Celebrity Net Worth: Matt Damon buys LA penthouse for $8.6m
In our fortnightly celebrity investment and wealth round-up, Rory McIlroy denies he was offered $850 million to join LIV Golf and Amitabh Bachchan invests in plot of land
The apartment offers views of Beverly Hills, the Hollywood Hills and the San Gabriel Mountains through floor-to-ceiling walls of glass, luxury lifestyle magazine Robb Report said.
The two-bedroom, two-bathroom property at 8899 Beverly, one of Los Angeles’ newest and most luxurious condominium buildings, offers just under 2,900 square feet of living space.
Designed by architecture firm Olson Kundig, 8899 Beverly is the tallest residential building in West Hollywood, according to the development's marketing materials.
The apartment came on to the market last summer at nearly $9 million, the report said.
Chief among the unit’s amenities is a 1,600 square foot private outdoor terrace, which the listing noted is one of “the grandest and most expansive outdoor spaces available in the building”.
Other bespoke touches include a handcrafted leather door handle leading to the gourmet kitchen.
Damon will shell out nearly $5,000 per month in homeowner dues at the new building, according to the Robb Report.
The Oppenheimer actor, his wife and four daughters left their Pacific Palisades, California, mansion in 2020 for a 6,200 square foot penthouse in Brooklyn, New York,the report said.
Damon and his wife bought the Pacific Palisades mansion in 2012 for $15 million and sold it for $18 million in 2021 to its current owners, former Warner Bros chief executive Ann Sarnoff and her husband, private equity guru Richard Sarnoff.
For the past several years, the Damon family has primarily resided in New York, where they split their time between the $16 million penthouse in the trendy Brooklyn Heights neighbourhood and an $8 million estate in the upstate enclave of Bedford Hills, the report said.
Damon’s 2020 move to Brooklyn caused quite a stir at the time, according to the New York Post's gossip website Page Six.
Not only did the purchase mark Brooklyn’s priciest apartment sale when Damon bought the penthouse in 2018 for $16.7 million, the Bourne actor had also shut down an entire street in the neighbourhood to house moving lorries filled with furniture. A crane was used to hoist the family's belongings into their new home, the report said.
Damon, 53, ranks as one of the highest-grossing actors of all time. He’s appeared regularly in films since his 1988 debut in Mystic Pizza with standout roles in Saving Private Ryan, The Departed, the Bourne franchise and Good Will Hunting, for which he won an Academy Award for best original screenplay.
He has a net worth of $170 million, according to wealth tracking website Celebrity Net Worth.
Rory McIlroy has been one of the most outspoken golfers against LIV since the $2 billion project first emerged in 2022. Getty Images
Rory McIlroy
Pro-golfer Rory McIlroy has denied a rumour that he was offered $850 million to join the Saudi Arabia-backed LIV Golf circuit.
London newspaper City AM published a story on April 14 alleging that LIV offered McIlroy $850 million and an equity stake in the league worth about 2 per cent to leave the PGA Tour.
The newspaper cited two separate sources about the possible deal.
However, McIlroy has denied the claim, saying his loyalty remains with the PGA Tour.
“I honestly don’t know how these things get started. I've never been offered a number from LIV, and I've never contemplated going to LIV,” McIlroy told the Golf Channel during a practice round before the RBC Heritage.
“For me, my future is here on the PGA Tour, and it's never been any different.”
The four-time major champion has been one of the most outspoken golfers against LIV since the $2 billion project first emerged in 2022, believing those who left to play for the league shouldn't be allowed back on the PGA Tour.
While McIlroy has eased up on that position, he's still continued to oppose LIV and its events.
LIV is backed by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia.
“I’m sure there’s players who are still playing on the PGA Tour who still talk to the guys from LIV and had offers,” he said.
“It’s never even been a conversation for us. It’s unfortunate that we have to deal with it; this is the state that our game’s in. I’ll play the PGA Tour for the rest of my career.”
The Florida-based Irish golfer has a net worth estimated at $170 million, thanks to tournament wins and endorsements, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
Indian actor Amitabh Bachchan has a net worth of $400 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Reuters
Amitabh Bachchan
Indian actor Amitabh Bachchan has bought a plot of land worth 100 million Indian rupees ($1.2 million) in the coastal town of Alibaug, in the west Indian state of Maharashtra, to build a luxury villa, according to Indian daily Economic Times.
“The actor has bought the land parcel spread over 10,000 square feet from The House of Abhinandan Lodha for over 100 million rupees,” ET said, quoting a source.
The actor, 81, bought the plot in a project called A Alibaug, Indian daily Hindustan Times said.
Earlier, Bachchan had bought land from the same builder in the temple town of Ayodhya.
Alibaug has emerged as a preferred real estate destination for high-net-worth individuals seeking luxury retreats and investment opportunities, according to Indian media reports.
Bachchan is reported to have a net worth of $400 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
Over the years, the veteran actor has become involved in a range of business ventures.
