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From the early days of aviation, to the golden jet age, to modern flight - private air travel has been a luxury. While commercial passenger travel has become more accessible, allowing millions of people to fly, private jets are still a luxury few can afford. On the lower end, a customer can pay a couple million for their private jet, but there are aircraft with sky-high price tags.
Here are the 12 most expensive private jets owned by celebrities. The prices for the most part come from widely circulated media reports. By no means would we consider the price that a celebrity claims to have paid for paint and interior upgrades to be taken as gospel for the aircraft's actual valuation.Beyonce and Jay-Z
Bombardier Challenger 850
$32 million
The star-studded power couple comes in 12th on the list, with a Bombardier Challenger 850 worth $32 million. The Challenger 800 is the largest super-midsize business aircraft Bombardier offers and the 850 is the updated version. Derived from the CRJ200 airliner, the jet can accommodate 15-19 passengers, making it the perfect aircraft for a post-Grammy party in the sky. The jet has a transcontinental range and a high-speed cruise of Mach 0.80, allowing the music artists to make it anywhere in the world for their next show.Photo from Beyonce in her older Gulfstream V / via her Instagram
Autoevolution reports that the jet was a Father's Day gift for Jay-Z in 2012. Photos from Beyonce's Instagram account show a beige leather interior with gold trim. The Source reports that the jet has a bedroom, two bathrooms, a living room and a kitchen. The bathrooms have bathtubs, the bedroom features a king-sized bed and the couple and their children can enjoy TV or movies thanks to the large flat screen in the living room. This Challenger is one of many aircraft for the couple, including a Gulfstream V and the Puma Jet, which Jay-Z got as a sign-up deal perk as creative director of Puma Basketball.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Gulfstream G650ER
$65 million
The highest-paid athlete in the world, Portuguese professional footballer Cristiano Ronaldo who is playing for both Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr and the Portugal national team, comes in 11th on the list with his $65 million Gulfstream G650ER. The extended range version of the G650 is capable of flying over 7,500 nautical miles at Mach 0.85. The plane can carry up to 19 passengers and two crew. The jet has superior soundproofing and uses 16 large cabin windows to maximize the natural light. The increased fuel tank size can hold another 4,000 pounds of fuel, allowing for additional range. The G650ER set the record for the longest non-stop flight by a purpose-built business jet in April 2019 when it flew 8,379 nmi from Singapore to Tucson. The expensive jet is worth triple what footballer David Beckham's Bombardier Challenger 350 is worth at $21 million, according to Supercar Blondie.
Jeff Bezos
Gulfstream G650ER
$65 million
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos comes in 10th on the list with another G650ER for $65 million. The billionaire tycoon reportedly has two of these Gulfstream jets in his fleet. Simple Flying reported that Bezos bought the G650ER in 2015 to replace his Dassault Falcon 900EX before purchasing a second in 2019. The G650ER appears on the list more than once, with add-ons and customizations placing other celebs higher in rank.
Elon Musk
Gulfstream G650ER
$65 million
The wealthiest person in the world, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla and now owner of Twitter or X as he calls it, Elon Musk is the 9th on the list with another G650ER. According to Business Insider, Musk bought the jet in 2016, but this was not his first plane. Musk also owns a Dassault Falcon 900B that he bought in 2004. While he is not the only wealthy businessman on the list, nor is he the only owner of a G650ER on this list, Musk is well-known for his jet-setting lifestyle thanks to one teenager tracking his travels on social media.RELATED STORIES:College student tracking Elon Musk's jet moves to Threads, faces another suspensionTwitter account tracking Elon Musk's jet has been banned
The Twitter account, @ElonJet, famously tracked Musk's travels on his private jet and posted updates to the account. The account was run by then teen, Jack Sweeney, who eventually began tracking Russian oligarchs. Musk even reached out to Sweeney in December 2021 over safety concerns, sharing "I don't love the idea of being shot by a nutcase."
