He splurges on Armani, Ferrari...

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal">When Lalit Suri came from Rawalpindi to Delhi after Partition, he was only a few months old. Suri went to school and college here and later graduated in automation engineering from the UK. He owns Bharat Hotels, which runs seven properties under the Grand banner including the Grand Intercontinental. He was elected a Rajya Sabha MP from Uttar Pradesh last year.<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Are you a saver or spender?</span><br /><br />Both.But I don’t buy on an impulse, and I like to save to build assets.<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">How much money do you have in your wallet?</span><br /><br />Rs 5,000, which is roughly what I carry.<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Do you have any credit cards?</span><br /><br />Many. I use four or five regularly.<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Is there anything you splurge on?</span><br /><br />I like to spend on myself. Clothes, watches, pens and cars...I have a huge collection of watches, I wear Armani, Versace and Prada, and I carry a Mont Blanc pen. Frankly, cars are my weakness. I love sport models — I have a Ferrari, Lamborghini and a sports model Merc. <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Have you ever been hard up?</span><br /><br />Not really. I come from a very well to do family of Rawalpindi. The only time was when as a student I went to a London casino and ran out of money. <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Do you own any property?</span><br /><br />My house in Panchsheel Park. And the properties my company owns — in Indian cities and some abroad.<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Do you dabble in shares?</span><br /><br />Not anymore — I am stuck with some I bought. I have burnt my fingers, but I won’t again.<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">What has been your worst and best investment?</span><br /><br />A friend who I was very close to, let me down. He turned out to be someone not worth knowing. He was a poor investment. My wife Jyotsna has given me the greatest happiness, giving me my big happy family, being a good mother to my children and a good friend to me. She is my best investment.<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">The most extravagant thing you ever bought?</span><br /><br />My property in Srinagar, which I have not closed down in the belief that Kashmir will one day be peaceful. A lot of people tell me it’s a bad investment.<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">What is the most important lesson you have learnt about money?</span><br /><br />One should have enough to have a comfortable life. Work hard, work honestly and the money will come. I have no love for money, but I am a workaholic. I am willing to give up my money for peace, health and happiness.</div> </div>