From ornamental hermits to blue horses, explore the extravagant world of Victorian-era opulence.

In the 1800s, the wealthy elites had a knack for spending money in ways that would make modern-day billionaires blush. While the average Joe Farmer was busy trying not to die of cholera or from starvation, the upper crust was living it up in true Victorian splendor.

Today, we'll look into the extravagant world of 19th-century opulence and discover how the rich and famous of yesteryear burned through their fortunes with unparalleled panache.

Real Estate Revelry

First on the list of extravagant expenses was the must-have status symbol of the era - the country estate. Nothing said "I'm filthy rich" quite like owning a sprawling manor with more rooms than one could possibly use. These mansions came complete with perfectly manicured gardens, stables full of prize-winning horses, and an army of servants to cater to every whim.

But why stop at one estate when you could have several? The truly wealthy often maintained multiple properties, including townhouses in fashionable city districts for the social season. London's Mayfair and New York's Fifth Avenue became hotbeds of aristocratic one-upmanship, with each new mansion trying to outdo the last in terms of grandeur and excess.

Some particularly eccentric nobles took their real estate obsessions to new heights. The 5th Duke of Portland, for instance, built an underground ballroom and a network of tunnels beneath his estate, Welbeck Abbey. Because nothing says "I have too much money" like hosting subterranean soirées.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art - The Gilded Age

Servant Shenanigans

Speaking of servants, no self-respecting aristocrat would be caught dead without a small battalion of staff. From butlers and footmen to ladies' maids and scullery maids, the wealthy kept enough employees to populate a small village. The hierarchy of servants was complex, with each role carefully defined and each uniform meticulously designed to reflect the wearer's status within the household.

But some nobles took their staffing needs to ridiculous extremes. One particularly eccentric nobleman even hired a hermit to live in his garden, because why not? Known as "ornamental hermits," these individuals were paid to grow their beards, dress in robes, and live in picturesque hermitages on the estate grounds. It was the 19th-century equivalent of having a life-size garden gnome, only with more philosophical musings.

Another popular addition to the wealthy household was the "whipping boy" - a young lad employed to take punishments on behalf of the family's children. Because nothing says "responsible parenting" like outsourcing discipline to the help.

Fashionable Frivolities

Fashion was another arena where the rich flexed their financial muscles. Ladies donned elaborate gowns adorned with precious gems and exotic feathers, while gentlemen sported top hats, tailcoats, and enough gold chains to sink a small ship. The truly daring might even splurge on a pair of shoes for each foot - a revolutionary concept at the time.

The Victorian era saw the rise of the "dandy," a man who placed particular importance on physical appearance and refined language. These fashionable gentlemen, epitomized by figures like Beau Brummell, could spend hours getting dressed and dedicate entire rooms to their wardrobes.

One particularly extravagant dandy, Count d'Orsay, was known to change his gloves up to six times a day. Because nothing says "I have too much time and money" like obsessing over hand hygiene in an era before germ theory was widely accepted.

For the ladies, crinolines and corsets were all the rage, despite their impracticality and potential health hazards. Some fashionable women wore corsets so tight they could barely breathe, leading to fainting spells that became almost fashionable in themselves. The wealthy would spare no expense on these undergarments, with some corsets featuring whalebone, steel, and even gold embroidery. Because if you're going to constrict your internal organs, you might as well do it in style.

Fashion Trends in the Victorian Era

Traipsing and Travelling

Travel was also a favorite pastime of the wealthy. Grand Tours of Europe were all the rage, allowing the rich to collect art, sample fine wines, and look down their noses at the local peasantry. These trips could last for months or even years, with some travelers bringing along entire entourages of servants, tutors, and artists to document their journeys.

Some adventurous types even embarked on African safaris, because nothing says "money to burn" like shooting endangered animals for sport. These expeditions were not for the faint of heart (or light of wallet), requiring extensive planning, equipment, and a willingness to risk life and limb in pursuit of the perfect trophy.

For those who preferred their adventures closer to home, hot air ballooning became a popular, if somewhat dangerous, hobby among the elite. Because nothing says "I have more money than sense" like floating thousands of feet above the ground in a wicker basket powered by an open flame.

Parties and Peculiarities

Of course, no discussion of 19th-century excess would be complete without mentioning parties. Lavish balls and soirées were the cornerstone of high society, featuring exotic foods, imported champagne, and enough candles to give a fire marshal a heart attack. One particularly extravagant hostess even dyed her pet horse blue to match her party's color scheme - talk about commitment to a theme!

These events were opportunities for the wealthy to showcase their riches and compete for social standing. Guests might be treated to elaborate ice sculptures, live exotic animals, or performances by famous musicians and actors. One American millionaire, Bradley Martin, threw a costume ball in 1897 that was so extravagant it caused public outrage and political backlash. The guests' costumes alone were said to be worth millions in today's money.

For those who preferred a more intellectual pursuit, collecting rare books and manuscripts became a popular hobby among the wealthy. Some bibliophiles went to extreme lengths to acquire prized volumes, engaging in bidding wars and even resorting to theft. The Earl of Ashburnham was known to have stolen books from the Royal Library in Paris, proving that even aristocrats weren't above a bit of light larceny in pursuit of their passions.

Epicurean Excesses

The dining habits of the 19th-century elite were equally extravagant. Multi-course meals featuring exotic ingredients and elaborate presentations were the norm. Oysters, caviar, and champagne flowed freely, while dishes like ortolan (a tiny songbird eaten whole) showcased both wealth and a certain disregard for animal welfare.

Some wealthy individuals took their culinary obsessions to new heights. The infamous "King of Diamonds," Harry Winston, once hosted a dinner party where the soup was served with a genuine pearl in each bowl for guests to keep as a souvenir. Because nothing says "I have more money than taste" like serving inedible jewelry with the appetizer.

Wine cellars became status symbols in their own right, with some collectors amassing thousands of bottles of rare and expensive vintages. The 3rd Earl of Bute was said to have a wine cellar so vast that it took his butler three days to compile an inventory. One can only imagine the headaches (both financial and alcohol-induced) such a collection must have caused.

Philanthropic Pursuits (or Lack Thereof)

While some wealthy individuals of the 19th century did engage in philanthropic endeavors, many preferred to keep their fortunes firmly in their own pockets. Those who did give often did so in ways that ensured their names would be remembered for generations to come. Funding hospitals, libraries, and universities that bore their names was a popular way for the rich to immortalize themselves while doing a bit of good for the common folk.

Others took a more... creative approach to charity. Lady Lewson, a wealthy widow, was known for throwing handfuls of coins out of her window to watch poor children scramble for them. It was like a twisted version of feeding ducks in the park, only with more potential for injury and significantly less bread.

So there you have it, the wealthy of the 1800s proved that having money doesn't necessarily buy taste, but it certainly buys a lot of interesting stories for future generations to marvel at. From underground ballrooms to blue horses, ornamental hermits to oysters with pearls, the rich of the 19th century knew how to spend money in ways that were both impressive and utterly baffling.

So the next time you feel guilty about splurging on avocado toast or the latest smartphone, just remember - at least you're not hiring a garden hermit, dyeing horses blue, or risking life and limb in a wicker basket thousands of feet above the ground.

The extravagances of the past serve as both a fascinating glimpse into history and a reminder that, sometimes, having too much money can lead to some truly questionable decisions. But hey, at least it makes for good stories.