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The Alaska deal (1867)It is one of the costliest mistake in history done by russia,as to sell alaska to USA for 7.2 million dollarIn 1867, Russia sold the territory of Alaska to the U.S. for $7.2 million. A mere 50 years later, the Americans had earned that amount back 100 times over.Alaska before the saleIn the 19th century, Russian Alaska was a center of international trade. In the capital, Novoarkhangelsk (now known as Sitka), merchants traded Chinese fabrics, tea and even ice, which the southern United States needed before the invention of the refrigerator. Ships and factories were built, and coal was mined. People already knew about the numerous gold deposits in the area. Selling this land seemed like madnessRussian merchants were drawn to Alaska for the walrus ivory (it was as expensive as elephant ivory) and the valuable sea otter fur, which could be procured by trading with the indigenous peoples of the region. Trading was done by the Russian-American Company (RAC), which was started by adventurers — 18th-century Russian businessmen, courageous travelers and entrepreneurs. The company controlled all of Alaska’s mines and minerals, it could independently enter into trade agreements with other countries, and it had its own flag and currency — leather “marks”.These privileges were granted to the company by the imperial government. The government not only collected massive taxes from the company, it also owned a large part of it — the tsars and their family members were among the RAC’s shareholders.The Russian PizarroThe main ruler of the Russian settlements in America was the talented merchant Alexander Baranov.Alexander Baranov. Source:GettyImages/FotobankHe built schools and factories, taught the native people to plant rutabaga and potatoes, built fortresses and shipyards, and expanded the sea otter trade. Baranov called himself the “Russian Pizarro” and took a liking to Alaska not only with his purse, but also with his heart — he married the daughter of an Aleut chief.Under Baranov, the RAC brought in enormous revenue: more than 1,000 percent profit. When an ageing Baranov resigned his duties, he was replaced by the captain lieutenant Hagemeister, who brought with him new employees and shareholders from military circles. Statute now dictated that only naval officers could lead the company. The strongmen quickly appropriated the profitable business, but it was their actions that ruined the company.Filthy lucreThe new masters set astronomical salaries for themselves — common officers earned 1,500 rubles per year (this was comparable to the salaries of ministers and senators), while the head of the company earned 150,000 rubles. They bought fur from the local population for half price. As a result, over the next 20 years, the Eskimos and Aleuts killed almost all the sea otters, depriving Alaska of its most profitable trade. The native people suffered and staged uprisings that the Russians quashed by firing on the coastal villages from military ships.The officers began to look for other sources of revenue. Hence the trade in ice and tea began, but the ill-fortuned businessmen could not organize this sensibly either, and lowering their salaries was unthinkable. Consequently, the RAC was transferred to state subsidies — 200,000 rubles per year. But even this did not save the company.A check in the amount of $7.2 million, for the purchase of Alaska. Source: Getty ImagesThen the Crimean War broke out, and Britain, France and Turkey stood against Russia. It became clear that Russia could neither supply nor defend Alaska — the sea routes were controlled by the allies’ ships. Even the prospect of mining gold dimmed. There was a fear that the British might block Alaska, and then Russia would be left with nothing.Tensions between Moscow and London grew, while relations with the American authorities were warmer than ever. Both sides almost simultaneously came up with the idea of selling Alaska. So Baron Eduard de Stoeckl, Russia’s envoy in Washington, opened talks with U.S. secretary of state William Seward on behalf of the tsar.The Russian flag refuses to come downWhile the bureaucrats were negotiating, public opinion in both countries opposed the deal. “How can we give away land that we have put so much effort and time into developing, land where the telegraph has arrived and where gold mines have been found?” the Russian newspapers wrote. “Why does America need this ‘ice box’ and 50,000 wild Eskimos who drink fish oil for breakfast?” the American press asked indignantly.The press was not alone in this sentiment — Congress also disapproved of the purchase. But on March 30, 1867, in Washington, D.C., the parties signed the agreement to sell 1.5 million hectares of Russian property in America for $7.2 million, or about 2 cents per acre ($4.74/km2) — a purely symbolic sum. At that time, an unproductive plot of land in Siberia with the same surface area could have cost 1,395 times as much on the domestic market.But the situation was critical — the Russians risked not even receiving this.the accompaniment of a canon salute. However, the flag got tangled at the top of the pole. The sailor who climbed up for it threw it down, and it accidentally landed on Russian bayonets. It was a bad omen! Afterward, the Americans started requisitioning the buildings of the town, which was renamed Sitka. Several hundred Russians who decided not to take American citizenship had to evacuate on merchant ships, and they did not reach home until the following year.In the mid-1980s, Michael J. Boskin, a Stanford University economist, estimated that Alaska's oil and gas reserves alone were worth at least $200 billion. But new discoveries have outstripped production, and Boskin was assuming a price of $26 a barrel for oil, less than a third of today's pricesBut overall it saved the tsarist russia from some debts and it was a win-win deal for both russia and usaIn 21st century Alaska is very valuable to USAsource- www.rbth.com