In 2013, he purchased a 10 per cent stake in Indian technology company Justdial. Over the years, his initial investment led to significant gains.
He also has a 3.4 per cent stake in cloud computing company Stampede Capital.
His family owns about $250,000 worth of shares in Meridian Tech, a US-based consulting company, Celebrity Net Worth said.
Bachchan has an extensive real estate portfolio with multiple properties in India. He owns five bungalows within the Juhu-Vile Parle Development Scheme of Mumbai.
In 2023, Bachchan and his wife, Jaya Bachchan, gave their Pratiksha bungalow, the first of their five family homes in Juhu, to their 49-year-old daughter Shweta Nanda as a gift, the Hindustan Times reported.
Pratiksha was the first bungalow the couple purchased shortly after the success of his blockbuster Sholay was released in 1975.
One of their bungalows was leased to Citibank for a considerable rental income. Citibank vacated the property in June 2019 after the expiry of the lease, according to the HT.
The same property has now been leased to State Bank of India for 1.89 million rupees a month for 15 years, the daily reported in 2021.
The actor reportedly also owns a number of agricultural land plots in Bhopal, Barabanki and Lucknow.
Bachchan has acted in more than 200 films in a career spanning more than five decades.
Sofia Vergara's personal fortune stands at $180 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Getty Images
Sofia Vergara
Actress Sofia Vergara has finally sold her Beverly Hills, Tuscan-style villa two years after its listing.
The property was listed in June 2022 with a nearly $20 million asking price. The listing price of the 11,000-square-foot Mediterranean manor slashed to $13.7 million, according to the Robb Report.
The Modern Family actress bought the house 10 years ago for $10.6 million and gave the 2006 home a contemporary makeover.
The seven-bedroom property offers 11,369 square feet of living space and has been remodelled by Los Angeles designer Jennifer Bevan, the report said.
Hidden behind walls, gates and a towering hedge, celebrity neighbours include Eddie Murphy, Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg.
Vergara, 51, and her husband, Joe Manganiello, have since invested in a larger property in the area. Their new seven-bedroom, 17,100-square-foot property is in the same Italian villa-style as their previous home and was formerly owned by baseball player Barry Bonds.
The actress acquired the property in 2020 for $26 million, according to Robb Report.
Inside Sofia Vergara and Joe Manganiello's Beverly Hills mansion – in pictures
The seven-bedroom Tuscan-style villa is located in Beverly Hills 90210. Photo: Sotheby’s International Realty
Manicured lawns encircle the outdoor swimming pool. Photo: Sotheby’s International Realty
The 'Modern Family' actress purchased the Tuscan-style property in 2014 for a reported $10.6 million. EPA
A dramatic spiral staircase leads up to the property's first floor. Photo: Sotheby’s International Realty
Colourful artworks dot the walls. Photo: Sotheby’s International Realty
The monochrome home office. Photo: Sotheby’s International Realty
The property's sumptuous home cinema. Photo: Sotheby’s International Realty
An open-plan chef's kitchen features a marble-topped island and a table for six. Photo: Sotheby’s International Realty
The bar area is decorated in black and white. Photo: Sotheby’s International Realty
High ceilings and a neutral colour palette define the living spaces. Photo: Sotheby’s International Realty
The interiors are light and airy. Photo: Sotheby’s International Realty
Vergara and Mr Manganiello met at a White House Correspondents dinner in 2014, became engaged six months after they began dating and were married in November 2015.
The Colombia-born actress and model – best known for her 11-season run as Gloria on the TV series Modern Family –ranked as the highest-paid television actress for many years.
Today, her net worth is estimated at $180 million.
A substantial part of Vergara's wealth comes from her television work – most notably through Modern Family.
She also earns considerable income through brand endorsements and appearances in commercials. She also earned $10 million a year as a judge on America's Got Talent.
Vergara has a jeans brand that is sold exclusively at Walmart, a line of furniture and several perfumes. In a typical year, Vergara earns $40 million to $50 million from all her business endeavours, Celebrity Net Worth estimates.
Asia Cup Qualifier
Venue: Kuala Lumpur
Result: Winners play at Asia Cup in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in September
Fixtures:
Wed Aug 29: Malaysia v Hong Kong, Nepal v Oman, UAE v Singapore
Thu Aug 30: UAE v Nepal, Hong Kong v Singapore, Malaysia v Oman
Sat Sep 1: UAE v Hong Kong, Oman v Singapore, Malaysia v Nepal
Sun Sep 2: Hong Kong v Oman, Malaysia v UAE, Nepal v Singapore
Tue Sep 4: Malaysia v Singapore, UAE v Oman, Nepal v Hong Kong
Thu Sep 6: Final
Asia Cup
Venue: Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Schedule: Sep 15-28
Teams: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, plus the winner of the Qualifier
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024. It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine. Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages]. The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts. With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians. Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved. Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world. The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
Founder: Jon Richards, founder and chief executive; Samer Chebab, co-founder and chief operating officer, and Jonathan Rawlings, co-founder and chief financial officer
Based: Media City, Dubai
Sector: Financial services
Size: 120 employees
Investors: 2014: $500,000 in a seed round led by Mulverhill Associates; 2015: $3m in Series A funding led by STC Ventures (managed by Iris Capital), Wamda and Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority; 2019: $8m in Series B funding with the same investors as Series A along with Precinct Partners, Saned and Argo Ventures (the VC arm of multinational insurer Argo Group)
The figure was broadly flat immediately before the Covid-19 pandemic, standing at 216,000 in the year to June 2018 and 224,000 in the year to June 2019.
