The Queen of Versailles
© Lauren GreenfieldThe Queen of Versailles tells the story of a billionaire family and their financial challenges in the wake of the economic crisis. The photo essay and interviews paint a portrait of two larger than life characters whose rags-to-riches success stories reveal the innate virtues and flaws of the American dream. The story begins with the family triumphantly constructing the biggest house in America, a 90,000 square foot home inspired by the Palace of Versailles in Ile-de-France and the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas. Over the next two years, their sprawling empire, fueled by cheap money, falters due to the economic crisis. Major changes in lifestyle and character ensue within the cross-cultural household of family members and domestic staff.
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