On last night's penultimate episode of White Lotus season 3, a plot line that's been brewing all season finally comes to a head: Greg/Gary, knowing that Belinda knows who he is and who his wife was, approaches her with a bribe to stay silent. He invites her over to his (massive, huge, expensive) home, pulls her aside, and offers her $100,000 to start the spa that she was supposed to start with Tanya's funding. Belinda, being the smart woman she is, is obviously hesitant about this. How could she possibly take money from a man who likely had his own wife murdered? But I'm here to pose a different question: How could she possible settle for so little?
We are told in the first season of White Lotus that Tanya isn't just fly-first-class rich. She's private jet rich. She's on the way to billionaire rich. She's an heiress who has literally never once had to work in her life. The number thrown out is $500 million. That's why she's such a tempting target for Greg/Gary in the first place. She's well and truly loaded. So let's assume that, after her death, all that money went to Greg/Gary. He mentions that things got "complicated" in the States, but even so, he probably still has access to a huge amount of money. Clearly enough to buy a mansion AND A YACHT in Thailand, have full-time staff, and a very expensive girlfriend (Chloe is out here wearing custom Jacquemus bathing suits. That shit's expensive!). You're telling me the best he could come up with is... $100,000? Really? That's like... less than he spends on Chloe's spray tan bill. Grow up, Greg/Gary!
I'm not even really talking about the moral conundrum of taking hush money from a man who had his own wife murdered. I don't think we can afford to look a gift horse in the mouth in this economy. Do you know how expensive groceries are? Belinda's son Zion, who encourages her to take the money, is clearly interested in alleviating some of his mom's financial burden. He doesn't even want her to start her own business, he literally just wants her to take a year off work. I think he's right to encourage her. But we're thinking too small, people. We need to aim higher. This is the opening offer! We are in a negotiation.
Belinda needs to realize the power she has in this situation. She could blow up Greg/Gary's entire situation in Thailand. He is wanted by the Feds for questioning in the mysterious death of his wife. And I checked, Thailand does have an extradition treaty with the U.S. They really could drag his ass back to the States. And yes, he's a little scary, but that's because he's scared his little facade is going to crumble around him. She has him right where she needs him.
So I hope Belinda asks herself, how much is my silence really worth? How much would it take for me to sacrifice my integrity? I'd like to reference one of our most sage, wise television characters, Charlotte York, on this question, because the answer really is: "I'm worth a million."
