Most people worth $20,000 are more diversified than that. Supposedly she's worth hundreds of millions and she keeps it all in a bank account (FDIC insured up to $100,000), and then, at the drop of a hat, "transfers" that vast wealth to some other bank account? This is silly and financially illiterate.
shareWhat makes you think she had everything on one bank account? As far as we know, that account only contained $7.20.
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last listened to: Michel Fugain - Une belle histoire
http://y2u.be/qFWv3g4y2Pg
Because that was the premise of the story: The con-artists planned to steal hundreds of millions of dollars from her by accessing her account; whether or not she actually had the money in the account we obviously can't know, but that's the only information we're provided with. As for the $7.20, we know that was a reference to how much money the other girl had at one time, so obviously that amount was put in there deliberately at the end to make a point.
shareIf she spread her fortune over different bank accounts, wouldn't each bank account still hold hundreds of millions of dollars? The premise of the story was indeed that the con-artists planned to steal from her as many millions as they could get; the premise was not that the con-artists would fleece her for all she's worth and leave her with nothing, they weren't playing a revenge game.
Yeah, I did get why there was $7.20 left at the end, I've seen the movie; I actually saw that whole twist coming while watching it. But you were presuming that she previously kept her whole fortune on that one bank account and then came complaining about it, even though as you state yourself, the movie didn't provide any conclusive information regarding that. All we know is that Abigail removed an unknown (but presumably vast) amount from that account so that only $7.20 remained.
You also wrote that it's silly that she "at the drop of a hat, "transfers" that vast wealth to some other bank account". Well, there's nothing silly about it if she already had several other bank accounts where she could easily transfer the money from the compromised account to. In other words, as far as I can see the complaints in your OP are based on one false presumption.
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last listened to: Michel Fugain - Une belle histoire
http://y2u.be/qFWv3g4y2Pg
Because that was the premise of the story:But that doesn't mean she did not have other bank accounts that they and we did not know about. Just because they don't mention it doesn't mean they don't exist. We don't know what color underwear she wears either but it's probable she wears them. Or not. share
I like to think NOT, wink-wink. I can't even imagine after 20 years, oh nevermind.
shareThe bank sign at the end said "Private Bank" and "W Investments" (for Waters) and had the same monogram as the china cup the detective saw in her apartment. Justine Waters = Waters Bank, so it was her family bank. It's also "financially illiterate" to leave vast sums in an account that you know is about to be stolen.
There's someone in my head but it's not me.
she was a freak who didn't leave her house in ages, she'd do any thing.
i mostly will not be able to answer your reply, since marissa mayer hacked my email, no notification
Yeah, wealthy people probably have several investment accounts, and one account from which expenses are drawn, as well as non-bank holdings.
The movie said she was estimated to be worth several hundred million. THE MOVIE NEVER SAID HOW MUCH SHE HAD IN THAT ACCOUNT. So it's possible that was her expense account, which may have had only $10,000 for expenses (w/overdraft protection). So she transferred that electronically to one of her other accounts, leaving $7.20 in the expense account.
It was maybe foolish of the con team to think she had millions in one account, but then they were unfamiliar with wealth, being small time cons. Beau Bridges would have known, though, and would have told them. So I don't understand that.
Unless I missed something, like Abigail moving a lot of money into her account so they could draw on it to run away? Didn't say she'd moved ALL her money into her expense account.
So maybe that's it. The plan was for the cons to get their hands on the "escape" money, and then to steal her identity to get the rest.
But it's fiction. You can't overanalyze these things.
That is correct. Nobody with that kind of massive wealth keeps it in a "passbook account" that could be accessed with a single password. Not even if it was their private family bank -- indeed if it WAS the private Waters Family Bank, her assets might be floating the bank.
In any event, you'd be a financial moron if you were not diversified at that level in stocks, bonds, REAL ESTATE and other investments. It's almost a billion dollars, for god's sake.
BTW: it also makes no sense she'd be renting, even a luxury apartment. She would have owned the entire building, being so paranoid about privacy! And probably had her own staff, and not dependent on any one concrierge.
Really, the whole move is naive and ridiculous about positing this kind of wealth, then making the plot dependent on utter stupidity.
If you want to read about a REAL recluse worth billions, check out the history of Hughette Clark. It is truly amazing, and a real life story.
Well stated, LilyDaleLily!
I have wealthy cousins in LA who own the apartment complex where they live (top penthouse) and they keep no less that $100K in their checking account alone. And as you pointed out, my cousin told me that all their large accounts have double passwords and "secret" questions that have to be answered verbally, along with a signature verification and I.D. check before emptying/closing a large account. They love this as it's extra protection from theft due to stolen identity or a single password, like in this film....which is unrealistic to begin with, but was entertaining nonetheless.
"Don't get chumpatized!" - The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters (2007)
Really, the whole move is naive and ridiculous about positing this kind of wealth, then making the plot dependent on utter stupidity.Yep! This is one movie you don't want to start thinking too closely about plot details. You'll end up with more questions than answers.🐭 share
BTW: it also makes no sense she'd be renting, even a luxury apartment. She would have owned the entire building, being so paranoid about privacy! And probably had her own staff, and not dependent on any one concrierge.
Yeah I guess we have to assume that she had a 3rd identity on which to travel on a whim, if necessary.
She's Justine Waters. And Abigail Clayton. And probably a 3rd.
She didn't have time to create the identity of "Lilly", so this name in the cab must just be temporary, and what she was feeling at the moment, since the real Lilly was pretending to be her. So they were switching places in that moment, and she was no longer Abigail.