How the one percent lives: Mansions, maids and custom-made cinemas - a look inside the lives of the super-rich around the globe

  • Myles Little's new exhibit 1%: Privilege in a Time of Global Inequality lifts a veil on the uber-rich 
  • He avoided 'stereotypical' photos of cars or mansions as he curated his 30-picture exhibit 
  • Instead he focused on themes of family, religion and work to lend a new perspective on the world's wealthiest
  • He wanted to highlight the vast discrepancy to a society that's 'in love with wealth' but left out of its 'ecosystem' 

A little girl's home cinema in Moscow, an ornate opera house in Monte Carlo, a dip in a Singapore infinity pool. 

These are just some of the photographs showcasing the lifestyles of the world's super-rich in Myles Little's new photography exhibit 1%: Privilege in a Time of Global Inequality.

Little, an associate photo editor at TIME magazine, said the purpose of the show was to make 'visible the invisible' when it came to the world's wealthiest one per cent of people.

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This photograph, titled Varvara in Her Home Cinema, Moscow (2010), is one of 30 selected by Myles Little for his new photography exhibit

This photograph, titled Varvara in Her Home Cinema, Moscow (2010), is one of 30 selected by Myles Little for his new photography exhibit

A man floats in a swimming pool on the 57th-floor of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel, with the skyline of the Singapore financial district behind him in 2013. Little said the purpose of the exhibit was to make visible the 'hidden world of the ultra rich'

A man floats in a swimming pool on the 57th-floor of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel, with the skyline of the Singapore financial district behind him in 2013. Little said the purpose of the exhibit was to make visible the 'hidden world of the ultra rich'

A guard-gated community in Henderson, Nevada in 2012. Little said he wanted to focus on themes of family, religion and work for the exhibit, which will debut this September 

A guard-gated community in Henderson, Nevada in 2012. Little said he wanted to focus on themes of family, religion and work for the exhibit, which will debut this September 

Opéra de Monte-Carlo in Monaco in 2009. Little said he wanted to generally avoid the typical photographs of sports cars and glamorous mansions that have become cliche representations of the ultra rich 

Opéra de Monte-Carlo in Monaco in 2009. Little said he wanted to generally avoid the typical photographs of sports cars and glamorous mansions that have become cliche representations of the ultra rich 

'We must shine a light on the hidden world of the ultra rich,' he told American Photo. 'This exhibition does just that.' 

Little avoided the typical photographs of sports cars and glamorous mansions, wanting to show a perspective on the uber rich through a new lens. 

'While we may think we understand wealth through Hollywood and tabloids, what we see only represents a drop in the bucket,' he wrote on the exhibit's website

Little instead focused on themes of family, religion and work, inspired by American photographer Edward Steichen's famous 1950's exhibit 'The Family of Man' at New York's Museum of Modern Art.

A home in Cheshire, Ohio (2009). Little said he wanted to show how the 0.1 percent or the 0.01 percent inhabit 'an entirely different ecosystem that is closed to most of us'

A home in Cheshire, Ohio (2009). Little said he wanted to show how the 0.1 percent or the 0.01 percent inhabit 'an entirely different ecosystem that is closed to most of us'

A legless, homeless man shines the stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Little sometimes uses photographs that show the juxtaposition of wealth and the people they continue to skyrocket ahead of

A legless, homeless man shines the stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Little sometimes uses photographs that show the juxtaposition of wealth and the people they continue to skyrocket ahead of

'Shanghai Falling', the Fuxing Lu Demolition in 2002. Little said he wanted to illuminate the discrepancy for a culture that he believes is 'in love with wealth' 

'Shanghai Falling', the Fuxing Lu Demolition in 2002. Little said he wanted to illuminate the discrepancy for a culture that he believes is 'in love with wealth' 

Mine security in the North Mara gold mine, which is in one of the most poorest and underdeveloped villages in Tanzania

Mine security in the North Mara gold mine, which is in one of the most poorest and underdeveloped villages in Tanzania

But even though Little narrowed on the same themes as Steichen, he wanted to show something different entirely. 

'The Family Of Man was this sprawling, inclusive documentary show... from all over the world and it argues that we're all in it together despite our differences,' Little told American Photo. 

'And I don't think that's true, at least now. I think that the 0.1 percent or 0.01 percent is skyrocketing ahead of everyone else in this world and inhabits an entirely different ecosystem that is closed to most of us. 

It is this discrepancy that Little wants to especially illuminate for a culture that he believes is 'in love with wealth'. 

A street preacher in New York appeals to Wall Street to repent (2011) in this photo by Christopher Anderson

A street preacher in New York appeals to Wall Street to repent (2011) in this photo by Christopher Anderson

'Projector' (2012). 'I see a lot of regular people in America celebrating the wealthy and referring to celebrities by their first names - as if they are friends,' said Little

'Projector' (2012). 'I see a lot of regular people in America celebrating the wealthy and referring to celebrities by their first names - as if they are friends,' said Little

Some of the 25,000 members of Pastor Eddie Long's New Birth Baptist Church in Atlanta, USA. Long, who has received millions from the church in salary, preaches that homosexuality is a sin and that God rewards believers with riches (2010)

Some of the 25,000 members of Pastor Eddie Long's New Birth Baptist Church in Atlanta, USA. Long, who has received millions from the church in salary, preaches that homosexuality is a sin and that God rewards believers with riches (2010)

A lecture hall at Harvard University (2006). Elliot believes society over-identifies with celebrities and the wealthy, who we 'don't know and whom we do not share common interests' 

A lecture hall at Harvard University (2006). Elliot believes society over-identifies with celebrities and the wealthy, who we 'don't know and whom we do not share common interests' 

'I see a lot of regular people in America celebrating the wealthy and referring to celebrities by their first names - as if they are friends,' he told TIME

'We over-identify with this group of people we don't know and whom we do not share common interests.' 

Little originally selected 2,000 images that he believed captured his vision, before narrowing it down to 30 pictures for the exhibit - which will travel this year to China, Nigeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Wales, the United State and the United Arab Emirates this fall. 

Little has also set up a Kickstarter in hopes of raising money to publish the photographs in a book.  

James, 25, a British driving instructor, undergoes plastic surgery to reduce the size of his nose for cosmetic reasons

James, 25, a British driving instructor, undergoes plastic surgery to reduce the size of his nose for cosmetic reasons

Future site of the Highline in New York, which would grow to be a 1.45mile-long park built on an elevated section of rail line. Funded largely by private donations, some reaching into tens of millions of dollars, it is now a beloved fixture of the city (2004-05)

Future site of the Highline in New York, which would grow to be a 1.45mile-long park built on an elevated section of rail line. Funded largely by private donations, some reaching into tens of millions of dollars, it is now a beloved fixture of the city (2004-05)

'Paradise Now' (2008). Little originally selected 2,000 images that he believed captured his vision, before narrowing it down to 30 pictures for the exhibit

'Paradise Now' (2008). Little originally selected 2,000 images that he believed captured his vision, before narrowing it down to 30 pictures for the exhibit

Pheasants are laid out on a hunter's pickup truck in the United Kingdom (2011). The exhibit will will travel this year to China, Nigeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Wales, the United State and the United Arab Emirates this fall

Pheasants are laid out on a hunter's pickup truck in the United Kingdom (2011). The exhibit will will travel this year to China, Nigeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Wales, the United State and the United Arab Emirates this fall

 

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