Maurizio Tagliavia waits for the helicopter to land while holding champagne at the Villa Del Quar, near Verona, Italy. The 56-year-old engineer and one-time parachutist for the Italian army had been unemployed since 2012, when he lost his job as sales director for a renewable energy firm. His lucky break came in February, when he was selected for an intensive course to become a modern-day butler. Tagliavia is employed by Villa Del Quar's owner as butler for the high-end guests who rent the master suite at the estate-turned-hotel on the outskirts of Verona. Reuters/Max Rossi