His accounts were eventually suspended, including those used to track Space X activity, in December 2022, one month after Musk tweeted his commitment to free speech extended to not banning the account following his plane. While Sweeney obtained the information legally and through public sources like ADS-B and in the ATC system, his platform was taken away and many feared his tweets were impacting the safety of the jet-traveling billionaires. Sweeney still tweets from his personal account, even sharing his thoughts about the account suspension one year out.Jenner's former Gulfstream GIV - 'Kylie Air' from Instagram
Kylie Jenner
Bombardier Global 7500$73 million
Kylie Jenner flies in a luxurious Bombardier Global 7500 and ranks 8th on our list. The Global 7500 was the first of four business jets built by Bombardier to compete in the ultra-long range large-cabin market. The jet is at the top-end of the Bombardier product line and designed to fly long distances at high-speeds between any two points across the world with only one refueling stop. With a range of 7,700 nm at Mach 0.925, Jenner can jet across the globe with ease. The design was inspired by the Canadair CL-600 and Bombardier CRJ with a similar fuselage cross-section, T-tail and wings. Marca Lifestyle reports that the jet made its debut on the hit reality series Keeping Up With the Kardashians, featuring Jenner, her sister Kendall, friend Hailey Bieber and Justine Skye eating a luxurious meal with drinks. The Kylie Cosmetics founder will frequently post her plane on social media, complete with pink accents throughout the interior and exterior and Kylie Air branding.
Oprah Winfrey
Gulfstream G650
$75 million
Oprah Winfrey, 7th on our list, is best known for her television program The Oprah Winfrey Show. Winfrey owns a Gulfstream G650, a long-range business jet and the second business aircraft to use the fly-by-wire system, with no mechanical control between pilot and flight surfaces The G650 is seen numerous times on our list in the extended range version, the G650ER. The G650 has a cruise speed of 566-600 knots with a max speed of 616 knots. The wing uses a greater sweep than previous Gulfstream aircraft and utilizes advanced sound suppression techniques to improve the cabin experience and allow the award-winning host to enjoy a quieter flight.
According to Superyacht Fan, Winfrey's G650 was built in 2015 and delivered in 2016. She previously owned a 2013 G550 which was later put up for sale. The TV icon and philanthropist was the first black woman billionaire in the U.S. and her philanthropic Oprah's Angel Network has donated hundreds of millions to projects like educational supplies and disaster relief. The media mogul owns a $75 million jet to travel around in style. While the G650 price is estimated at about $65 million, Oprah reportedly included various modifications to add an additional $10 million onto the price tag, according to The Richest.
Kim Kardashian
Gulfstream G650ER
$150 million
Reality TV star and businesswoman Kim Kardashian is 6th on our list with a G650ER that she says she paid $150 million to acquire and outfit the lavish interior. Kardashian owns the fourth G650ER on the list, and the 5th in the G650 family, but it ranks highest due to the extensive customizations that more than doubled her price tag. Her plane "Kim Air" is full of unique customizations including interior elements furnished by high-end designers and a cashmere-lined ceiling, according to Slash Gear. Kardashian also has specially designed travel clothes from her brand Skims. The social media icon turned billionaire has made it known that there are strict rules to follow on Kim Air, including not wearing shoes and even not allowing her sister Kendall Jenner to get a spray tan before sitting on the cashmere seats, according to Simple Flying.Roman Abramovich
Boeing 757
$170 million
Roman Abramovich, Russian Oligarch and politician, lands at number five on the list. Abramovich owns a Boeing 757 worth $170 million. The 757 is a mid-size, narrow-body twin-engine jet airliner and the largest Boeing produced from 1981 to 2004. The jet has turbofan engines which allow sufficient power to takeoff from short runways and higher altitudes. The 757 has a conventional tail to reduce aerodynamic drag and a supercritical wing design. Boeing designed the 757 to replace the smaller, three-engine 727 on short and medium routes. The plane can carry 200 to 295 passengers for a maximum of 3,150 to 4,100 nautical miles, depending on the variant.
According to Forbes, Abramovich owns stakes in the Russian steel giant Evraz and nickel producer Norilsk Nickel, but has been sanctioned by numerous countries due to the war with Ukraine. He formerly owned the Chelsea Football Club in West London, but due to the situation in Ukraine, Abramovich handed over control of the club in early 2022 and it was sold that year for nearly $5 billion, but he did not receive any proceeds from the sale.
