The recent tragedy involving British billionaire Hamish Harding and four others in a deep-sea excursion to the Titanic wreckage has raised eyebrows and heart rates among the elite. Not for the risks involved, mind you, but for the sheer audacity of the adventure. The news of this loss has unintentionally sparked a twisted competition among the affluent for who can script the most extravagant – albeit plausible – demise.
First in line in this billionaire’s “Grim Reaper Got Talent” contest is SpaceX and Tesla head honcho, Elon Musk. He’s reportedly considering skydiving from an unprecedented height sans parachute. Musk’s team stated, “The man who made electric cars cool might light up the sky. Talk about a final Tesla coil spark.”
Next up, Jeff Bezos of Amazon fame. His response to the challenge? A solo flight to the moon. Bezos said, “If I’m going out, I might as well set a record while I’m at it. Who else can say they’ve died on the moon?”
Meanwhile, Mark Zuckerberg, the brain behind Facebook, is devising his own version of a “blue screen of death”. He’s proposing a 24-hour live-streaming marathon where he tries to understand common human emotions. His team joked, “It could be called ‘How Many Emotions Before Zuckerberg Overloads?’”
Not one to be left behind, Microsoft mogul Bill Gates is contemplating contracting a rare, almost eradicated disease, in an ironic twist to his relentless global health efforts. “Imagine dying from something you nearly wiped out. What a headline!” Gates chuckled.
Lastly, Virgin’s Richard Branson is considering an around-the-world journey in a hot air balloon without landing. “It’s peaceful, it’s poetic, and most importantly, it has great views!” said an enthusiastic Branson.
Upon hearing this news, anti-capitalists are reportedly ecstatic. One spokesperson commented, “Finally, the rich are finding a use for their money that we can get behind!” Another joked, “Hey, if they’re in a rush to leave, we won’t stop them!”
In all seriousness, the fatal submarine accident has sparked a rather bizarre race among billionaires to meet their end in the most imaginative and elaborate manner possible. However, it’s a stark reminder that, despite all their wealth and power, mortality remains the great leveler. At the end of the day, even if they can turn their exits into extravagant affairs, it’s a departure ticket no one can evade.