10 Items Billionaires Buy That You’ve Never Heard Of
Most people expect the ultra-rich to invest in mansions, artwork, or luxury cars, yet their spending often stretches into territory far less familiar. There’s a whole ecosystem of businesses built around supplying rare, high-priced, and sometimes downright unusual goods to clients who want something they can’t find anywhere else. These purchases demonstrate how money is invested in items that most people would never imagine owning, and they also reveal just how unconventional billionaire shopping habits can be.
Pet Cloning
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Viagen Pets charges $50,000 to clone a dog or a cat, and $85,000 for a horse. These services provide wealthy owners with a new animal with the same genetic makeup as the original. The science behind it has been around for years, but only people with the means to afford it are willing to spend that kind of money after losing a beloved companion. The clones aren’t the same pets, but they do carry the same DNA, which is enough for some to try to recreate what they had.
Young Blood Transfusions
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A startup called Ambrosia developed age-fighting plasma treatments, charging $8,000 to $12,000 for transfusions using plasma from younger donors. Some clients reported noticing better sleep, sharper memory, and improved athletic performance. The FDA warned consumers in 2019 that the treatment had not been proven, and the company shut down temporarily before restarting. Even with the concerns, the idea that youth might be bought continues to attract interest.
Kidnap and Ransom Insurance
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Companies such as Chubb, Chartis, and ACE sell insurance that covers ransom payments and specialist negotiators in the event of a kidnapping. The coverage exists because high-net-worth households can be targeted anywhere in the world, and policyholders want experts ready to intervene. It’s also used by people who work in regions where kidnapping happens more often.
Luxury Ice
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Glace Luxury Ice Co. sells ultra-purified cubes and spheres that run about $325 for a 50-piece pack. People who invest in high-end whiskey or carefully mixed cocktails buy it because the ice contains no minerals that might alter the drink’s taste. Each piece is carved to melt at a slower pace, preserving the drink’s strength. It’s a small detail, but one that shows how even ice can become a curated luxury.
Instant Libraries
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Some designers outfit large homes with curated book sets chosen for their color, binding, or theme, and the price for a leather-bound run can reach about $250 per foot. These ready-made shelves often land in second homes or sprawling properties where the aim is a cohesive, polished look rather than a slowly built personal library. Its interior decor borrows the appearance of a well-read collection.
Aircraft Timeshares
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For frequent flyers who don’t want the burden of owning a full jet, fractional aircraft programs offer a middle path. Flexjet is one of the major players in this space, with a fleet that ranges from six-seat aircraft to larger sixteen-passenger models. Costs shift based on the plane and hours used, and its World Access option tracks travel by the day for people moving between continents. It’s essentially a vacation-home share, just translated into private aviation.
Billionaire Hotel Suites
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Some luxury hotels design suites that feel more like private galleries than rooms, and the Empathy Suite in Las Vegas is a prime example. Spread across 9,000 square feet in the Palms Casino Resort, it runs $100,000 per night with a two-night minimum. A private pool overlooking the Strip, a salt room, Damien Hirst art, round-the-clock butler service, and a $10,000 resort credit round out the experience. Few stays anywhere in the world come with a higher price tag..
Private Movie Releases
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Prima Cinema and Red Carpet Home Cinema let people watch new releases at home the same day they hit theaters. Prima’s system costs about $35,000 to install, and rentals are about $500 per title. Owners pair this with high-end home theaters so they can skip crowds, lines, and loud audiences. It’s convenient on a level that pushes movie night into a different category.
Renting Celebrities
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Booking agencies can secure actors, musicians, and athletes for private events, and the price range is wide. Lesser-known names might appear for around $15,000, while A-list stars can command more than $1 million for a single evening. Hosts bring them in for milestone birthdays, corporate celebrations, or gatherings that call for an unforgettable moment.
Roman Abramovich’s Superyacht
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Roman Abramovich owns a 550-foot yacht called Eclipse, which cost more than $590 million and features a submarine, three helicopters, a pool, and an anti-missile system. The vessel shows how far security and luxury can go when money isn’t a limit. It functions as a floating fortress and is one of the largest private yachts ever built.