is an intern at The Root and senior journalism major at Howard University.
All You Need is a Mortgage
Does Dad need a new home? The largest one-family home in America is being built in Florida. Of course, you need $75 million to pay for it. The owner, who made his money in time shares, doesn't want the 13-bedroom, 23-bath, 90,000-square-foot that resembles France's Versailles Palace. Amenities include a 20-car garage and 1.4 miles of lakeshore. And the builder didn't forget the kids. The house has an arcade, a bowling alley and a roller rink. Take a tour.
Captions by Frank McCoy
One for the Garage
Every father needs a couple of sweet rides and no minivan. Why not get him a 62S Landaulet? He can pick up a beauty made by Maybach, a division of Daimler AG, for just $1,380,000 from Maybach USA. By the way, Sean John bought a Maybach for his 16-year-old son. Dad should also be happy he doesn't have to raise that kid.
Another One for the Garage
If Dad feels the need for speed, head to Lamborghini Newport Beach, in Cali, and pick up a $221,000 Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder or a $450,000 Lamborghini Murcielago for him. They look fast standing still. Watch 'em go on the road and on the track.
When Dad Absolutely Has to Have a Fly Ride
Contact the Vulcan Motor Club to put him behind the wheel of a Ferrari 599GTB, Lamborghini LP560-4, or a Shelby Cobra 427 S/C, and other cars in this exclusive fleet. Gold and platinum annual memberships in the ''fractional supercar sharing company,'' range from $24,500 to $42,000 to drive these high-end whips for 10 to 40 days a year. Teach Dad how to drive very fast by enrolling him in the Vulcan Motor Group World Class Driving class. Then for $4,995, torque it up to 200 mph with a Ferrari, Lamborghini, or Bentley on a closed airstrip.
A TV to Go With Your Mansion
OK. Pop. You found your dream house. Now you just need a few large-screen televisions to watch the World Cup. Bang & Olufsen, the Danish maker of high-end audio/visual products, will hook you up with a set that won't be dwarfed by your rooms. Each Bang & Olufsen BeoVision 4-103 plasma television, weighs 1,100 pounds, is 103 inches diagonally, and costs $230,000. Watch the BeoVision 4-103 demo here.
An iPad with a Platinum Sheen
Now this is one way for Dad to make his buddies jealous. Pull out a $437,000 iPad, customized by Stuart Hughes. The iPad Supreme Platinum Edition is encased in the shiny metal and has 173 individually set diamonds, which makes this device a hefty five pounds, nine ounces. But move fast, Hughes only plans to sell five such iPads. You can always settle for a gold one.
Around the World At Your Own Pace
With One World, Dad can traverse the globe. A first-class package on major carriers includes the following stops: London-Bahrain-Mumbai-Bangkok-Hong Kong-Sydney-Nadi (Fiji)-Honolulu-Los Angeles-Santiago-Buenos Aires-London, for $34,000. Of course, depending on where you live you may have to book a flight to-and-from London.
Nice, France is Beyond Nice
There is no reason to think that only Samuel L. Jackson, Naomi Campbell, and Jay-Z and Beyonce can hang out in the south of France. Pop can join them at the five-star Grand Hotel du Cap-Ferrat, in the French Riviera. Deluxe suites are available for $850 per night in the low season (most of March and November) and prices rise to $4,200 in the high season from June through September.
Visiting Southern Africa
Ultimate Africa Safaris will create an unforgettable two-week trip. Spend time in Cape Town, South Africa, taking personalized tours of Robben Island—where Nelson Mandela was held—Table Mountain, a vast wine district, and the township of Khayelitsha. Then board Rovos Rail, to Pretoria, and fly to Botswana. The country has spectacular game parks, with first-class accommodations, to see the big five: lions, elephants, rhinos, Cape Buffalo and leopards. Next on to Zambia to see the ''Smoke That Thunders,'' as Victoria Falls is called. The best time to visit the falls is from June through August. The package that includes all the above events will run you about $18,000 per person.
Fishing in Mongolia, Trekking in Nepal
If Dad wants a bespoke suit, or an individually tailored tour in Asia, Remote Lands is ready to serve. He can travel to Mongolia to fly fish for taimen, the world's largest salmon. Stay at the Peninsula Shanghai and visit the bustling city's World Expo, then head to the new AmanFayun hotel, and play golf nearby. For more exercise, walk among the Himalayas in India, Nepal and Bhutan. All sites have five-star amenities, and trips start at $750 and go up to $1,000 per person per day, for all expenses.
A $116,000 Suit Looks Good on You
Since this is a fantasy gift guide, London's Alexander Amosu has a luxury bespoke suit for your dad, and sick bling to go with it. Amosu designed the world's most expensive suit using gold thread, diamond buttons, Vicuna, Himalayan Pashmina and a hell of a lot of nerve. But that's not all, Amosu sells limited edition cell phones including three customized with yellow gold and 4,459 diamonds.
Looking Good, For A Bit Less
If Dad wants a cutting edge, custom-made suit, he could try designer threads from Ozwald Boateng, whose clothes are displayed in his Saville Row store. Fans of his fashion-forward, bold cut, color-infused suits, shirts and accessories include Seal and Herbie Hancock. A handmade two-piece bespoke suit costs about $3,150 plus tax, and will take four to six weeks to complete.