The Australian billionaire whose $1million cars were crashed by a valet at the Crown Casino in Perth is no stranger to headlines, frequently showing off the luxurious lifestyle he built off the back of a gaming empire.
Laurence Escalante, a former Hungry Jack’s worker who made his fortune after founding his Virtual Gaming Worlds empire, saw his two Lamborghini Aventadore Ultimaes crashed by valet staff on Wednesday night.
The two supercars, worth around $1million each, are the final make of the Italian manufacturer’s popular Aventador model – but they’re just two of the many expensive items the billionaire owns.
Mr Escalante often shows off his lavish lifestyle on social media, including snaps of diamond-encrusted Rolex, flights on private jets and trips to the track to race supercars.
In December, 2020, Mr Escalante upgraded from a bungalow to a $7.5million apartment on South Perth Esplanade.
The father-of-four’s new luxury apartment over a whole floor of the building includes a balcony with sweeping view of Perth’s Swan River and the city skyline.
There are four bedrooms with built-in wardrobes, three bathrooms, four separate toilets and three car parking spaces.
Meanwhile, the apartment complex is four storeys with one apartment on each floor, a shared roof deck, a pool, BBQ area and gym.
The $7.5million apartment is an upgrade from Mr Escalante’s old home – a bungalow in Como in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire, which he bought for $870,000 in 2016.
While he now lives a luxury lifestyle with regular boat trips from WA’s beautiful beaches, the businessman has humble beginnings, and started out by flipping burgers at a Hungry Jacks.
Last year, Mr Escalante joined The List – Australia’s Richest 250 – for the first time, with an estimated wealth of $2.15billion.
The coronavirus pandemic was particularly triumphant for the 41-year-old as those in lockdown had more time to play games online.
Mr Escalante’s headquarters are in Perth but VGW’s revenue comes from outside Australia.
The social gaming business, which was founded by Mr Escalante in 2010, made more than $200million in profit last year.
‘The Australian technology sector is changing the world,’ Mr Escalante said in an interview in The List at the time.
He regularly enjoys trips to Dubai, the Caribbean and has been pictured bring in the New Year on a party yacht in Sydney Harbour.
Mr Escalante was paid $5.65 an hour for his first job at Hungry Jacks, before moving on to work at The Reject Shop while studying at Sydney’s Macquarie University.
The billionaire is also passionate about fast cars and invested in car modification business, Beyond Custom as well as training and coaching business, Arise Racing.
The VGW website reads: ‘VGW are the pioneers of Social Sweepstake Gaming.
‘VGW is disrupting both the Online Social Casino and Poker markets.
‘Our innovative sweepstakes technology is the subject of patent pending applications around the world.’
During WA’s Covid lockdown, the billionaire rented a 1,000sqm estate and said he was ‘proud’ to flaunt it on social media.
Dubbed The Hamptons Farm Estate, the lavish property boasts a large outdoor pool, entertaining area, and 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren’s outdoor play equipment.
Mr Escalante has been sharing photos of his glamourous stay with his 16,500 Instagram followers, where he frequently flaunts his opulent lifestyle.
In one video, he showed his family travelling to the hospital to get a PCR test, while others show his luxury sports cars parked on the lawn.
The plush rental – designed by renowned interior designer Natalee Bowen – is often hired out as a wedding venue and has featured in several TV shows and magazines, including Open Homes Australia and Ready Set Reno.
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Originally an 1860s farm house, the designer abode, which was revamped in 2020, is located around 105km northeast of Perth and was rented through accommodation provider Exclusive Escapes WA.
