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The Man with the Golden … Shirt

Submitted by Karthik on 23 April, 2013 - 20:36

Datta Phuge of Pimpri Chinchwad, outside Pune, commissioned a gold shirt for himself. The end result weighs 3.3kg, comes with a velvet inner lining, and is unwashable.

Phuge says wearing it makes him feel good. For him it is the ultimate manifestation of achievement and gives him a status he has craved since he was young.

"When I was at college, people would say you were from a rich family if you had gold. So from the age of 20, I started wearing gold. Back then in smaller quantities, like 10 or 15g."

He made his big break as a property speculator, then became a money lender in the town of Pimpri Chinchwad, outside Pune.

Every six to eight months, when his company turns in a profit, he buys something else made of gold. Next on his list is a mobile phone made entirely from gold, and perhaps a pair of gold shoes.

The BBC has the (slightly dated) story as well as a video.

I'm sure the recent collapse in gold prices hasn't gone down well in the Phuge household, especially with his wife who apparently owns 500kg of the metal.