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The billionaire Jeff Bezos has been paying a monthly fine of $1,000 for months due to a landscaping whim at his mansion in Beverly Hills, California.
The magnate's property has a hedge taller than what is allowed by municipal laws, and he has chosen to keep it that way to protect his privacy.
According to local ordinances, fences or hedges in the front yard cannot exceed 3 feet (about 0.9 meters), or a maximum of 6 feet (1.83 m) if they are set back further, as long as they are partially visible to the public.
However, Bezos's plant barrier exceeds those limits, as confirmed by media such as Hindustan Times, and several influencers who have visited the area. They have documented in situ the dimensions of the "illegal" fence that surrounds part of the property's perimeter, to enhance the magnate's privacy.
Bezos, whose fortune exceeds 200 billion dollars, purchased the property in 2020 for about 165 million dollars. It is located in the exclusive area of Trousdale Estates and features several acres of gardens, a pool, and auxiliary structures.
Social media has criticized the attitude of the founder of Amazon, arguing that "only someone extremely wealthy can afford to break the law by paying a monthly subscription." For many, the case reflects how the rules seem more flexible when it comes to the most powerful individuals.
The municipal code of Beverly Hills regulates these heights to preserve the aesthetics and views of the neighborhood, but in this case, Bezos seems to have decided that privacy is worth more than the fines.
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