Up Fuel 
Update: March 12th, 2015 – Dan Pe�a doesn’t look like he’d sell his castle to anyone and certainly not me
I had Guthrie Castle owner Dan Pe�a scheduled to come onto my podcast for an interview in February 2015 but it didn’t work out.
I really believe it was a misunderstanding, but I think his team got the sense I just wanted to have him onto my podcast to ask a bunch of questions about the Guthrie castle. I actually prepared more for our planned interview than any other and wanted to focus on his business successes.
In any case, flash forward to March 2015 and it turns out my friend Justin from Empire Flippers had Dan on his podcast. Justin and I have known each other a long time and so he probably read this blog post before. Well Justin asked Dan what he thought of my goal to buy his castle from minute marker 44:34 to marker 46:00.
Spoiler alert: It wasn’t pretty and he burns me pretty good hah hah
Note: I don’t think Dan’s facts were straight with what he said on Justin’s podcast about my communications with his team but does it really matter? No.
Ultimately Dan’s right.
If I even wanted to come close to earning castle money (let alone Guthrie Castle money – when Dan clearly would never want to sell) then I’ve gotta be dreaming bigger than I am currently right now.
Dan if you’re reading this post again, I appreciate the inspiration. You’re right. I gotta go bigger. Sorry if I pestered you about your castle (I don’t even have the money to pay for it now anyway – the idea was that I’d get there in 20 years). If you’d have me I’d love to pay to come to one of your QLA seminars. I know I could learn a lot from you.
Original Sept 7th, 2010 Blog Post:
I’ve discussed goals in the past but today I’m going to share my most ambitious goal of all. I have a LONG way to go to accomplish this goal, but in 20 years or less I want to buy the Guthrie Castle which is located in the village of Guthrie in Scotland – (Yes, we Guthrie’s have our own village and a castle boo yah!).
Guthrie Castle History:
The ancient seat of Clan Guthrie, the castle was built in 1468 by Sir David Guthrie, Lord Treasurer and Armour Bearer to King James III. The historic keep, which was added to over the centuries, remained in the hands of the Guthrie family until it was sold to a property developer in the 1983, following the death of the last male chieftain, Colonel Ivan Guthrie of that Ilk.
The 55 room estate sits on 156 acres was purchased by American businessman Daniel S. Pe�a Sr back in 1984 where he lived in the castle for 19 years. He spent millions of dollars restoring the estate and opened it in 2003 to corporate events, birthday parties and group functions. It now has an 18 hole public golf course that he built as well. src
Why do I want to buy the Guthrie Castle?
My last name is Guthrie – what better reason?
My 20 Year Plan To Buy:
I can’t seem to find any records about how much he paid for the castle; however, I do know that Daniel has written numerous books so perhaps he mentions it in one of those books. I’m still doing some more research to figure out how much the castle would cost me; however, I know that in 20 years the current owner will be 85 and that could be the perfect time to sell the castle and who better to than a Guthrie? Needless to say I need to earn a significant amount of money to purchase a castle in 20 years which means I really need to think much bigger than I currently am. The only way I can earn the millions of dollars I’d need to buy the castle is to focus on building businesses that truly scale. The current business model I’ve been using can earn me a nice solid income to live on, but not enough to buy a castle. In either case, I have plenty of time to accomplish this goal and truly believe it’s possible.
My first mini goal is to make my first $1MM which I will do before I’m 30. Then sometime after I’ve earned enough money to even come close to buying Guthrie Castle (many millions of dollars more), I will try and meet Daniel Pe�a to discuss my intention to buy his castle. My ultimate goal would be to keep it within the Guthrie family, but an alternative (although still attractive option) would be to pool money with other wealthy Guthrie’s to buy the property together. I don’t even want to guess at how many millions it would cost because I know he spent millions renovating it, I do know the Nicholas Cage sold one of his castles for only �3.5 million.
How cool would it to be to own a castle? Let alone one that your family from hundreds of years ago used to own? Yes – no need to answer because I already know – it would be awesome.
Think I’m ridiculous? I probably am, but let me know what you think in the comments below 😀
All this castle talk make you want to buy a castle too? Check out prices here.
More Photos Of The Castle:
See more at Guthrie Castle
Damn, I would have been happy if Amazon paid for a bungalow outright. Guess I’m not aiming high enough. Go for it Chris. A castle is a respectable payback for all the time and effort you put into helping everyone.
Yah, I don’t expect my Amazon earnings to ever get that high. I’d have to be earning over $1MM per year to get even close to the amount I need.
I must admire your goal as an awesome one! Buying it and keeping it, something for people who have money to burn…
Thanks! Yah, if I were to buy it I’d definitely keep it as a real estate investment property and earn money off of renting it out etc.
