r/WeirdSideHustles • u/louiseq07 • 3d ago
Sharing My Sidehustle Duplicating a wealthy guy’s home items for his different houses across cities
I found this subreddit on tiktok and read a few posts here, might as well share a side hustle that I had a couple of years back. I took a part-time gig helping out a real estate guy. He was rich, like ridiculously wealthy. He pays me great for an oddly specific task which is replicating his wardrobe/supplies across his houses.
He owns houses in different cities. Every week, he travels from one house to another with nothing but just his phone. He wants to travel without luggage to carry. And my task here is to make sure every single thing he owns has an exact replica on each of his houses. From the clothes, to the shoes, tees, workout shorts, socks, even to the medicine cabinets and electric gadgets. Everything that he owns from the other house, should be found in the other.
Every week, I’d visit his main house and update an inventory spreadsheet of what’s new. He also updates me on the items he just bought recently so I had to look and buy the duplicates and ship it to the housekeepers of his other properties with complete info on which drawer or part of the house the items belonged to. Every time I shop for his things, I have to stand at checkout counters buying the exact same clothes that sometimes other people wonder if I have twins.
375
u/themundays 3d ago
I keep a bottle of Advil at home, and a bottle of the exact same kind of Advil at the office. So, I totally get it.
64
u/Helpinmontana 3d ago
Pleb. I keep a third bottle in my car.
15
u/GotSomeUpdogOnUrFace 3d ago
Big brain energy right here and I throw some in mints tin that I carry with me
29
u/Georginarothko 3d ago
I keep a lipstick on my entry table and a duplicate one in my purse. We are living large!
23
u/DifficultJellyfish 3d ago
Not to brag (but totally to brag), I have lip balm in like 6 different places, just so I always have some nearby.
5
u/PacificCastaway 3d ago
I've probably bought 100 lip balms, never finished using a single one, and it's always a miracle that I find one of them.
5
u/vexingcosmos 3d ago
I have tweezers, chapstick, and nail stuff everywhere where I exist for long periods of time. Car, bed, desk, office, bathroom, living room. It is glorious
1
u/LurkeyHereNa 3d ago
I have tweezers everywhere too. As for lip balm, it seemed like the more I had, the less likely I was to find one. Now I just keep one clipped to my purse, since I always have my purse nearby (even when I sleep).
3
1
146
u/batclub3 3d ago
As someone who grew up being shuttled between divorced parents and grandparents...I would have LOVED this. Nothing worse than getting to a house and realizing the clothes that you left there didn't fit or you didn't like any longer. I have a new goal in life.
14
u/Only_State_9648 3d ago
same here I had plenty of clothes .. my issue was half the outfit I wanted would always be somewhere else
3
u/throwaway82962 23h ago
Dude i literally have dreams about this sometimes. Just having to drag my laundry back and forth, and not knowing what I had at each house.
99
u/Automatic-Arm24 3d ago
How did you find this side hustle
48
u/throwaway098764567 3d ago
last time i read about one of these richie rich support staffers their father had been the driver for the family their whole life and because they trusted the driver they let his kid have a shot at being on staff and the kid did fine so that was their career being basically a personal assistant meets butler type deal.
11
u/mudcrabserpent 3d ago
So close but the driver's kid ends up doing odd jobs for the rich man's kid and they fall madly in love with each other even though the driver's kid was first in love with the rich man's other kid.
3
u/1337isntREAL_7357 3d ago
Is this a weird British show and the rich kids have a party and kill someone? Then at the end one of them gives up his trust fund to do peasant things?
2
u/Safe-Historian4028 1d ago
personal assistant meets butler type deal
they are called gofers (seriously) because they go'fer (go for) this and that.
source: did some work at Stanley Kubriks estate and met the families gofer.
43
u/Amanlikeyou 3d ago
He's the son
27
63
u/backlikeclap 3d ago
I met a family who lived this way once. They had 8 or so homes just in the US. They didn't have exact copies of their wardrobes at every home, but each home did get a fresh new closet to match the season. The other cool thing that happened when they were traveling to a new house was new floral arrangements in every room and restocked fridge/pantry.
