The average person wishes they could own a mansion, Lamborghini, and yacht. However, we settled for a decent home, a nice car, and a toy boat. On the other hand, millionaires can afford to buy anything they want. They live in the biggest homes, have a garage full of classic cars, and take summer vacations on their 100-foot yacht. In fact, they can afford to purchase the most expensive things in the world.
There are all kinds of items that cost an arm and a leg. These items will literally break the bank even if you’re a millionaire. To be fair, the most expensive things cover a wide range of items. For example, rare diamonds discovered centuries ago cost a fortune. At the same time, timeless artwork from the most remarkable artists sells for billions. But it’s not just jewelry and art that’s expensive. Other expensive items include everything from homes to cars and phones. Here’s a look at the most expensive things in the world.
19. Supreme Rose iPhone 3GS – $2.9 Million
Nowadays it’s impossible to live without a cell phone. People go everywhere with their phones, from work and school to the washroom. However, the iPhone 3GS Supreme Rose isn’t the type of phone you use in the bathroom. It’s the most expensive iPhone ever made.
The Stuart Hughes phone features four pink baguette diamonds and 75 flawless diamonds. The handcrafted iPhone Supreme Rose costs $2.9 million without a phone plan.
18. Crystal Piano – $3.2 Million
It’s really no shock that a piano made entirely of crystals would be the most expensive piano in the world. There are millions of expensive pianos, but none are quite like the Heintzman and Co. crystal piano.
The gorgeous $3.2 million instrument is incredibly fragile and could easily break. Therefore, it was only played once by Lang Lang at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
17. Gold Plated Bugatti Veyron – $10 Million
The Bugatti Veyron is already an expensive car that costs a tiny fortune to purchase. However, for rapper Flo Rida, that just wasn’t good enough.
He bought the car for $1.7 million but felt it wasn’t up to his standards. Therefore, he wrapped the car in 24 karat gold plates and topped it off with 24-inch, 24 karat gold rims. Flo Rida increased the gold-plated Bugatti Veyron’s value up to $10 million, making it one of the most expensive cars in his impressive collection.
16. Le Violdon d’Ingres – $12.4 Million
Many of the items on this list are famous for being full of color, expensive gold, or flashy style. However, a simple black-and-white photograph from the mid-20s costs the same as an invaluable bracelet. The iconic 1924 photograph Le Violdon d’Ingres features French model Kiki de Montparnasse from the back and naked from the waist up.
Visual artist Man Ray painted musical notes on his then-lover and model’s body to make her resemble a violin. In May 2022, the original Le Violon d’Ingres sold at Christie’s auction house for $12.4 million. It broke the previous record of $4.3 million set by the photograph Rhein II.
15. Diamond Panther Bracelet – $12.4 Million
The love story of the former King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson isn’t complete without the phenomenal Diamond Panther Bracelet. Edward gave Simpson all kinds of gifts and jewelry. He even gave up being the King of England for the woman he loved. Regardless, none of that compares with the Panther Bracelet.
The stunning bracelet cost a staggering $12.4 million. Cartier created the gorgeous piece in Paris in 1952 for the former King to gift to the love of his life.
14. Lullaby Spring – $19.3 Million
With a unique style and perspective, artist Damien Hirst is one of the most famous artists alive. He’s known for a series of artworks featuring dead animals maintained in formaldehyde. The most famous of the series, The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living, features a tiger shark in a glass display case.
His most expensive artwork is the iconic Lullaby Spring which sold for $19.3 million in 2007, exceeding all expectations. The artwork revolves around hand-painted pills in a cabinet.
13. Patek Philippe Grandmaster – $31.1 Million
Since 1839, clock manufacturer Patek Philippe has created some of the most gorgeous and complicated timepieces. The most famous people have rocked a Patek Philippe throughout history, including Pope Pius IX, Albert Einstein, Queen Elizabeth II, Nelson Mandella, and Princess Diana.
The Swiss luxury watch brand built a reputation for making the most expensive watches in history. In 2019, the iconic watchmaker broke all records when the Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime sold for $31.1 million at the Christie’s auction house. The one-of-a-kind 18-carat gold watch was part of an event to raise money for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
12. The Graff Hallucination Watch – $55 Million
Graff Diamonds is known for its stellar pieces that are breathtaking and expensive. They continued that tradition by unveiling the most expensive watch ever made, The Graff Hallucination, in 2014.
The 110-carat watch features a wide variety of cuts and diamonds, including Fancy Intense Pink, Fancy Intense Blue, Fancy Green, Fancy Light Pink, and more. As the most expensive watch, it costs a staggering $55 million.
11. 1963 Ferrari GTO – $70 Million
The 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO is the most expensive car ever made. The company only produced 33 models, making it one of the rarest cars in the world. In 2013, a red Ferrari 250 GTO set a record after selling for $52 million.
However, that record only lasted a few years. The vehicle had been restored and repaired due to slight wear and tear over the years. A silver blue 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO broke all previous records when it sold for an astonishing $70 million in 2018.
