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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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