42
u/Helpinmontana 3d ago
My wife did some babysitting when we worked at a premier rich people’s club.
The story she always recounts is the wife being imperiled by having to arrange where the cars would be and when. “No I said the Ferrari needs to be in Lisbon and the Lamborghinis go to Monte Carlo, not the other way around!” And then lamenting that it was so hard to have to deal with these people and how hard it was to find competent people.
She then joined her husband for a night out that cost them $35,000, and gave my wife a $10 tip ontop of her $80 for babysitting when they got home 2 hours later than expected. She said beyond getting paid the parents never acknowledged that she existed besides opening the front door for her when she got there.
22
u/backlikeclap 3d ago
That's so funny. That reminds me of another rich people story I have. I'm out with a friend of a friend a few months ago and he's just spent 40k on a round of something ridiculous for the five of us. We're walking to the next bar down the street and we pass some homeless people. My rich friend goes into the usual spiel about the homeless and I'm just listening to him thinking "dude you could get one of these homeless people permanently off the street for the amount you just spent on a round of cognac you won't remember a week from now."
1
u/Jaded-Educator7811 1d ago
and .. why did you only think it? not say it to your friend? why even be friends with someone like that
40
u/LittleChanaGirl 2d ago
Not to brag, but I used to buy my lipsticks three at a time (when I worked in an office). I’d keep one in my purse, one at my desk, and another in my bathroom. Now that I’m WFH exclusively, I buy multiples of chapstick.
3
u/Abiton150 1d ago
I have like 6 chapsticks all over that i use. At my home desk, in the kitchen, by the bed, in my purse, in my jacket, and at work.
24
18
u/StrangeCatch382 3d ago
The only thing that strikes me unusual about this is that people own houses in different cities to travel with the weather. Clothes that work in the desert in November don't work during the dry season in the tropics. Different wardrobes are needed in different locations. Same is true with electric gadgets. An Instapot is needed in a Swiss chalet but not in Bali.
21
u/bedlife2000 3d ago
If he's in real estate then he'd wear the same suit no matter the weather. And he'd workout in AC anyways, so same temp in every city.
7
u/electric_yeti 3d ago
There have to be location-specific items in each house, but a lot of basic wardrobe stuff is good for a variety of climates and weather. Like, cotton or light wool slacks and cotton button down shirts can be worn in the spring and summer almost anywhere, and with some layering can transition into fall and winter in a lot of places, too.
1
u/StrangeCatch382 3d ago
I dunno, I live half the year in one climate and half the year in another. Style, cut, materials... all quite different. Plus, they don't even carry the same brands between cities for an exact replica like what this guy is talking about to be possible. This includes for workout gear. Each place has its own luxury brands that serve as a signal to different populations with the best stuff being niche.
If it's the same city in the same country, maybe. Different countries, I'm calling this out for being a fake post.
6
u/HowdyDiarrhea 3d ago
If you can afford multiple properties, you can exist in the ideal climate 365 days a year. Whenever I buy something I like a lot, I'll often buy multiple copies so that I'll have the thing for as long as possible, depending on what that thing is. I definitely do it with clothes and shoes, for example.
3
u/mynameisnotsparta 3d ago
OP wrote they but the duplicate items and send them to the other homes. If they are buying everything in NY then it doesn’t matter if London or Paris doesn’t have ot because it’s bought in ny and shipped.
5
u/midships_weirdo 3d ago
If you get rich enough, you can control the weather to align with your favorite wardrobe/gadgets
4
u/Escritortoise 3d ago
That’s people who own a vacation home.
Someone who demands the exact same sartorial selection is probably just doing business and wants to check into what is their personal hotel without other people.
I’d you’re going door from plane to car to home to car to restaurants, a plain button up isn’t exactly out of the place anywhere.
10
u/Restart_from_Zero 3d ago
This is something I never would have thought of, but makes total sense.
If I was rich, I'd totally duplicate all my clothes.
Pity I'm poor.
3
u/7laserbears 3d ago
I think I'll start small and buy 365 pairs of socks to get that new sock feeling everyday. Use them once and...then...donate them? Can you do that?
8
6
5
u/Gadgetman_1 3d ago
This is a massive timesaver for him.