Just wondering I’m from Guthries from Scotland any relationship? My grandfather seaborn Guthrie mother Catherine Guthrie my daughter and I looking into family tree
I don’t know enough about my family tree. Frankly I just thought it was cool when I wrote the post because it’s the Guthrie castle.
This has to be one of the most awesome goals I’ve ever read about online. A person can do a lot over 20 years, so I believe you can do it. Even if you ultimately fail, at least you will have had this goal to really push yourself to the limit.
I think everyone should have extraordinary goals like this.
I’m still trying to find out how much he paid for the Castle. Obviously it was 1983 and prices could have risen (or perhaps stayed the same after the real estate crash) but yah lol I really do want to buy this castle. I need to work on much bigger projects with a larger potential payoff than I have been though.
I might also recommend setting aside a little bit of money for periodically buying lottery tickets.
Yah lol, I know the odds are stacked against me. But generally speaking when I set a goal I accomplish it. Yes this is very ambitious, but I have plans that far exceed the things I discuss on this blog and share in my income reports. We shall see…
Chris,
I think it is a Guthrie trait to “aim high as the arrow falls short enough”. All of the Guthrie’s I know are very ambitious and hardworking people. Best of luck.
Crystal Guthrie
Thanks Crystal. 🙂
Hello Chris,
did anyone ever told you are crazy???
You have a big and strong path to get there, but i know you will make it.
I just hope im still alive to see it.
Best regards
Soares
That is high goal but I have no doubt i my mind that you could do that.
OKay, so Chris, this goal of yours kicks some f’in ass! I’m not even sure what to say except go for it. If you fail, at least you tried to do something so awesome.
Hell yeah!
That is certainly one audacious goal. But they always say that entrepreneurs dream the biggest goals! Good luck.
On the pricing, is there no Zillow for castles?? 😉
lol, perhaps Zillow needs to look to the castle market as a place to expand? lol…
This is really great Chris,
If it is conceivable, it is achievable.
I believe in you and as you said it only needs you to think outside the box and build more great businesses.
I think you’re marvelous. I love this story, your grand plans and steely determination. I hope Daniel P reads this – maybe he’ll invite you over for a weekend so you can get a feel for owning your own fiefdom:) Go Chris go!
The weird thing is, I came to your website through the Niche Profit stuff (nothing to do with Angus) and I live in Angus, Scotland. Small world 🙂
Pamela
Nice! Have you ever been to the Guthrie castle?
Chris,
Nice goal….But it’s cold in Scotland at the best of time. Maybe…just maybe global warming will have changed this is 20 years time.
I think the goal is that if I have enough to buy the Guthrie Castle I could also afford to have a few different places to live, but we shall see. I’ve never been to Scotland before so perhaps you’re right. I could hate it!
[…] his Internet businesses. I like Chris’s style because he sets the bar high and recently wrote My 20 Year Goal – Buy the Guthrie Castle. Fantastic stuff – the castle is a 55 room estate on 156 acres already owned by another […]
that is a very great idea and i would jump all over that with you if i could. i think pooling the money would be worth checking out. i would be down with that. drive on man, drive on.
Dear Chris,
Interesting Goal. BTW, I am curious as to how many websites you have in order to hit the income level currently? Is that 5 sites, 10 sites? I don’t see how one can manage 4 or 5 given the limited hours in a day. Thank you,
Sydney
A few dozen – I do this full time for a living and put in a lot of hours though.
Dear Chris,
Wow – that is a lot of sites. Thanks you for sharing,
Sydney
Contact me about anything Guthrie. I am a member of Clan Guthrie USA and would love to hear from you.
Just sent you an email.
Have you ever heard of the Ferrier-Kerr’s ??
I haven’t – another castle in Scotland though?
Lt Colonel Ivan D Guthrie (who was the last of the Guthrie family to reside in Guthrie Castle) died on 4 July 1964. Shortly after his death the castle was rented out to a number of tenants (including a retired Royal Navy Admiral and later an American oil executive – who, if I remember correctly was called Mr Million). Thereafter it was sold.
On Ivan’s death the chieftan of Clan Guthrie passed to Ivan’s daughter and then on to her own daughter on her death (circa 1983/1984). The current chieftain is Alexander Guthrie – who lives abroad.
I was brought up in the Guthrie area and still have family there. Perhaps we will meet as neighbours in the future!
Regards
Bill McIntosh
Hey Bill,
Thanks for the history. Do you have any idea how much the Guthrie Castle is worth? Yes, we could be neighbors in about 20 years :D!
