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The richest people in tech aren’t just splurging on cars or yachts anymore. They’re filling their homes with rare and wildly expensive art and furniture, like a $456,000 chair, a $1 million sofa, or even a rhinoceros-shaped cabinet worth nearly $20 million.
A new Bloomberg report revealed how these ultra-rich homeowners treat their houses like private museums, with furniture so valuable it could belong in the Louvre. And because of that, their housekeepers have had to level up too. Cleaning these homes isn’t a simple job, it’s practically art conservation.
One housekeeper, Gina, said she has to study on her own to learn about antiques and artwork before touching anything. “You’ve got to know about art. You’ve got to know about antiques. There’s a lot of custom pieces, and of course, they’re not replaceable,” she explained.
Before the pandemic, top housekeepers earned around $60,000 a year. Now, many won’t take less than $100,000, plus benefits. Social media users are actually cheering for them, saying these housekeepers deserve every bit of it. After all, they’re the guardians of luxury objects that may one day end up in museums.
And when you’re working for people like Jeff Bezos or Elon Musk, it’s not like they can’t afford it. Bezos reportedly rented out all of Venice for a private event, so paying six figures to the person who dusts his million-dollar sofa doesn’t exactly break the bank.
Still, even the best-trained staff can make mistakes. One housekeeper once polished her client’s vintage doorknobs until they gleamed, only to find out later she had stripped off their expensive finish. The damage? Seventy-five thousand dollars. The client didn’t even get angry. They just blamed themselves for not training her better.
So yes, the new “gold rush” isn’t just for tech workers. It’s also for the people who keep their mansions spotless, and make sure a $1 million couch stays dust-free.