He has everything he needs, stored in the same location in every home. He doesn't need to pack anything when he travels because he already has it lined up at his destination.
No holdup in baggage claim, no lost luggage that needs to be handled, no fighting for space in the overhead lockers... (Of course, he probably fly first class, so that's not really an issue)
Spill something on his shirt during lunch?
No problem, he's got the same shirt hanging in a closet at his nearest home, Drop the soiled one into the laundry bag and the local staff will get it cleaned up while he travels to the next home wearing the clean one he picked up.
And if he's got a bit of OCD... coming home to everything in its place, everywhere is probably a big relief.
4
u/0ttr 3d ago
I’ve done this myself (not hired anyone) as I have a second home that is a tiny condo as its near where i have a long term but mostly remote contract. so not poor but not particularly wealthy either my main house is below the average for my town. I have duplicated a few favorite shirts and pants. but that said, if i find clothes I like I often will buy it in multiple colors esp if it’s on sale.
5
u/Gold_Tech 3d ago
Couldn’t the rich guy just buy the stuff in multiples?
6
u/missbwith2boys 3d ago
Technically the rich guy is buying multiples, he’s just farming out the distribution of those multiples. OP isn’t buying the stuff out of his own pocket.
3
u/zenprime-morpheus 3d ago
NGL I totally get this guy. Like yeah I'd love to live in multiple cities for their regional stuff, but to go home and have my stuff be the same no matter what city I was in would be so relaxing.
3
3
u/gangofocelots 3d ago
I used to work for a wealthy guy and one time he forgot a nice shirt when he came to town so he went and bought 2. $240. Each. White button up shirts. They were definitely really fucking nice tho
3
u/HyperBeamMissed 3d ago
Traveling light is incredible.
I was working Monday to Thursday in Indiana and offline Friday to Sunday in Texas for 6 months or so. I started leaving my luggage/backpack in the office in Indiana and would just fly with my phone, wallet a charger cable and air pods. I felt like I owned the airport.
3
u/Swimming_Juice_9752 3d ago
I also do that by buying four packs of Burt’s bees and putting them in various drawers and bags
3
3
u/what-the-functor 2d ago
Everyone has different priorities, but long before I were near that level of rich, I would not be buying shirts that come in cellophane bags with tags, that someone has to stand in line to buy.
Everything would be custom tailored. No visible logos. No tags, because they were never destined for a rack. The tailor would come to my house to take my measurements which they'd keep on file. Need 3 new oxford shirts in a certain shade of blue... my assistant would call them up, and they'd be sent to the 3 houses.
3
u/SwimmingStatement951 1d ago
We did the same for our houseboat .. could travel empty handed .. not rich but it’s very nice to walk into your personal getaway with all the comforts of home plus the beautiful scenery!
3
u/NeilRobertBanks 1d ago
What happens when there's no way to duplicate an item? Do you have to get rid of the original one and find one that can provide copies or are "kinda the same" items on the table?
What I mean is how exact is the requirement? Is there any tolerance or just like in the picture it needs to be the exact same item?
2
u/zoomaswego 3d ago
This sounds strangely like someone I know. Does this guy have property in Arizona and NYC?
2
2
u/Silly_Scallion_8792 3d ago
That's a good idea and so convenient since he only needs to memorize where his things are in his main house
2
u/goldness_justice_16 3d ago
Geez some people really wants to be the same person whenever they go to different places, but still you are working for a person so rich they have backups for every places hope that pays well my dude
2
2
u/missbwith2boys 3d ago
Sounds like a great side hustle.
I have a family member that works for a wealthy person. They set up their houses similarly. I suppose so they’ll always be able to find some kitchen tool or what have you no matter which house they are in.
2
u/TrifleNo5620 3d ago
Now I really need to know what happens to the stuff he is wearing on travel days…..
1
u/Own-Poetry-9609 3d ago
If it gets left at the non-origin house it gets re-deplicated in double back to the origin house
2
2
2
u/ZucchiniAcrobatic127 3d ago
To be fair I’m not sure this is all that odd for people who have multiple residences.
