A man who has taken a wild vacation every year of his adult life has arranged a family reunion that looks more like a meeting of the U.N.
Barry Caldostros, 50, has fathered children in twenty-six different countries, and he is bringing them all together for a weekend reunion in the Italian Dolomites.
Caldostros has leased an entire hotel for the weekend — both for his children, and for their mothers.
“I am having a wonderful life,” says the small man, who, though he appears to be timid, apparently is not.
“I am rich. I have taken many wonderful vacations all over the world. I have had short flings with many beautiful women, and they have had my babies.
“I don’t regret it. I’m not ashamed of it. I want to be open, honest, and loving, and I take full responsibility for all of them.
“These kids deserve to know who their father really is. And they deserve to get to know their brothers and sisters.”
The entire weekend is estimated to cost the wealthy Caldostros close to a half a million dollars. Caldostros, who made his fortune in the plastics industry, is paying for everything, including twelve interpreters.
“I want everyone to be able to understand each other,” he says. “It’s taken me two years to track everyone down and arrange the thing. It’s all set.”
Some of the wives originally considered not attending the weekend out of jealousy.
“But I fixed that,” says Caldostros. “All it took was a little money. I had to sweeten the pot here and there.”
The women say that the money is why they all still love Caldostros, rather than hate him.
“He supports us in fine fashion,” says Willomette Garcia, 29, from Stancheros, Argentina.
The dark haired, smooth-skinned Garcia is the mother of Caldostros’ five-year-old son, Yona.
“I’m sure we would all be jealous and bitter and hate him very much, if he weren’t so responsible,” she says.
“But he keeps in touch, takes an interest, and shows his love. Little Yona and I are financially secure, and we think the world of our wonderful Barry.”