10. Rabbit – $91.1 Million
In 1986, Jeff Koons completed work on three identical stainless steel sculptures that would cement his legacy. He sold two of the sculptures for $40,000 each through his art dealer Ileana Sonnabend, who kept the third one The Rabbit.
The Rabbit would soon become Koon’s most expensive artwork. In 2015, The Rabbit sold for $91.1 million at auction. The sale of The Rabbit is the most expensive artwork sold by a living artist.
9. L’Homme au doigt – $141.3 Million
Alberto Giacometti’s L’Homme au doigt is the most expensive sculpture in history. Also known as The Pointing Man, the bronze sculpture was completed in 1947 and ended up in Sheldon Solow’s collection for roughly 45 years.
In 2015, the masterpiece shocked the world when it sold for a stunning $141.4 million at Christie’s auction house. Giacometti is one of the finest artists of all time, and his work often goes for a high price. For instance, another statue, L’Homme qui marche I, went for $104.3 million in 2010 at Sotheby’s auction.
8. Les Femmes d’Alger Version O – $1774.4 Million
As one of the greatest artists to ever live, Pablo Picasso’s collection of paintings is worth a fortune. For instance, the Les Femmes d’Alger Version O is one of the most expensive paintings sold at an auction.
Initially, the 1955 painting sold for $31.9 million in 1997. In 2015, it broke all previous records when it sold for a shocking $179.4 million. It was the most expensive painting sold for a short time until Leonardo da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi surpassed it.
7. The Card Players – $250 Million
In the late 1890s, French artist Paul Cezzane created a wonderful series of oil paintings dubbed The Card Players. Each image features a different number of players and situations. Cezzane completed the work right before the peak of his career.
In 2011, the Royal family of Qatar purchased one of the paintings for an astounding $250 million. It’s Cezzane’s most expensive painting ever sold.
6. Hope Diamond – $350 Million
Few diamonds compare to the incredible Hope Diamond. The 45.52-carat diamond is famous for its fancy blue-ish/gray color. The early history is a mystery, but it most likely came from the Kollur mines in India.
In 1668 it came into the possession of King Louis XIV of France but was stolen in 1792. It reappeared in 1839 with the Hope Family and ended up with Harry Winston in 1949. Later, Winston donated the diamond to the National Museum of Natural History in 1958. Despite costing a fortune, previous owners of the Hope believe it’s cursed and brings misfortune and tragedy to anyone that owns it.
5. Salvator Mundi – $450 Million
The masterpiece painting Salvator Mundi depicts Christ in a blue Renaissance-era robe holding a crystal orb in one hand and making the sign of the cross with his right hand. Art collectors and museums consider it Leonardo da Vinci’s most remarkable work.
Experts believe da Vinci painted the original between 1499 and 1510 for King Louis VII of France. Although copies of the painting by da Vinci’s students were floating around, the original was lost in time. However, it was rediscovered in 2005 by Alexander Parish and Robert Simon.
They paid roughly $1,000 and restored the iconic painting. In 2017, the Salvator Mundi sold for a stunning $450 million at Christie’s auction house. It’s the most expensive painting ever sold.
4. Villa Leopolda – $506 Million
The architectural marvel Villa Leopolda sits on the gorgeous French Riviera. The famous villa is the second most expensive home in the world, costing $506 million.
Originally built by King Leopold II of Belgium for his mistress, architect Ogden Codman redesigned the residence into its current image. The legendary Villa Leopolda is famous for its stunning views, classic architecture, design, and history.
3. Antilia – $2 Billion
In 2012, the second richest man in Asia, Mukesh Ambani, and his family moved into the most elaborate private residence, the Antila. Located in Mumbai’s billionaire row, the private home cost a whopping $2 billion. It includes six floors featuring a 50-seat theatre, swimming pool, and three helipads. Plus, the Antilia boasts a snow room that spits out real snowflakes.
If that wasn’t enough, the unbelievable home includes a temple, spa, ballroom, health center, and a 168-car garage. Standing at an impressive 27 floors high, the architects designed the Antilia so that it could withstand an 8.0 earthquake.
2. Yacht History Supreme – $4.8 Billion
The most expensive yacht ever built is the stunning Yacht History Supreme. Malaysian businessman, Robert Kuok, commissioned Stuart Hughes of the UK to design this fantastic 100-foot yacht. It took three years to complete with an astounding $4.8 billion price tag.
It features a solid gold base with other precious metals spread throughout. The Luxury liner includes a master bedroom, a staircase, and a dining area, all featuring gold and platinum.
1. Koh-i-Noor Diamond – Priceless
The pride and joy of the British Royal family’s crown jewels is the priceless diamond, the Koh-i-Noor. The breathtaking diamond first appeared in the Kollur mines in India. The early part of its history is a mystery, but its owners included Sultan Alauddin Khalji, Shah Jahan, Nadir Shah, and Ranjit Singh.
The 105-karat diamond remained in Ranjit Singh’s family until the British Empire annexed Punjab in 1849. 11-year-old Maharaja Duleep Singh ceded the diamond to Queen Victoria. The rare diamond currently sits in the Crown of the Queen Mother. India and the UK lay claim to being the true owners of the diamond.
