The Billionaire, the Butler & the Boyfriend (2023) User Reviews

You really can't make this tuff up

[paul-allaer · 7/10 · 10 November 2023]

As Episode 1 of "L'Affaire Bettencourt: Scandale chez la femme la plus riche du monde" (2023 release from France; 3 episodes ranging from 48 to 53 min; horribly titled in English "The Billionaire, the Butler and the Boyfriend") opens, we are reminded that all audio is real, and that the scenes are re-enactments. We then are introduced to Liliane Bettencourt, who as heir to the L'Oreal cosmetics empire is worth an astonishing 30 billion (with a "b") Euros. It seems that Liliane is estranged from her only child, a daughter named Francoise. It also seems that Liliane is living a very boring life. That is, until one day celebrity photographer François-Marie Banier shows up to take her picture for a magazine article that is about to come out. At this point we are 15 minutes into Episode 1,

Couple of comments: apart from the secret audio recordings, there are also a number of talking heads such as the lawyer, the accountant, several friends, etc. It paints a picture of a woman who is so insanely rich ("the richest woman in the world", per the original French title of this mini-series), it is impossible to figure out whether someone is friendly to Liliane for all the right or all the wrong reasons. It leads to impossible situations. In fact I will say this: if someone would've written a fictional story with similar facts, it would've been ridiculed for lacking any and all credibility. That's what making this such an entertaining (if at times also quite sad) series. You can't make this stuff up!

"L'Affaire Bettencourt: Scandale chez la femme la plus riche du monde" started streaming on Netflix a few days ago. Netflix "suggested" it to me based on my viewing habits, and indeed I was not disappointed! I watched all 3 episodes in a single setting. If you are a fan of true crime documentaries or as simply curious who a person worth 30 billion Euros lives day-to-day, I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.

Sad, but unsurprising

[atleverton · 8/10 · 9 November 2023]

Also, her family has been bribing politicians of all political stripes since before the second World War. And something that was not mentioned at all in this documentary at all, she was the person who lost the most money to Bernie Madoff's Ponzi scheme. That's the fascinating thing about this documentary - this woman has more money than she possibly can ever spend in her life, and yet she and those she is surrounded by, are constantly trying to buy influence, and help her evade taxes. I mean, even if she spent 90% of her yearly income on tax, she would still be one of the richest people alive. And while it is sad that she was taken advantage of when she was older because she had Alzheimer's, the crazy thing is that the people who took advantage of her the most were put on trial. Neither she nor her family wherever charged or convicted of any crimes related to tax evasion in France. The French president she bribed was charged with that crime, got out of it, it was so corrupt that he was convicted of a different crime. But the richest woman in the world was not charged with any crime. That should be unbelievable but unfortunately it is not.

A must watch docuseries!

[dianaadeliee · 10/10 · 23 November 2023]

Very intriguing to watch! I love this documentary. The most interesting thing they have a REAL recorded. The storylines about liliane from year to year, the people around her and how we can see the life of the the richest woman in the world is very addictive. This documentary mostly uses the same clips (repeated) but they still can make it fascinating. This docuseries makes us to use high concentration to watch it. BUT BELIEVE ME IT'S VERY EXCITING. Last sad at the same time. In my opinion this story is tragic. It's very important to have family who love and protect you from people who only use you.

Pure Tabloid Fluff Without the Anger

[Sarah423 · 9/10 · 22 November 2023]

This is a documentary about a real woman, so I suppose that viewers should be more appalled by people taking advantage.

However, Liliane Bettencourt did not seem to be any worse off for the leeches around her. In this documentary, they come across as courtiers more than villians--taking millions from someone with billions, while also allowing her to feel generous and in charge.

She wasn't, of course.

The documentary also shows that she was declining into some form of dementia. So there is tragedy in that.

But what a graceful fall, as portrayed here.

---

The person who gained most during this phase was the "boyfriend," Francois Banier, a celebrity photographer who's still around with a memoir on the way.

The person who lost the most was Francoise Bettencourt Meyers, the estranged daughter who won in court.

---

The story all plays out against a backdrop which also included political intrigue--a donation scandal which the producers mention for context but don't fully explore.

Possibly to the French has been thoroughly chewed on. As an American, however, I'd say I needed to know more.

---

As presented, this documentary is a sort of fun tabloid fluff piece where you don't feel too awfully bad for the victim (who had more money than could be counted and always was physically cared for quite well) And you also don't get too awfully angry at those who got the cash instead of it all going lump sum to the heir.

Mainly, I enjoyed Liliane's philosophy that seemed to be that if she gave freely, why was it being taken advantage of.

If you are generous and have plenty to share, why is it ever wrong?

This documentary, at least, did nothing to upset.

Awful presentation.

[jackwalterbriant · 4/10 · 24 November 2023]

I felt a sense of tabloid history here but there was no uniformity when listening to the French with subtitles then the film switching to the English translation was annoying. What's with the overhead shots and the repeated flashes to the gate of the daughter's home. Made it almost through the second episode then quit. In the end it was the cinematography that had me abandoning this offering. It was a great example of largess and how wealth can actually seem absurd from a middle class perspective. I will say this however as a man I knew the product L'Oréal but not the actual owners of this giant organization.