Jamie McCarthy/WireImage.com; Frank Micelotta/Getty Images, Michael Buckner/Getty Images —Amanda Marie, via Facebook
First of all, it's not a rumored $4 million mansion. It's a $3.9 million mansion, OK?
And it's not like the purchase marked some leap in spending, for Miley's last mansion—and there was a last mansion—was worth only $3.4 million.
But why do the kids spend like that? I found out:
PARTY AT MILEY'S: See Miley's New Mansion
First, let's start with the stuff that actors clearly do not need. No, Lautner has no need for a fabulous TayTayMobile with doors like beetle wings and an engine that reportedly reaches up to 60 miles per hour in as little as four seconds.
So why did he buy it?
"This isn't a matter of need, it's a matter of want," says Simon Singer, a financial planner, and former child actor, who works with celebrities. "Nobody needs a $200,000 car or a $4 million mansion."
(Or a $55 million jet, if the stories about Soulja Boy are to be believed. And they maybe aren't.)
"The real issue," Singer explains, "is why haven't the people around them, parents and so-called advisors, ingrained in them the values and virtues that are far more important than things? Unfortunately, many of these parents and advisers are living off these kids, and the last thing they want is to discipline them or counsel them or advise them to the point where they might get fired."
In other words, of course these kids don't need these toys. But you go over there and tell the spoiled talent that. The rest of us will remain in our positions as yes people and reap the benefits therein.
Psychologists to the stars often tell me of another factor: A huge sense of entitlement. The kid has worked hard for years, ergo, in his mind, he somehow deserves a car that doubles as a beam of light.
And don't underestimate the power of a persuasive salesperson. Celebrities are constantly approached by people who want to sell them things, or act as liaisons between celebrity and luxury seller.
"Any halfway decent salesperson can convince a young person that really wants something, like an exotic car or piece exclusive piece of property, is that such things are a great investment, especially when they're pandering to this young person's 'want' mentality," Singer dishes. "So, a $4-million-dollar mansion could be presented under the guise of 'this is real estate and real estate always goes up in value, you can get out anytime you want, and make a substantial profit'."
As for that Soulja Boy jet, plenty of people suspect that the rapper is blowing a bunch of contrail smoke on that tale. However, in general terms, rappers buy stuff like this quite often.
And here's how it goes down, Singer says.
"I can see the sales presentation now: 'Forget the price tag, the cost is only $8 million a year, and it's [tax] deductible, so it really only cost you $4 million after taxes. You and your staff are always traveling so it really isn't much more than what you're currently paying, and think of the privacy and the convenience, and you're Soulja Boy, you're certainly entitled to make this purchase.
"Besides, you can always get out of it if it gets out of hand, and you'll probably make a profit as well, considering how inconvenient and restrictive commercial travel is nowadays'."
Know what else is really restrictive? Bankruptcy. Just sayin'.
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