We are not rich-rich but we have homes in different countries and travel back-and-forth fortnightly or so. The clothes are not exactly duplicated as the environs and sports / activities are quite different for each location (city home v mountain home) but everything else is 1-for-1 - toiletries, electronics, clothing basics, kitchen stuff, even cleaning supplies, food non-perishable, and types of cat litter.
Lets us fly on a few hours whim, if needed, with just a backpack; and every few months we do the trip driving with the car full of restocks both ways. It’s very nice to be able to travel without even a toothbrush and pair of socks or face cream, knowing it’s all already there for you.
2
u/dividezero 1d ago
I've had multiple living spaces before temporarily and i really liked having different things in each. was a surprise going back and seeing stuff i forgot i had.
2
u/Ski_No_Cap 1d ago
I got the same thing going, I keep one set of toiletries in the truck camper and another in the house. On a real note, it is so nice to only have to grab a jacket to go camping bc all my stuff is already in the truck. Also means I don’t have to unpack when I get back.
2
u/Omghimom 1d ago
Not rich but split time half and half between France and the US and I tend to buy 2x of everything I truly like so I can travel light. It’s actually a lot of work to make sure I actually have underwear in both houses and the correct meds and makeup, etc. I’m not ballin that hard but I can see how useful it would to have someone focused on that. Especially with changing seasons.
2
u/mjrpainless 1d ago
I'm mildly on the spectrum and have multiples of the same thing to make life easier not having to decide what to wear.
2
1
1
1
u/e37d93eeb23335dc 3d ago
If he gets a stain on a shirt, do you have to duplicate the stain on other shirts?
1
u/blahblah19999 3d ago
I think the president of a now defunct bank, maybe MBNA, had 2 yachts in different parts of the country that were apparently laid out like this, exact duplicates of each other.
1
1
u/lvitsa 1d ago
Why would he tell you where to buy things and not just buy multiples each time he buys something new? Then all you have to do is distribute.
1
u/tarantuletta 2h ago
A lot of rich people are surprisingly frugal in extremely certain areas. Especially if they're picky about fabric or fit, I can see just getting one then having the butler get more if you like it. Probably easier for the staff to order more than to return a ton.
1
u/SAINTnumberFIVE 14h ago
The guy is my people. I would absolutely do this if I were incredibly wealthy and had multiple homes.
1
1
u/Affectionate_Mess488 1h ago
But what happens to the clothes he travels in? He shows up in a blue shirt, throws it in the laundry, puts on a clean shirt from the new place, but now this place has two of the same shirt. Do you do the laundry and take it back to the house of origin?
1
u/KeremBaturP 1h ago
get this, specific travel shirt. say all his normal shirts are blue, this one should be red and when youre leaving for the new house just put on the red shirt
1
u/Zestyclose-Daikon801 1h ago
Why are you in my head? This was my first thought. He’s going to throw everything out of balance, if he doesn’t wear the same clothes when he leaves. And then what? 🤣🤣🤣🤣
1
u/bulgogi19 3d ago edited 3d ago
This sub just popped up on r/all and no shade on your hustle (it's hard times and we all need money) but this is the dumbest, most unnecessarily consumerist shit ever.
For god's sake, just pack a bag. If he's that filthy rich, charter a jet when it's time to go home I guess. If this is a mark of "success & wealth" maybe humanity's reign should truly end lol
5
u/Chatty_Cathy_Doll 3d ago
Agreed until you said to charter a jet.
1
u/bulgogi19 2d ago
I mean that's obviously dumb and wasteful too but obviously rich people are gonna be excessive and wasteful in some form.
1
u/helladiabolical 1d ago
If he’s rich enough that he can pay someone a yearly salary to do this for him, he owns his own jet.
-1
u/MutedAstronaut9217 3d ago
not a fan of people finding out about reddits from tiktok and coming over.
This post is quality nothing against OP.
But I don't like the direction. Reddit has been shit for like 8 years. This isn't going to help.
768
u/imperfectchicken 3d ago
I can appreciate that kind of luxury. If I was stupidly, gargantuan mountains of rich, having a personal concierge handle the logistics of my comfort would be amazing. Just... a level of convenience the plebs couldn't begin to fantasize about.