Philippe Naughton
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With earnings of more than $30 million a year, she rarely wakes up for much less than $100,000 a day. Now Gisele Bundchen has decided to stay in bed unless she's paid in euros.
In a dispatch to dismay loyal fans of the greenback, Bloomberg news agency reported today that the Brazilian supermodel is telling prospective employers that she no longer accepts American dollars.
Ms Bundchen reportedly asked Proctor & Gamble to pay her in euros when she signed a deal to represent Pantene hair products back in August. The Brazilian weekly Vega reported that she will also get euros for a recent deal with Dolce & Gabbana to promote the designers' new perfume.
"Contracts starting now are more attractive in euros because we don't know what will happen to the dollar," Patricia Bundchen, the model's manager and twin sister, told Bloomberg.
Ms Bundchen is in good company. The US dollar has lost around one-third of its value since 2001 and is trading at record lows against the euro, Canadian dollar and Chinese yuan. It is at its cheapest for 26 years against the pound sterling.
Bloomberg put Ms Bundchen alongside the billionaire investors Warren Buffett and Bill Gross "at the top of a growing list of rich people who have concluded that the currency can only depreciate because Americans led by President George W. Bush are living beyond their means".
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Quite frankly to bring up clinton over the current crisis is like blaming the dinosaurs for the polution.
The current downturn is due to the free for all institued in what was the most stable market: Housing. Now that the bottom has fallen out, we look at scapegoats. Clinton ain't it. The current president however I hate to say it ain't it either.
Capitalism woks only so far. We are hitting every rock one after the other and we are still blind. Communism was a dead end, so is capitalism, what is left?
Jacques, Annandale, Virginia, USA
Overated and overpaid clothes horse.
Viv, London, England
The quest for endless growth began in the Clinton Administration. Clinton could have kept these wars from happening by giving a reasonable response to terrorists attacks during his years, but he did nothing and led us to a point where the terrorists confidence grew to unprecedented heights. As far as Gisele, "super" models are way overrated. I'm amazed at the price they obtain. Models are a dime a dozen and not a big deal here in the states.
Kevin M, Richmond, USA / VA
I guess I'd tell Ms. Bundchen that if she doesn't want American dollars then she can't have American jobs.
Tracy, USA,
great articel
america - the only true superpower that has 'kept' world peace is crumbling. i live in canada and the canadians can't believe it. the administration is bankrupting the country and couldn't win any of these wars before they started,. Bush will keep his corporate cronies happy, oil will flow in texas and Papa will be proud .
the reality is the whole world is looking to get out of the dollar and it wil only be a matter of time before this administration is not 'eating at the top table'
who remembers the terrible earthquake in Turkey some 10 years ago - Clinton flew straight there to the scene - american approval ratings were over 90% - guess where they are now
i moved to n america because i love the way of life, the people, freedoms etc - but can't the American people see that there's 200 other odd countries who have their own agendas and this administration seriously insults their intelligence
simon baston, vancouver,
I think people who are (again) exuding anti-americanism on this issue need to take a lesson in economics. The devaluing of the dollar has some serious advantages in a market where China devalues it's own currency and trade deficits are high. People like Ms. Gisele are just trying to make MORE money by essentially cutting out the middle man in a currency market. The greed is from the people who insist on being paid this way, not those who devalue the dollar (which DOES'T enrich you).
Mr. King, Manchester,
So what? That is a political statement having nothing to do with what is best done with her money. Does anyone think that those Euros are going into a vault to be later spent? Rather you think her money will be invested in whatever way that will best protect her finicial interests? And who is to say where that will be?
tude dog, Portis, Kansas, USA
Money well spent
Charlie, reading,
As an American who cannot stand what this corrupt and illegal administration has done to my great nation I would like to thank Gisele for taking a stand against this lower dollar. There is more to a nation than fast growth. There is stability and economic security. The Fed and the Bush administration are too willing to sacrifice our national currency in their quest for growth. Our nation must focus on lowering the deficit through responsible government, end the bankrupting wars abroad, focus on stability like the Europeans, and give the dollar what it deserves - more value through stability. Good for you Gisele - Michael in CA
Michael Boh, Beverly Hills, CA
I bet Bush, Cheney and Bernanke don't keep their stash in dollar denominated assets either....
Matt, Redhill, UK