Richard Bridgeman, current Earl of Bradford, sold the he family home and went into the restaurant business for many years. Hugh Grosvenor, current Duke of Westminster, has worked in estate and property management for others as well as, since inheriting the title before turning 30, managing the significant family trusts and property.Some nobles, such as the Law Lords, are barristers made peers for life so that they may bring their insight to House of Lords deliberations. Their children do not inherit these titles. Their job is to work as legal thinkers and advisors. On the other hand, the current Earl of Devon was a lawyer - and working in Los Angeles - until his father died and he inherited the title and estate. He juggles the estate with his current law practice in London (he commutes) AND being active in the House of Lords. His wife runs the castle as an events venue; they live on upper floors. They are extremely wealthy on paper but much of it is in the value of the castle and 3,500 acres of land.The Earl of March unlike the Earl of Bradford still has the family estate in the family. It’s a summer festival grounds as well as the building being a wedding and conference venue. It helps keep the house in the family.Charles Spencer, Earl of Spencer, keeps the family property, Althorp, but is a professional writer and journalist.Every family no longer has a stately crumbling pile. Bradford is one of many who have sold, while the last Earl of Cawdor left the he title to his son but the estate to his second wife. The Earl of Cardigan sold the family pile in 2014 for 12 million pounds as while all the money he had was going into it, the house still lacked functioning hot water. Cardigan is retired now, and one hopes his more modest home has heat and hot water in abundance.Some barons have been or are currently businessmen of repute, while various actors like Lawrence Olivier have been made life barons when their original knighting seemed inadequate after their later work. Not surprisingly, Olivier used his time to earn money by continuing to act.The current Duke of St Albans lives and works in central London. His family estate has been a hotel for some time. He has his employment and the London social scene that does not include Saudis or Russian billionaires.So how the British nobility spends their time depends on whether they’re operating wedding or bed and breakfast businesses or festivals from their estates, whether they manage them personally, whether they have sold them, and so on. It depends on whether they took up a profession or career after university. Nobles teach, write, act, practice law and medicine, sell estates, sell or collect art, or sometimes are made nobles for the purpose of being in Parliament - only three hereditary dukes remain in the House of Lords (there are 24 non-royal dukes), but others are created life Lords in order to utilize their expertise. So some are in Parliament. Others are in government service.Since WWI, the role of nobility has changed dramatically, and they no longer make serious money in agriculture. Some are wealthy, some are property rich and cash poor, and others no longer have family money; the class is not as tight-knit socially as it once was. These days it’s not all gambling at the club and fun. Most work quite hard, even many of the richest. The aristocracy is no longer the wealthiest class in the UK; that’s now business owners and foreign investors.

The economy of Ukraine is really bad and their GDP per capita is around 2600 USD which is even worse than Vietnam. It came to Chinese as a huge surprise since we always look up to Caucasians. Some of non-native English white teachers can easily get a really well-paid teaching job no matter how horrible one’s English is. Most of the white people are treated well and considered as superior to my own race. No wonder our middle-class men want to marry beautiful Ukrainians. They can definitely show off and at the same time spend less money on their marriages.Do you know how crazy it becomes for Chinese ordinary men marrying Chinese ladies? First, he has to give the bride money like average 10K USD to fiancee’s family. Then, he has to have a car which costs at least another 10K USD. At last, he has to own a property and that is an expense as big as 50K USD. There’s another cost. Chinses people don’t go to Church to have a quiet wedding ceremony. We like big commotions and gatherings. The bridegroom’s family invites all its relatives to join the big ceremony and have bountiful food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The groom’s family could easily spend 80K USD for the bride become his wife.Super costly. The fact that there are 30million men than women makes men getting married more costly.Most of the Russians who marry Chinese men are the ones who live to the proximity of Chinese Russian borders. Russian’s far east region is very less developed. 6 million people live in that vast and severely cold area. It’s very lifeless and boresome. That’s why you see a lot of Russians who reside in Chinese cities close to Russia. Then they get married and live a better life in more developed cities.