, ma'am, you look too much like a friend of mine."

Aymo Alamuddin smiled slightly.

Abel thought she even smiled alike.

When Annie wasn't giggling or laughing out loud, she smiled reservedly, which was also the same way.

The appearance and temperament are similar, which can be said to be natural.

It's a coincidence that they all look alike.

But similar smiles are the same, and Abel already understands in his heart.

Timmy Owen probably had some other purpose in bringing the high imitation version of Anne in front of him.

But what if there is no purpose?
Abel is not so afraid of such beautiful girls now.

Too many people know about his hobbies.

Too many people want to do this to him.

He continued to chat with Timmy Owen, "Mr. Owen. Clifford Chance, as far as I know, is the best law firm in the UK and even in Europe that specializes in M&A and bond law. Then Mr. Owen thinks that if this time let What are the chances of Rolls-Royce suing BMW?"

When Timmy Owen heard Abel's request, the barrister was startled.

Aymo Alamuddin heard it from the side, and it was even more inexplicable.

All right, how do you get Rolls-Royce to sue BMW?
These two are luxury brand car companies, is there any contradiction between them?

Aymo Alamuddin didn't know.

But Timmy Owen deserves to be a professional barrister, and he is also worthy of being one of the top snakes in the London legal circle.

Timmy Owen responded quickly, and the barrister asked softly:

"Mr. Smith, do you mean to let Rolls-Royce sue the acquisition two years ago?"

Abel smiled and nodded, expressing his satisfaction with the business ability of the senior partner of Clifford Chance.

"That's right." Abel said leisurely to Timmy Owen: "I am friends with Ativan. You should know Ativen, right?"

Timmy Irwin nodded, Etivon is the current CEO of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.

This evening, Timmy Owen also met this gentleman at the reception just now.

As for saying that Ai Tiwen is Abel's good friend, the barrister doesn't quite believe it.

A young rich man far away in the United States is good friends with a high-end wage earner in the United Kingdom.

The age difference between the two is so much that it is unlikely.

But on the surface, Timmy Irwin continued to smile and listen.

"Ai Tiwen believes that the acquisition two years ago. The two German automobile groups used some disgraceful means to trick Rolls-Royce Motors."

Abel said: "Etivon believes that this is suspected of violating relevant British laws. But he is not a lawyer. So Mr. Owen, I want to consult you."

After listening to what Abel said, Timmy Owen thought carefully.

Having said that, Timmy Owen was able to know what Abel was talking about so quickly.

That's because BMW and Volkswagen were racing to buy Rolls-Royce more than two or even three years ago.

Clifford Chance was involved and provided part of the legal services.

That's why Timmy Owen knew about it.

In October 1997, Vickers Group, the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, announced that it would sell Rolls-Royce.

Germany's BMW and Volkswagen competed to buy, but Rolls-Royce finally took a fancy to BMW.

At that time, Volkswagen was still a company selling cheap cars in the eyes of the public.

Rolls-Royce doesn't care.

However, Rolls-Royce looks down on the public, but the public has a soft spot for Rolls-Royce.

On April 1998, 4, Volkswagen, which had a soft spot for Rolls-Royce, announced that it would continue to compete with BMW for the right to acquire Rolls-Royce after being rejected by Rolls-Royce.

Much like licking a dog.

As a result of the final outcome, a decision will be taken at the general meeting of the Vickers Group at the end of April 1998.

In this regard, Volkswagen stated that it will come up with a higher quotation, as well as a revised plan to maintain the operation and development of Rolls-Royce's brand-name products.

Sure enough, two of the larger shareholders in the Vickers Group expressed dissatisfaction with the sale of Rolls-Royce to BMW.

Therefore, the Vickers Group hoped that BMW would increase the offer, but was rejected, saying that 10 billion marks was the highest offer.

On July 7 of the same year, the Vickers Group decided to sell Rolls-Royce to Volkswagen for 3 billion marks.

On July 7, less than a month after Volkswagen spent huge sums of money to buy Rolls-Royce, it announced that it would be handed over to BMW.

BMW revoked the decision not long ago to terminate the supply of engines and other accessories for Rolls-Royce, and agreed to Volkswagen's production of Rolls-Royce until December 2002, 12.

Timmy Owen went through the acquisition in his mind from beginning to end.

From the perspective of ordinary people, this acquisition is not a big problem.

It's not that A and B go to buy C together.

C wants to sell himself to A, but B pays more, and finally sells to B.

A was upset and said that he would not play with C in the future.

Then B and A did not know how to negotiate, bought B from C, and then sold C to B.

The process was ups and downs and complicated, but in the end it didn't look illegal.

This is from a normal person's point of view.

But in the eyes of an old litigator like Timmy Owen who has been immersed in British law for many years.

If you really want to pick a thorn, there are simply too many places to pick.

For example, whether the resale of C between B and A is legal, and whether it meets the needs of C's internal employees.

Another example is between C and A, whether there is a possibility of coaxing B to buy C at a high price.

If you want to pick, a barrister like Timmy Owen can pick at least a dozen places to target in litigation.

After clearing this up, Timmy Owen looked at Abel, "I personally think that this acquisition case is not compliant in many ways."

The old complaint stick said: "At least now, I can think of at least 11 places that are not so compliant."

Seeing Timmy Owen say that, Abel smiled.

Abel looked at Timmy Owen, and he said softly:

"In this case, can I hand over the demands of representing Rolls-Royce to sue BMW and Volkswagen to Clifford Chance?"

"Ah~ Although I really don't want to admit it."

Timmy Owen gracefully gave Abel a hatless salute, looking very gentle.

"But I have to admit that in this case, the law firm that can satisfy employers most in the UK must be Clifford Chance!"

"Mr. Smith, if you leave this matter to us, Clifford Chance will definitely give you a satisfactory result!"

Therefore, Abel sometimes likes to cooperate with these guys who play law in Europe and America the most.

These lawyers in Europe and the United States, many times, they can open their eyes and tell lies for their employers.

Laws without loopholes can find ways to help you create loopholes.

It is extremely considerate, and the service attitude is better than the other.

Just like last year.

Even a hardliner like Robert Morgenthau, a traditional political giant on the east coast, had to show softness to Abel under the crazy siege of these old suitors.

As long as there is money to hire this group of people, as long as there are enough people in this group.

That is often the case, especially when no personal life or huge interests are involved.

Most interest groups are afraid of these guys.

The premise is that you must be able to pay their legal fees and must be rich.

Then these European and American lawyers will let you enjoy what is called "the customer is God".

as for the law
For this group of people, it is a tool for them to make money, a means for them to make a living.

Abel reached out to Timmy Owen, and the barrister quickly shook hands with Abel.

Abel said: "Then I will wait and see. Soon Rolls-Royce Motor Company and Vickers Group will approach Clifford Chance to help them achieve justice."

"Justice!" Timmy Owen smiled as gently as ever.

"This is the mission of all our lawyers!"

(End of this chapter)