8 Most Expensive Planes In The World: How Much Does It Cost To Fly Like The Elite?

In an increasingly globalized economy it’s important for the elitist of the elite to get around in a safe, reliable, and fast manner. Clearly the only option for fast travel these days is by airplane, but the world’s billionaires aren’t exactly flying economy class with the rest of us. Scroll down to see how 21st century millionaires travel, and to learn more about the world’s most expensive airplanes.

1. Gulfstream IV – $38 million

Gulfstream IV
It’s no Boeing, but Tom Cruise’s tiny Gulfstream IV has made quite a name for itself. Coming in at $38 million, this plane isn’t known for its luxury and space, but it does have room for 19 passengers and is powered by two Rolls-Royce Tay 611-8 engines.
This plane is hygienic as well – every two minutes the air in the plane is refreshed so as to avoid the airborne illnesses that us mere mortals are privy to on commercial airlines.

2. BD-700 Global Express – $47.7 million

BD-700 Global Express
This jet is the preferred ride of the Hollywood elite. The BD-700 Global Express sits in the hangars of such celebrities as Oprah and Celine Dion. It’s a perfect little jet for quick business trips– complete with seats for around 18 people, workstations, and a community area. At a cool $47.7 million, this is a great little jetsetting plane that is great for getting the job done, but it’s not an obnoxious gas guzzler.

3. Trump’s Boeing 757 – $100 million

Trump’s Boeing 757
What do you do when you don’t need your multi-million dollar private jet anymore? You sell it, of course! Not just anyone can buy the hand-me-down jets of the elite, however. Donald Trumps famous jet, with his name splashed across the side, was formerly owned by Microsoft’s Paul Allen.
Trump’s jet is worth an estimated $100 million. The details of the jet are incredible, with everything from gold plated seat buckles and a 52 inch flatscreen television. Even the bathroom sinks and faucets are gold! The jet has room for 23 passengers and has two bedrooms, it’s definitely a comfortable ride for anyone aboard!

4. Boeing 747 – $153 million

Boeing 747
One of the most famous commercial jets in the world is the Boeing 747, but did you know that some of the world’s wealthiest use this jet for private purposes? Such fictional characters as Austin Powers travel in a 747, but real life moguls as well. Multi Billionaire Chinese real estate investor Joseph Lau owns a $153 million Boeing 747.
One of the most distinctive things about the Boeing 747 is that it is multi-story. If you’ve ever been in an international terminal, you’ve probably seen one sitting at the gate: the business class is at the top and the commoners sit in the first level. Now, imagine how creative you could get with all of that space on a private plane! What Lau has done with his skyloft can only be left to the imagination, but it’s surely luxurious!

5. Airbus A380 Superjumbo Jet – $500 million

Airbus A380 Superjumbo Jet
The most expensive airplane ever made is a private jet belonging to Prince Alwaleed bin Talal of Saudi Arabia. At a whopping $500 million this aircraft has everything from a garage for two cars, a room for hawks, a garage for the prince’s luxury automobiles, and a stable. Additionally, the plane has multiple bedrooms, bathrooms with showers, and a “wellness area”.
So what kind of money do you have to have to purchase this kind of luxury personal jet? For starters, Prince Alwaleed bin Talal is the CEO and founder of Kingdom Holding Company, which is a Saudi business involved in real estate, hotels, media, internet, and financial services. Somewhat unsurprisingly given his great financial endeavors and royal status, Alwaleed bin Talal is worth an estimated $20 billion himself, and is ranked as the 26th most wealthy person in the world, according to Forbes.

6. Airbus A340-300 – $600 million

Airbus A340-300
Private jets can be expensive in and of themselves, but when you’re buying a multi-million dollar jet why not spend hundreds of millions of dollars on decorating the interior of the plane as well? That’s exactly what Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov did: the Airbus A340-300 itself cost $238 million, but after the luxury remodelling of the inside, it’s estimated that the jet cost around $600 million.
This super jet can carry 375 passengers and fly for 9000 miles at a time. The billionaire named his jet Bourkhan after his father, Bourkhan, a lovely partner for Usmanov’s multimillion dollar yacht which he named after his mother, Dilbar.

7. Air Force One - $660 million

Air Force One
How much does it cost to keep the president of the United States safe when he travels? When the government purchased Air Force One in the early 1990s the cost was an estimated $330 million, which is around $571 million by today’s standards after inflation. Here’s the catch though: Air Force One is actually two planes.  That’s right, the cost of both of the jets was $660 million of taxpayer money.
But that’s not the end of the money guzzling jet’s expenses. Every time the president takes Air Force One out for a spin it costs $179,750 per hour to operate. As if that airfare cost doesn’t seem out of control as is, the cost of flying Air Force One internationally is astronomical. For example, a quick trip to South America can cost upwards of $10 million.
Although they are obviously more wealthy than the average American family, the Obamas clearly can’t front the cost of traveling in Air Force One themselves. So who pays this aircrafts bills? The American people’s tax dollars of course.

