I Am Rich is an
iOS application which was formerly distributed using the App Store, and
developed by Armin Heinrich. When launched, the screen only contains a glowing
red gem, and an icon that when pressed, displays the following mantra in large
text:
I am rich
I deserv [sic] it
I am good,
healthy &
successful
The application is
described as "a work of art with no hidden function at all", with its
only purpose being to show other people that they were able to afford it,
making it a Veblen good. I Am Rich was sold on the App Store for 999.99 United
States dollars, 799.99 euros, and 599.99 pounds sterling, the highest price
Apple allows for App Store content. The application was removed from the
App Store by Apple Inc. without explanation the day following its release, on
August 6, 2008.
While the
application was available, eight people bought it, at least one of whom claimed
to have done so accidentally. Six US sales at $999.99 and two European ones for
€799.99 netted between $5,600–5,880 for developer Armin Heinrich and
$2,400–2,520 for Apple. In correspondence with the Los Angeles Times, Heinrich
told the newspaper that Apple had refunded two purchasers of his app, and that
he was happy not to have dissatisfied customers.
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