I caught this on The Lost Ogle, and I thought it would make a lively topic:
And you thought Aubrey McClendon’s infatuation with soda was strange… at The Lost Ogle (http://www.thelostogle.com/2009/02/06/and-you-thought-aubrey-mcclendons-infatuation-with-soda-was-strange/#comments)

This explains why I haven't seen any progress on what was supposed to be Aubrey's private wine cellar. Maybe Aubrey can now pull some strings to get us a Trader Joe's so he can stock up on two buck Chuck.

Trader Joes has better food than Whole Foods..but Whole Foods has better booze. I like to call it Whole Booze.

My daddy always said..."never kick a dog when it's down."

Especially one that puts tons of OKC citizens to work.

The food at pops is actually good and cheap. Possibly best. chicken strips. ever.

Wow, he has to stop building a wine cellar and auction off his collection?

That's a pretty big fall for a guy that had over $2 billion in net worth just last year.

I wonder when he's going to start selling off some of the real estate holdings he has amassed.

This on top of all the stock he had to sell off a while back.

It's not just the lil' people hurting, it's the CEO's and ball club owners too.

Doubtful we see him standing at Eastern off ramp with a 'will drill for wine' sign anytime soon, but yeah, things be tough across the spectrum.

Isn't this fairly typical for him? He's not a safe player. He goes "all in", win or lose. However...natural gas is a pretty safe bet these days. If I had money, I'd put it in Chesapeake. They may be down now, but I don't see how they can help but rise again.

Isn't this fairly typical for him? He's not a safe player. He goes "all in", win or lose. However...natural gas is a pretty safe bet these days. If I had money, I'd put it in Chesapeake. They may be down now, but I don't see how they can help but rise again.

Well said Tao...both CHK and SD are fantastic buys at their current price

I doubt that he's selling all of his wine stock, it's pretty much like a large car (or art) collector selling off a few cars, it happens all the time. Maybe he wanted (or maybe needed) the cash for something else.

Is amassing a collection of 9,000 bottles of expensive wine not one of the most excessive and ridiculous things a person could do. I dont know the reasons he is selling, but Im glad he is. $5 mil in his pocket has an easier chance to help OKC than 9,000 bottles of wine in his cellar

Is amassing a collection of 9,000 bottles of expensive wine not one of the most excessive and ridiculous things a person could do. I dont know the reasons he is selling, but Im glad he is. $5 mil in his pocket has an easier chance to help OKC than 9,000 bottles of wine in his cellar

I'm always amazed at what people consider "excessive". . .perhaps a "collection" of 25 or 30 bottles might appear excessive to some, but I'm betting there are several on this forum who have just that, or more. . .so. . .in the eye of the beholder, I suppose.

This has me a little worried if he's scraping together to sell $5 million in wine. Granted it's excess and unnecessary, but a multi-billionaire less than a year ago is surely hurting and could affect A LOT of people.

His collection is said to be one of the 10 best in the world. Selling a small piece, 8% or so, isn't too big of a deal. The big picture is what's important.

tuck, do you know if he plans to complete the wine cellar just east of Western?

tuck, do you know if he plans to complete the wine cellar just east of Western?

All I know is that it is on hold. My guess is that it will be finished some day.

His collection is said to be one of the 10 best in the world. Selling a small piece, 8% or so, isn't too big of a deal. The big picture is what's important.

tuck, where did you get that info from? is that strictly hearsay?

Well if it is only 8% or so of his collection as tuck says, maybe he'll use the $5 million minus auctioner fees to finish construction on his wine cellar to house his other 92% of wine in.

I hope what he is selling isnt just 8% of his collection. That would make his total collection around 112,500 bottles. And I thought 9,000 was excessive. I know, I know, to each his own, but if McClendon has over 100,000 bottles of wine then he is an effing idiot.

$5 million for 8% of the collection means that he's sitting on $62 million in wine. It's not enough to corner the market (you couldn't in wine anyway), so it is a collection that would be expensive and time-consuming to maintain - climate control, insurance, monitoring the market, acquisitions and divestitures. It's like a white elephant, which, according to Wikipedia: A white elephant is a valuable possession which its owner cannot dispose of and whose cost (particularly cost of upkeep) exceeds its usefulness.

With the exception of the last 10-12 months wine has been a spectacular investment for the accomplished collector. I have a small collection and have seen it appreciate at about 20% annually over the past five years...that's a pretty good rate of return.

So far I'm the highest bidder on Ebay!

My how times change, back in the early 70's, I thought $1.65 for the best bottle of Boones Farm was expensive.

If Mr. McClendon wants to invest his money on wine, it's his choice, he has worked hard for his money.

I personally think his employees have worked harder for his money.

I personally think his employees have worked harder for his money.

Aubrey made CHK what it is today.

along with his thousands of employees

along with his thousands of employees

Who wouldn't have their current jobs if it weren't for

....drumroll please...

Aubrey McClendon

I will never understand why people get jealous when someone works hard, becomes successful, builds a prominent company and employees 1000's of people.

because people get jealous over things they don't have or or didn't accomplish. I am not a fan of CHK (because they are competition) but you have to respect what has gone on over there. It's good for the city and state.

100,000 bottles isn't that large. Bernz restaurant in Tampa has over 900,000 bottles in it's collection. Some of their ports date back to the 1700's.

100,000 bottles isn't that large. Bernz restaurant in Tampa has over 900,000 bottles in it's collection. Some of their ports date back to the 1700's.

Isnt that large? Rrriiiiight.

Remember, we are talking about one individual here.

I will never understand why people get jealous when someone works hard, becomes successful, builds a prominent company and employees 1000's of people.

suppose he really is $5 million dollars over his head in wine,
doesn't that make you wonder??

we can't write his legacy until its over. I agree with most of the great things he brings to OKC, but there are some people in the Appalachians that have their reservations about his actions, and someone elses opinion should at least be considered.

Is it rash to consider cashing in on $5 million in wine, just a little suspicious?

With my retirement pay, rental property and investments, I made a little over $100,000 in 2008, I have collected Hotwheels and Hotwheels accessories for almost 20 years, my collection is probably worth around $50,000----does that make you suspicious?

doesn't make me suspicious, but before today, I never ever considered I might see the phrases 'retirement pay' and 'collected hot wheels' in the same sentence
8^)

I'll turn 50 in September, most people associate Hotwheels with kids, I may be getting older, but I refuse to get old.

Hotwheels (older ones) can be very valuable, at a show in Californina a couple of years ago, a very rare, still in the package VW Bus, sold for $35,000.

suppose he really is $5 million dollars over his head in wine,
doesn't that make you wonder??

we can't write his legacy until its over. I agree with most of the great things he brings to OKC, but there are some people in the Appalachians that have their reservations about his actions, and someone elses opinion should at least be considered.

Is it rash to consider cashing in on $5 million in wine, just a little suspicious?


It makes me think he wants more cash to buy back into his company. He can buy more stock in April.

OU Adonis, I hope you're right, but if that's the case, why doesn't he sell more wine if that's only 8% of his collection. After all, didn't he have to sell like 94% of his stake in the company. I'd think having a bigger share would be more valuable than having 92% wine.