“Because he was worth it.” ~ Liliane Bettencourt
“Trillions missing, where is it going, who has it…and what are they doing with it? Given the amount of money disappearing, we are funding a separate civilization.” ~ Catherine Austin Fitts
The Billionaire, the Butler, and the Boyfriend is a captivating French docuseries that provides insight into the intriguing life of Liliane Bettencourt, the French heiress and principal shareholder of L’Oréal. This three-episode series, released in November 2023, offers a fascinating glimpse into the complexities of the world of wealth, power, and controversy that surrounded her. Compelling narratives and a captivating in-depth exploration provide viewers with unique insights into Bettencourt’s life, including the scandals and controversies that shaped her reputation.
The docuseries features interviews with former staff members who worked closely with Bettencourt. It also includes excerpts from hours of covertly captured audio recorded by her own butler. This unprecedented access to Bettencourt’s private conversations offers viewers a rarely experienced perspective on the life of one of the most affluent women in the world.
The audio recordings, which were passed on to Bettencourt’s daughter, Françoise Bettencourt Meyers, unexpectedly revealed other significant aspects of Bettencourt’s life. The revelations include large gifts, undisclosed accounts, and questionable transactions, which garnered attention from both the media and the police.
Viewers are left intrigued and curious about the whereabouts of the approximately 917 million euros that were gifted in various forms to her close friend, the well-connected gay photographer François-Marie Banier, including gifts of valuable artworks by renowned artists such as Picasso and Matisse.
The series raises thought-provoking questions about Bettencourt’s choices and motivations regarding the sharing of her immense wealth. Ultimately, The Billionaire, the Butler, and the Boyfriend leaves viewers pondering the reasons behind her decision to bestow such substantial gifts upon Banier, a talented and charismatic figure in the art world, and invites speculation about the nature of their relationship (laundry vs. friendship), where the money really went, and the impact it had on Bettencourt’s life and legacy.
Related:
Liliane Bettencourt (Wikipedia)
François-Marie Banier (Wikipedia)
Françoise Bettencourt Meyers (Wikipedia)
L’Oréal heiress gives €1bn to photographer “because he’s worth it” (The Independent)
L’Oreal heiress scandal is back in the headlines (France24)
French police raid home of L’Oreal heiress (CNN)
Did man con French heiress out of $1.5 billion? (NBC News)
Where is Francois-Marie Banier now? Netflix’s The Billionaire, the Butler, and the Boyfriend covers the Liliane Bettencourt scandal, but he’s also Lily-Rose Depp’s godfather and releasing a memoir (South China Morning Post)
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