Hi Chris,
I hope you did not mind me correcting the historical data. I noticed that Wikipedia also gave the impression that the sale took place shortly after Col Guthrie’s death. I was just idly checking out some local (Guthrie) history (including Wilkipedia) when I came across your website and thought I should drop you a line. In fact it was only after I had sent my mail that I saw the chain of previous correspondence. Had I known of the chain I may not have been so bold.
I am currently in Japan but will be back in the UK in a week or so. I will see what I can find out on the price – but it may not be easy to ascertain. The system for most sales of propetty in Scotland is based on “offers in excess” of the asking price. Quite often the actual price paid is way in excess of the “asking price” – especially for a one-off property such as Guthrie Castle. I will try to find out if it was ever advertised when it was for sale. There are only a couple of agents who would deal with a property of this type, but as you will appreciate, they will do their best to protect their clients privacy. It’s the old case of “if you have to ask the price – you can’t afford it”.
I will see what I can find out – but perhaps better not to hold your breath!
Best wishes. Look forward to having a beer when you arrive – though it’s a long way to the nearest pub.
Bill
Hey Bill,
Thanks again for the follow up and am most certainly looking forward to hearing from you again. Yes, my goal is to buy it in 20 years or less and I definitely think it’s possible. I just want to know what price range it’s in so that I can have a better idea of how much I’d need to earn lol.
Chris
That’s definitely an awesome goal, and the castle looks amazing. I would have never thought to think of a big goal that far out. I guess that also why Gary Vaynerchuk keeps talking about owning the Jets. Maybe I should set my sights on the Atlanta Braves. They stink so bad that might not be a lofty enough goal. Thanks again for the inspiration.
Chris, it’s funny because I used to have the same goal, but different castle LOL.
I bet it costs at least a 500k/year just to keep the thing up… if not more.
Don’t go buying one of those until you have $100m stashed away lol.
Dan Brock
lol true, if I buy it the purchase won’t be to live in. I would continue to run it as a real estate investment.
Dear Chris,
I’m now back in the UK but work has prevented me from finding out much more about price etc of Guthrie Castle – despite driving past it on Saturday when I went to visit family.
To give you an idea of what you get for your money (�3m) in the Forfar area – have a look at mouseprice.co.uk – Property for sale – and enter “Kinnettles” in the search box. There is a rather grand building available now. But bear in mind what I said earlier about guide prices sometimes being a long way off the selling price.
Regards
Bill
I think your idea is excellent. Work on your projects, keep your mindset positive, stay focused on your goal and network! It’s easier said than done, but nonetheless anything is possible and we are playing against time and working hard on making our own lotteries fall into line. Mine is to create a website that will allow me enough income to be closer to my girlfriend. Not as big as a castle, but enough to make me work very, very hard at my goals.
Always a pleasure Chris!
Cheers,
Eric Mojstrovich
Once again, INSPIRATIONAL.
Isn’t pena making anymore seminars where you could meet him?
Yes I’m sure he is, but I don’t want to approach him until I have at least a few million dollars for a downpayment lol. No in all seriousness I do plan to meet him, but I want to build my business up so that I can reach a position where it’s even possible for me to even buy his castle and at this stage I’m far from it.
Chris,
Boy, are we on the same wavelength or what. I want to buy a castle too. To my knowledge their is no castle in my family history so I don’t have a particular one in mind to buy. I would love to have one built from scratch if I can’t find one that I want to buy.
I am still an Internet money making noobie though. So, I have a LONG way to go.
All the best!
Came on here because I was told my family line was part of the family line that had owned the castle (might be another Guthrie castle?!?), and thought to myself I would like to buy it back for the family one day, and lo and behold, here is this page. Anyway, good luck! It would be much better to have the Guthrie Castle in the hands of the Guthrie family 🙂
lol yah I have to make a lot of money to even get close to being able to buy it but I still have a lot of time to try and accomplish it.
I have to admit I have made a lot of crazy goals throughout the last couple years of my life… however I haven’t ever considered buying a castle ,LOL! Well anyway… GOOD LUCK! So in about 19 years from now when I visit this website on my brand new IPAD 12.0 while sitting at the gas station in my brand new blue Ferrari… I expect to see a blog post titled: I just bought a Castle, Literally! or if you are trying to impress the search engines… “How to make money on the internet and buy the castle of your dreams”
Well I for one do not think your dream is the slightest bit silly. Go for it and get your castle. However what I will say is that if you are going to ride out each day in a suit of armour , and no reason why you shouldn’t, for heaven’s sake do your chants in Scots Gaelic not Latin!
I could buy my ancstral castle for a lot less than you will have to pay for yours, but then again its a small pile of rubble in a sparsely inhabited corner of Co Clare.
