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News In Brief

How Meg could’ve spent her $140 million

Christina Huh Nov 8, 2010

$140 million can’t buy you the California governorship, but it can buy a lot of other — perhaps more satisfying — things. Lance Williams of California Watch blogged about what Meg Whitman could’ve bought instead of lots of campaign ads*. Among the items on the list:

Jackson Pollock’s “No. 5, 1948,” which sold for $140 million back in 2006, making it the most expensive painting in the world.

An F-22 Lockheed Martin Raptor jet fighter

My personal pick: The 3,000-acre Little Jennie Ranch in Jackson Wyo., including house, barns and gorgeous views of the Gros Ventre range (list price: $69.5 million) AND 1016 Madison Ave., a seven-story, 12,000-square-foot townhouse on Manhattan’s Upper East Side ($72 million).

The combined spending of the other 15 candidates on this November’s ballot came to just over $52 million. They could’ve pooled all their money, pitched in $17 million extra and had a fabulous timeshare in Wyoming.

Williams also put together a luxurious grab bag that includes a gigantic yacht ($100 milliion), a bling-encrusted TV ($2.3 million) and a Bugatti Veyron ($1.7 million).

*By the way, here’s what Whitman did get for $140 million.

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