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Wildest Wishes Christmas Gifts
Fantastic Christmas gifts go to billionaire buyers.
December 6, 2004
By clue 6, the five Marmann-Niecus Wildest Wishes Christmas Gifts sold for $5-20 million dollars. By clue 1, Mr. Rockefeller paid twice as much for the gift he bought as the man who bought the Desert Island; while by clue 2, the Journey into Space cost $6 million more than the package Mr. Buffett bought and $7 million more than the private Barbra Streisand and Friends in Concert cost. Therefore, either there is some overlap between clues 1 and 2 or all five gift packages are named. If there were overlap between the two clues, since Buffett did not buy the Desert Island (clue 4), either Rockefeller purchased the Journey into Space or Rockefeller bought the Streisand Concert. Trying the first possible overlap, that Rockefeller purchased the Journey into Space, since Buffett did not buy the Desert Island (4), four gifts would be named between the two clues: Rockefller would have purchased the Journey into Space for twice what the man buying the Desert Island spent (1), for $6 million more than Buffett paid, and for $7 million more than the Concert cost (2). Either Rockefeller would have paid the top price of $20 million, or the fifth man would have paid that amount. If Rockefeller had paid the $20 million, the Desert Island would have cost $10 million (1), Buffett's gift would have cost $14 million, and the Streisand Concert would have cost $13 million (2)--with the fifth gift going for the $5 million (6). However, there is no way for clue 3 to work given these prices. If the fifth man had spent the $20 million, the Concert would have cost the low of $5 million (6), with Buffett then spending $6 million, Rockefeller paying $12 for the Journey into Space (2), and the Desert Island selling for $6 million (1). Again, however, clue 3 fails. Trying the second possible overlap, that Rockefeller bought the Streisand Concert, the Journey into Space would have cost $6 million more than the gift Buffett bought and $7 million more than Rockefeller paid for the Concert (2), with the Desert Island going for half what the Concert did. Then either the Journey into Space cost the $20 million or the fifth gift sold for that amount. In the first case, the Journey into Space would have cost $20 million, Buffett's buy $14 million, Rockefeller's purchase of the Concert $13 million (2), the Desert Island $6.5 million (1), and the fifth gift $5 million (6)--but clue 3 cannot work. In the second case, the Desert Island would have had to have sold for the $5 million low--no (1). Therefore, there is no overlap between the clues and all five gifts are given. Since the Desert Island didn't cost the least (1), the Streisand Concert did, selling for $5 million (6). Mr. Buffett paid $6 million for one gift, while the Journey into Space cost $12 million. Rockefeller paid the high of $20 million (6), with the Desert Island selling for $10 million (1). By clue 3, Rockefeller purchased the His and Her Helicopters, and Ellison bought the Desert Island. By elimination, Buffett bought the Jewel of the Irrawaddy. Finally, Walton bought the Streisand Concert and Gates the Journey into Space (5). In sum, the five Marmann-Niecus Wildest Wishes Christmas Gifts have sold as follows:

  • His and Her Helicopters, $20 million, Rockefeller
  • Journey into Space, $12 million, Gates
  • Desert Island, $10 million, Ellison
  • Jewel of the Irrawaddy, $6 million, Buffett
  • Barbra Streisand and Friends in Concert, $5 million, Walton

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