Pauline
Hey Pauline,
Yah the guy that currently owns Guthrie Castle spent millions of dollars renovating it and added an 18 hole golf course etc. so yes I’ve got a long way to go in order to get there that is for sure hah hah 😀
Chris
I love this castle and your goal which is to be able to buy it. My family also has a castle (in Germany) but not anything as beautiful as the Guthrie Castle. Hope you invite me to it someday for one of your parties. God Bless & Happy New Year.
Hi, do you know of anyone called David Guthrie who lived at Kinnells Mills near the castle in 1973? The reason I ask is I now own a classic car of which he was the first owner in 1973 (a BMW 3.0CSL).
Richard
Hah that’s really cool. Nope, I don’t know a David Guthrie though… 😀
My mum was housekeeper to mrs moyra guthrie nee philips in the sixties and we spent our holidays at guthrie castle
Charlotte, I know a bit about the Ferrier-Kerrs and their descent from the Guthrie family of Brechin and Menmuir, and I would love to know more. Charlotte Guthrie, who married William Ferrier in 1861, was my 3rd cousin 4 times removed.
We don’t have any evidence to prove a connection between the Brechin/Menmuir Guthries and the Guthries of Guthrie. Yet.
Great goal; unfortunately, it’s also mine… Guess it’s game on my friend!
lol
I?m a Guthrie on my mother?s side. As I recall, the castle went for something in the neighborhood of $2M in the early 80s. There was a brief window of opportunity offered to relatives to purchase, and none did – enter Dan Pe�a. Planning a trip out to visit the castle in May.
Yah lol on another podcast a friend of mine told Dan that I wanted to buy and he said “tell him to F off” lol ah well. I currently lack the millions of castle purchase dollars necessary anyway right now.
There is another castle recently (or possibly still) for sale that was owned by the Guthrie family, although I am currently at a loss to remember much about it. The heir apparant traditionally lived in it. Somewhere on the Carse of Gowrie I think.
I did also grow up in Guthrie, and don’t think that the castle cost Mr Pena all that much (not millions anyway). As I recall there was a fairly disasterous stint with a French developer first who tried building log cabins on the grounds before he bought it.
Hah well he definitely isn’t interested in selling (not that I’d demand that he be hah. I just wrote this because I wanted to publicly declare the goal but alas I don’t think Dan is interested anytime soon)
I think it’s awesome, and being a drictect desendent of Tony Albert Guthrie. I think it would be awesine ..
I listen to a lot of Dan’s material and I’m currently reading his QLA material in order to improve and implement it into my own businesses. He’s a very no-nonsense guy. He works 14 hour (at least) days (7 days a week btw) and makes a LOT of money. If you are serious about this goal, which I’m sure you are, then you would have to make him an extremely generous offer. He’s used to dealing with seriously wealthy people and elite entrepreneurs every single day. I’m sure you know all this already but thought I would remind you what you’re up against. If you happen to make a couple of hundred million pounds (QLA ironically is the perfect blueprint to do that) then I’m pretty sure he would at least be willing to discuss your proposal. He calls himself the “50 Billion Dollar Man” for a reason and he’ll probably tell you to “Go f**k yourself” (his words not mine haha). Still – crazier things have happened! Good luck!
😀
I love your goal. I love the idea myself as David Guthrie was my Great, etc. Grandfather. I personally think that it should have stayed within the family. The fact that the new owner will not speak to you is a little funny…. Maybe he is a little scared of your last name……hmmm. If that is the case I have plenty more Guthrie’s to stand behind that. Granted Sir David is my 20th Grandfather, but fact remains that his descendants are here and very close. I am only 38 and there are a lot more ahead of me. Goals are great, but for his price…..darlin’ if you have the money build your own….. new name, Guthrie Court. LOL Good luck on your journey.
Hey Tracey, thanks for the comment. Yah I mean I don’t really care about the fact that he wouldn’t speak to me right now. I wish him the best and he’s right in his critique – I need to work on bigger stuff anyway to reach the type of wealth necessary to buy a castle. Frankly I wrote this post so long ago and I’m much different now than when I was then. I also like the appeal of making good money and minimizing the amount of time I work too 😀
Interesting read, haha. I’m a Guthrie and have been telling people for the past 20 years of my life that I would move to Scotland one day to take back Guthrie Castle. It’s mainly a conversation starter for me but I do plan to visit it at the least.
😀
Chris,
Maybe one day I can help!
🙂
Hey Chris,
I suggest you to follow Dan’s methods to buy castle. You will buy that indeed.
Sylvares.
Hah 😀
Chris,
As of today’s date you may get your wish to purchase Guthrie Castle! Anyone who has booked a wedding there is being referred to a telephone number. Very suspicious! You may wish to check out! Keep us posted on what you find out.
Robin
Hah, check out the updated post. I don’t think anything has changed.