It then dropped to an estimated 111,000 in the year to June 2020 when restrictions introduced during the pandemic limited travel and movement.
The total rose to 254,000 in the year to June 2021, followed by steep jumps to 634,000 in the year to June 2022 and 906,000 in the year to June 2023.
The latest available figure of 728,000 for the 12 months to June 2024 suggests levels are starting to decrease.
India squads
Test squad against Afghanistan: Rahane (c), Dhawan, Vijay, Rahul, Pujara, Karun, Saha, Ashwin, Jadeja, Kuldeep, Umesh, Shami, Pandya, Ishant, Thakur.
Sunrisers Hyderabad 178-6 (20 ovs) Chennai Super Kings 181-2 (18.3 ovs)
Chennai win by eight wickets
THE SPECS
Engine: 3.6-litre V6
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 285bhp
Torque: 353Nm
Price: TBA
On sale: Q2, 2020
TOURNAMENT INFO
Fixtures
Sunday January 5 - Oman v UAE
Monday January 6 - UAE v Namibia
Wednesday January 8 - Oman v Namibia
Thursday January 9 - Oman v UAE
Saturday January 11 - UAE v Namibia
Sunday January 12 – Oman v Namibia
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Waheed Ahmed, Zawar Farid, Darius D’Silva, Karthik Meiyappan, Jonathan Figy, Vriitya Aravind, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Basil Hameed, Chirag Suri
Ground floor banquet hall: 370 square metres to accommodate about 750 people
Ground floor multipurpose hall: 92 square metres for up to 200 people
First floor main Prayer Hall: 465 square metres to hold 1,500 people at a time
First floor terrace areas: 2,30 square metres
Temple will be spread over 6,900 square metres
Structure includes two basements, ground and first floor
TEAMS
US Team
Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth
Justin Thomas, Daniel Berger
Brooks Koepka, Rickie Fowler
Kevin Kisner, Patrick Reed
Matt Kuchar, Kevin Chappell
Charley Hoffman*, Phil Mickelson*
International Team
Hideki Matsuyama, Jason Day
Adam Scott, Louis Oosthuizen
Marc Leishman, Charl Schwartzel
Branden Grace, Si Woo Kim
Jhonattan Vegas, Adam Hadwin
Emiliano Grillo*, Anirban Lahiri*
* denotes captain's picks
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Plan to boost public schools
A major shake-up of government-run schools was rolled out across the country in 2017. Known as the Emirati School Model, it placed more emphasis on maths and science while also adding practical skills to the curriculum.
It was accompanied by the promise of a Dh5 billion investment, over six years, to pay for state-of-the-art infrastructure improvements.
Recent developments have also included the introduction of moral education - which public and private schools both must teach - along with reform of the exams system and tougher teacher licensing requirements.
Each player begins with one of the great empires of history, from Julius Caesar's Rome to Ramses of Egypt, spread over Europe and the Middle East.
Round by round, the player expands their empire. The more land they have, the more money they can take from their coffers for each go.
As unruled land and soldiers are acquired, players must feed them. When a player comes up against land held by another army, they can choose to battle for supremacy.
A dice-based battle system is used and players can get the edge on their enemy with by deploying a renowned hero on the battlefield.
Players that lose battles and land will find their coffers dwindle and troops go hungry. The end goal? Global domination of course.
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
The five stages of early child’s play
From Dubai-based clinical psychologist Daniella Salazar:
1. Solitary Play: This is where Infants and toddlers start to play on their own without seeming to notice the people around them. This is the beginning of play.
2. Onlooker play: This occurs where the toddler enjoys watching other people play. There doesn’t necessarily need to be any effort to begin play. They are learning how to imitate behaviours from others. This type of play may also appear in children who are more shy and introverted.
3. Parallel Play: This generally starts when children begin playing side-by-side without any interaction. Even though they aren’t physically interacting they are paying attention to each other. This is the beginning of the desire to be with other children.
4. Associative Play: At around age four or five, children become more interested in each other than in toys and begin to interact more. In this stage children start asking questions and talking about the different activities they are engaging in. They realise they have similar goals in play such as building a tower or playing with cars.
5. Social Play: In this stage children are starting to socialise more. They begin to share ideas and follow certain rules in a game. They slowly learn the definition of teamwork. They get to engage in basic social skills and interests begin to lead social interactions.
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
GroupA: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
