Ohio State: What's $530 for Shower Curtain When You Spend $64K on Bow Ties?

The Dayton Daily News has obtained some of the finances of Ohio State president Gordon Gee, and the results are wonderful, terrifying and bow-tie-tastic.

Gee has made $8.6 million in salary since 2007, although that’s only about half the story. He’s also racked up nearly $7.7 million in expenses as well. Just imagine talking to your company’s accountant about these kinds of expense report and the looks he would give you shortly before he throws you out the nearest window.

Oh, it gets better.

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The university spends tens of thousands of dollars alone branding Gee around his signature bow ties. Since 2007, Ohio State has spent more than $64,000 on bow ties, bow tie cookies and O-H and bow tie pins for Gee and others to distribute, the newspaper found.

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Think about that—$64,000 on bow ties. I feel guilty when I buy a tie that’s not hanging on the clearance rack, and I wonder why these things typically have a one-wedding lifespan.

And wait, it doesn’t stop there. Beyond the insane travel spending, mansion renovations, Persian rugs and $673,000 artwork collection, he also has his house guests covered.

According to this investigation, Gee has a $532 shower curtain in his guest bathroom. I didn’t even know such a thing existed, and now you’re wondering just how nice the master bathroom curtain must be. I know, I was thinking the same thing.

Gee has helped raise more than $1 billion for the school, and when you do that you are given certain freedoms. Is all of this entirely insane? Absolutely, but he certainly has earned the right to spend liberally on his efforts.

With that said, if I was allowed a reasonable bow tie budget—let’s say a modest $20,000 to start—I’m quite certain I would take full advantage and not look back.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to make a few calls.