What is it like to have fuck-you money? How does it feel to be so wealthy that your family of five flies across the world (first class, no debate) from the United States all the way to balmy, beautiful Thailand for a week-long vacation in a luxury resort just so you can interview one person for your college thesis? Well, that’s a day in the life of Piper Ratcliff (Sarah Catherine Hook), the awkward, spirituality-seeking middle child in season 3 of HBOs satirical black comedy, The White Lotus, streaming on JioHotstar.
In case you’re new here, Mike White’s highly acclaimed TV show takes viewers to a new, exotic locale and an equally opulent resort every season to give us a glimpse into the insufferable, black-card-wielding lives of the super-rich. Like the previous seasons, the third iteration is filmed in the Four Seasons, this time in sunny, sandy Koh Samui. And although the gritty murders of The White Lotus may be fictional, the cerulean seas with floating hammocks, jungle canopy and expansive, private villas in which the show is set are very real.
Considering the behemoth popularity of the show, the tropical country is expecting a 20 per cent rise in tourists in 2025, while American Express is hosting a White Lotus Thailand Experience exclusive to certain high-flying card members. But just how much does it cost to vacay like the uber-wealthy guests on the show? Does it actually amount to an average person’s annual income? Lucky for you, we did the math so you can calm your chattering monkey minds and step away from the calculator.
