Have you ever wondered what you would spend money on if you were to win the lottery or suddenly become rich?
It can be fun to daydream about the possibilities. After all, there’s no telling what wild, exciting things and experiences would be within reach.
1. Tickets to Outer Space
Many people are concerned with collecting miles and traveling off-season to afford their annual vacation. Meanwhile, some of the uber-rich are thinking about how to leave the planet.One of the craziest expensive things the rich are buying is tickets to outer space, a tourist attraction that isn’t nearly as crowded as the Eiffel Tower but way more thrilling.
Virgin Galactic opened up tickets to space to the public for $450,000 apiece, a steep increase from the original $250,000 price. We’re not sure if the flights went up due to increasing demand or inflation, but that’s a massive chunk of money to spend on your next trip. The flights are about 90 minutes, where you’ll experience weightlessness and witness a fantastic view of the Earth from that high up.
Virgin Galactic isn’t the only aerospace company on the market, either. SpaceX launched the first all-civilian spaceflight in September 2021. Blue Origin, founded by Jeff Bezos, isn’t even willing to announce a public price yet for their flights, but seats on prior flights have been auctioned off for millions of dollars.
2. Private Islands
What’s the next best thing to leaving the planet? Owning a piece of it. And sometimes, wealthy folks want to own a private island where they can relax, hang out with friends, or simply retreat from the rest of the world.3. Superyachts
Speaking of private islands, you have to get there somehow. Wealthy people can afford to arrive in style on yachts. And since regular yachts won’t cut it anymore, many of the super-rich are buying superyachts, with hundreds sold yearly.So what separates an ordinary yacht from a superyacht? There’s no technical definition of a superyacht, but it can typically host more than ten guests and comes with some of the same perks you could find in a luxury villa.
Larry Ellison is known for previously owning a 454-foot yacht called the Rising Sun that holds 82 rooms, a movie theatre, a personal gym, and a basketball court. He’s since sold it for another luxurious superyacht. Other Silicon Valley-Esque billionaires also own massive superyachts, including Larry Page, Jeff Bezos, and Bill Gates.
4. Renting Celebrities
Did you know that rich people could rent celebrities out for social events? If you have enough money, you can hire celebrities to make an appearance or perform for you.The super-rich have been known to hire celebrities for their private events. Online booking agencies can make hiring celebrities, authors, athletes, and musicians accessible for the right price.
5. Gold/Expensive Bathroom Accessories
We all need to use the bathroom at some point, so why not surround yourself with luxury while taking care of your business?Rich people have purchased gold toilets and other expensive washroom items. You can buy a toilet covered in 18-karat gold for the low cost of $30,000. You can also purchase other expensive bathroom accessories, from bidets to TVs that fit everywhere to heated toilets. If you ever want to amuse yourself, you can search up expensive bathrooms to see what the rich can afford.
6. Kopi Luwak Coffee
We’ve all complained about the price of a Starbucks coffee, but could you imagine paying $100 for a cup of morning java? That’s what the cost of Kopi Luwak goes for if you’re looking for the ultimate coffee experience.This caffeinated beverage costs so much because of the high demand and limited quantities, a sure-fire way to attract rich folks to a product.
7. Random Auction Items
Ever heard stories about shockingly expensive auction items? You know you’re rich when you can go to auctions to bid on items with a hefty price tag. One of the major perks of being super rich is buying whatever you want.- A Canadian dentist paid $31,200 for John Lennon’s tooth.
- A dress Kate Winslet wore in “Titanic” went for $330,000.
- Audrey Hepburn’s “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” script sold for over $800,000.
- Marilyn Monroe’s iconic “Happy Birthday” gown went for $4.8 million.
8. (Very) Expensive Parties
One of the major perks to being rich has to be that you can throw legendary parties people talk about for years to come. While the average person likely throws a potluck or plans a party on a budget, the rich don’t spare any expenses.Throwing the biggest party in town with a star-studded guest list comes with a hefty price tag. Kim Kardashian and Kanye West once threw a Christmas party that cost them $1.3 million. They spent about $350,000 on snow alone, so you could only guess the bar tab on such a swanky party.
9. Ridiculous Levels of Convenience
Is anything worse than waiting in long lines, like at the DMV or the post office? What about having to do the same chores over and over again? Most people can’t escape the monotony that comes with everyday life.The rich can spend money on levels of convenience that most people could only dream of. We’re not just talking about food delivery services or cutting the line at an amusement park.
While technically, there are only 24 hours a day, the rich can buy back more free time. When you’re rich, you don’t have to worry about mowing the lawn, grocery shopping, cooking dinner, or performing basic tasks.
- Paying someone to wait in line. Sites like TaskRabbit allow you to hire someone to wait in line at the passport office or anywhere else for you, so you don’t have to waste time.
- Outsourcing all basic house chores. Maids, personal chefs, gardeners, and personal assistants are just some of the services rich folks can afford.
- First-class travel. Flying first-class or even taking a private flight means you don’t have to wait for boarding or struggle to fall asleep in a cramped cabin seat.
10. Concierge Services
Most of us have to take care of reservations and planning independently. The rich rely on concierge services for these problems. Concierge services can range from booking flights to random errands you need to be completed.- Planning your kid’s birthday party.
- Getting into exclusive restaurants.
- Naming your baby (yes, this is a real business).
- Organizing travel to avoid hassles.
- Arranging for dinner on an iceberg.
- Shutting down the Sydney Harbor Bridge for a marriage proposal.
- Flying a dog in comfort on a private jet.
- Having wedding vows renewed by the Pope.
11. Private Movie Premieres at Home
While many rich and famous may wish to walk the red carpet at a flashy movie premiere, a newer service can bring a movie premiere to the comfort of home.A few years back, Red Carpet Home Cinema announced that it was seeking 3,000 wealthy Americans willing to put up $15,000 for a media server and then an additional $2,000—$3,000 per movie to watch new theatrical releases from the comfort of their home theatre on opening night.