The Department of Justice announced in June 2022 that the U.S. had been authorized to seize the 757 and a G650ER owned by Abramovich after the planes were reportedly reexported to Russia in violation of sanctions.
Drake
Boeing 767
$185 million
Canadian-born rapper Drake is number four on the list with an $185 million Boeing 767. The 767 is a mid- to large-size, long-range, wide-body twin-engine jet and Boeing's first wide-body twinjet and first airliner with a two-crew glass cockpit. The plane has two turbofan engines, a conventional tail and a supercritical wing design to reduce aerodynamic drag. The jet is designed as a smaller wide-body than earlier models like the 747. The 767 has a range of 3,850 to 6,385 nautical miles, depending on the variant. The 767 was developed in tandem with another Boeing jet on the list, the 757, with shared design features that allows pilots to obtain a common type rating to operate both aircraft.
The extravagant Air Drake was used for 23 years as a cargo-plane and still boasts a 206 ton cargo capacity and a 20,000 gallon fuel tank, and according to Fly Bitlux, over $100 million is estimated to have gone into the plane's renovation. In fact, the plane is worth a little more than the popular rapper's net worth. The jet was a gift from Canadian cargo carrier, Cargojet. The 767 features luxurious leather seating and Drake's signature OVO owl, along with Air Drake painted on the exterior.
Sultan of Brunei
Hassanal Bolkiah ibni Omar Ali Saifuddien III
Boeing 747-430
$230 million
The Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, is the third on the list with a $230 million Boeing 747-430. The 747 is a wide-body commercial jet airliner and cargo aircraft, often referred to as the Queen of the Skies. This Boeing jet was the first wide-body produced and the original version had two and a half times greater capacity than the Boeing 707, a common commercial aircraft of the 1960s. The iconic airliner began production in 1967, the same year the Sultan began his reign The 747 was first flown commercially in 1970, and held the passenger capacity record for 37 years. The last Boeing 747 made left its facility on its way to delivery on Jan. 31. While the Sultan and the 747 both began a lasting legacy in 1967, the final new production 747 left the facility at the start of 2023 while the Sultan continues his role as the world's longest-reigning current monarch and longest-serving current head of state.
Along with a lavish gold palace and at one time, the largest private car collection in the world, the Sultan has a fully customized 747, among other aircraft. After buying the plane, the Sultan spent about $120 million to customize it, according to Autoevolution. The 747 got the royal treatment, adorned with gold plating, crystal, hardwood, a gold toilet and custom carpets. The jet interior features a master bedroom with en suite bathrooms, a formal dining room, custom tableware and glasses and a conference room. The opulent jet is rightfully nicknamed, the Flying Palace.
Joseph Lau
Boeing 747-8 VIP
$367 million
Hong Kong billionaire real estate tycoon Joseph Lau Luen-hung is second on the list with a $367 million Boeing 747-8 VIP. The large jet normally cost around $150 million, but with Lau's customizations the VIP jet cost him more than twice that. In 2007, Boeing unveiled the concept for the new 747-8, along with the announcement that Lau was the first 787 Dreamliner private owner, according to Space. The VIP version of the iconic 747 features a stretched fuselage and a staggering takeoff weight of 975,000 pounds.
Alisher Umanov
Airbus A340-300
$400 million
Number one on the list is Uzbek-Russian businessman and oligarch Alisher Burkhanovich Usmanov with an Airbus A340-300 worth an astronomical $400 million. His plane is worth more than numbers 12 through seven on our list combined. The A340 is a four-engine, long-range widebody commercial jetliner. The extended reach and spacious interior make it a popular choice for VVIP and government customers. The A340-300 is one of four variants in the Airbus family. This variant has a service range of 7,400 nautical miles and offers direct point-to-point services and an increase in flight frequencies at a lower cost.
The Uzbek-born tycoon made his wealth after the Soviet Union collapsed through metal and mining operations and investments. The billionaire businessman and sanctioned oligarch lives a lavish life as one of the wealthiest people in the world and according to The New York Times, asks waiters to open champagne bottles with sabers at parties in one of his many villas. He was one of the many oligarchs sanctioned in the wake of the Ukraine invasion and his extravagant jet was named by the U.S. Treasury with its list of sanctions on March 3, 2022