8. B-2 Spirit – $737 million

B-2 Spirit
By far the most expensive plane on the market is the United States military’s B-2 Spirit jet, swooping in at $2.4 billion for the entire devlopment program of this aircraft! In the air since 1987, the military currently possesses 20 of these planes, after having lost one in a crash in 2008.
Also known as the “Stealth Bomber”, the B-2 Spirit has the ability to get through anti-aircraft measures, as well as deploy nuclear weapons. Clearly, this is the most powerful aircraft in the world, and the United States has 20 of them. Used for very different reasons than the commercial luxury jets above, the B-2 Spirit only fits two people. This aircraft was originally designed during the Cold War, but has been used in actual battle in Serbia, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

3 Books You Must Read

6 Books You Must Read
If you would like to be more creative, more productive, smarter, healthier, better able to deal with life's challenges, and a better leader—and who doesn't—check out the following six books.
Each will leave you feeling challenged, motivated, inspired... and and ready to take your professional life to new heights. 
 
 

The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg

Even though we like to think otherwise, most of the time we don't make decisions. Instead we just automatically do what we've done before, and repeating those habits makes us less productive and less effective than we could be.
So what can you do? Change an old habit into a new habit. It's not easy, but it is simple. And it's an infinitely repeatable process.


Moonwalking With Einstein by Joshua Foer

I forget stuff all the time. Trivial things, important things, all kinds of things. Like creativity, memory is a process—all you need are the right tools.
Not only does Foer provide those tools, he wraps them inside his story of winning the U.S. Memory Championship, which makes the book even more memorable (sorry, couldn't resist).
 
 

Emotional Equations by Chip Conley

Mathematical equations can provide insights into your feelings and emotions.
Don't think it's possible? Surely you've thought, "Once I looked at that differently I felt a lot better," right? Conley's equations provide a mental framework that can help center you when you're wallowing in despair... or help you contain your euphoria when your expectations are out of control.
Balance is everything; knowing the equations, and acting accordingly, can help you achieve that balance.
 

Gmail SMTP Server Settings

Gmail SMTP Server SettingsIntroduction

A little-known feature about Gmail and Google Apps email is Google's portable SMTP server. Instead of having to manage your own outgoing mail server on your DigitalOcean VPS, you can simply configure Google's SMTP server settings into whatever script or program you wish to send email from. All you need is either a (i) free Gmail account or (ii) paid Google Apps account.

Benefits

You have the option of having Google store and index the emails you send via its SMTP server, so all your sent emails will be searchable and backed-up on Google's servers. If you elect to use your Gmail or Google Apps account for your incoming email as well, you'll have all your email in one convenient place. Also, since Google's SMTP server does not use Port 25, you'll reduce the probability that an ISP might block your email or flag it as SPAM.

Settings

Google's SMTP server requires authentication, so here's how to set it up:
  1. SMTP server (i.e., outgoing mail): smtp.gmail.com
  2. SMTP username: Your full Gmail or Google Apps email address (e.g. example@gmail.com or example@yourdomain.com)
  3. SMTP password: Your Gmail or Google Apps email password
  4. SMTP port: 465
  5. SMTP TLS/SSL required: yes
  6. In order to store a copy of outgoing emails in your Gmail or Google Apps Sent folder, log into your Gmail or Google Apps email Settings and:
  7. Click on the Forwarding/IMAP tab and scroll down to the IMAP Access section: IMAP must be enabled in order for emails to be properly copied to your sent folder.
NOTE: Google automatically rewrites the From line of any email you send via its SMTP server to the default Send mail as email address in your Gmail or Google Apps email account Settings. You need to be aware of this nuance because it affects the presentation of your email, from the point of view of the recepient, and it may also affect the Reply-To setting of some programs.
Workaround: In your Google email Settings, go to the Accounts tab/section and make "default" an account other than your Gmail/Google Apps account. This will cause Google's SMTP server to re-write the From field with whatever address you enabled as the default Send mail as address.

Sending Limits

Google limits the amount of mail a user can send, via its portable SMTP server. This limit restricts the number of messages sent per day to 99 emails; and the restriction is automatically removed within 24 hours after the limit was reached.
Credits: Pablo Carranza

How to Add Flashing Christmas Lights to your Blogger Blog

First and foremost, log in to your Blogger Account >> Select a Blog >> Layout >> Click Add a Gadget, scroll down and select HTML/JavaScript gadget from the list. Now copy the below code and paste it in the empty widget box.
How to Add Flashing Christmas Lights to your Blogger Blog

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