Billionaire planes, trains and automobiles
Courtesy Dassault
Magnificent modes of transport that will make your jaw drop
Billionaires like to go from A to B in supreme comfort and style, and think nothing of splurging on the finest and most exclusive modes of transport imaginable. Click or scroll through for a luxury overload as we reveal the private jets, opulent trains and prestige cars of the planet's richest people.
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Planes: Richard Branson's Dassault Falcon 50EX
Richard Branson has plenty of planes at his disposal but for routes his Virgin Atlantic airline doesn't cover and short-haul trips to and from his private island Necker in the Caribbean, the British billionaire travels in his Dassault Falcon 50EX private jet. A relatively affordable option, the aircraft can be picked up for just several million dollars.
Planes: Bill Gates' Bombardier BD-700 Global Express
While he is famed for his thrifty ways, Bill Gates does allow himself the occasional splurge and calls the Bombardier BD-700 Global Express private jet he bought in 1997 his “guilty pleasure”. According to the New York Times, the Microsoft co-founder paid $21 million for the plane, which translates to around $33.8 million (£25.9m) in today's money.
Planes: Ratan Tata's Dassault Falcon 2000
Formerly the chairman of India's Tata Group, Ratan Tata is in possession of a $22 million (£16.9m) Dassault Falcon 2000. The premium jet offers well-appointed interiors, cutting-edge safety features and a transcontinental range. Tata is actually a qualified pilot and so takes the controls of his prized plane, as well as others owned by the Tata Group.
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Planes: Larry Ellison's fighter jets
Likewise, Larry Ellison is an avid aviator with an impressive collection of aircraft that includes two bona fide fighter jets: a SIAI-Marchetti S.211 (pictured) acquired from the Italian Navy, as well as a decommissioned Soviet MiG-29. Unfortunately for the Oracle billionaire, the US government has grounded the ex-USSR jet, which it deems a weapon.
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Planes: Larry Page and Sergey Brin's Boeing 767-200
In 2005 Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin spent the equivalent of $33 million (£25.3m) in today's money on a Boeing 767-200 (similar to the one pictured), which they acquired from Aussie airline Qantas. Together with ex-Google CEO Eric Schmidt the tech titans own a formidable fleet of aircraft including a Boeing 757 and two Gulfstream Vs, and even have their very own private terminal at San Jose airport in California.
Planes: Mukesh Ambani's Boeing Business Jet 2
Hot on the heels of gifting his wife a tricked-out private jet complete with a bar, master bedroom, games consoles and more, billionaire Mukesh Ambani treated himself to a $73 million (£55.9m) Boeing Business Jet 2. India's richest person opted for a luxe custom interior boasting everything from a sweeping business suite to a full-sized bath tub.
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Planes: Jeff Bezos' two Gulfstream G650ERs
Jeff Bezos is the proud owner of not just one but two Gulfstream G650ER private jets. The first was delivered in 2015 while the second was snapped up last year. Together the planes are worth up to $150 million (£115m), small change for the world's wealthiest individual. Other billionaire Gulfstream G650ER owners include the aforementioned Larry Ellison, as well as Elon Musk and British retail tycoon Sir Philip Green.
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Planes: Donald Trump's Boeing 757-200
Donald Trump bagged the second-hand aircraft, dubbed 'Trump Force One', in 2011 from late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, who first got the plane in 1995. The future president spared no expense revamping the plane in suitably blingy style, pimping out the $100 million (£76.7m) jet with plush cream leather seating, a cinema, gold silk-upholstered master bedroom with a double bed and a spacious bathroom featuring a shower and 24-carat gold sink.
Planes: Sultan of Brunei's Boeing 747-430
Equally ostentatious is the Sultan of Brunei's Boeing 747-430. The autocratic ruler purchased the jumbo jet for $100 million (£76.7m) and spent an additional $120 million (£92.1m) on customizing the interior. Super-extravagant, the plane wows with 24-carat gold accents, Lalique crystal fixtures and sumptuous leather sofas.
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Planes: Roman Abramovich's Boeing 767-33A/ER
Roman Abramovich reportedly has a fleet of planes worth more than $650 million (£500m). The jewel of the Russian billionaire's collection of aircraft is his Boeing 767-33A/ER, which is said to have set him back a total of $313 million (£240m). A palace in the sky that gives Donald Trump and the Sultan of Brunei's jets a run for their money in the bling stakes, the plane has a banquet hall that seats 30 people as well as a bedroom with a double bed. Not just a lap of luxury, the jet is also a flying fortress with an advanced missile warning system and radar jamming tech.
Roland Nussbaumer [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)]
Planes: Alisher Usmanov's Airbus A340-300
Staying with Russian oligarchs, Alisher Usmanov owns one of the biggest and most expensive private planes on the planet, an Airbus A340-300 that he named Bourkhan after his father. The metals magnate spent at least $238 million (£182.7m) to secure the aircraft and millions decking it out, meaning the plane, which is as luxe as they come, could be worth upwards of half a billion dollars.
Trains: John Paul DeJoria's Patrón Tequila Express
Rags-to-riches billionaire John Paul DeJoria may own three private jets, but the Patrón Tequila Express, the private 1927 railway car he bought in 1996, is his pride and joy. DeJoria spent the equivalent of $3.3 million (£2.5m) in today's dollars renovating the carriage, which is decorated “maharajah’s palace style” with gorgeous green velvet sofas, ornate chandeliers and brocade drapes.
Trains: Bernard Arnault's Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
In 2018 Bernard Arnault's LVMH acquired high-end travel company Belmond, which made the French billionaire the ultimate owner of the peerless Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, the world's most iconic train. The Art Deco beauty, which travels between London and Venice and other destinations in Europe, exudes timeless glamour and offers its lucky passengers unbridled luxury.
Trains: Bernard Arnault's Royal Scotsman
Arnault also counts the storied Royal Scotsman in his bulging portfolio. Described as a palace on wheels, the Caledonian train is the epitome of Edwardian sophistication and provides all the comforts of a romantic Scottish castle. The perfect place to sip an aged malt whiskey and admire the breathtakingly beautiful Highland scenery, its carriages are decorated with rich mahogany paneling and fine tweed furnishings.
Trains: Bernard Arnault's Eastern & Oriental Express
The wonderfully exotic Eastern & Oriental Express, Asia's most opulent train, now belongs to the French billionaire as well. Travelling between Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore, the train delights with cherrywood panelling and delicate Thai silk upholstery, not to mention an amazing open-decked observation carriage.
Trains: Bernard Arnault's Andean Explorer
South America's classiest train, the Andean Explorer, which connects the ancient Peruvian cities of Cusco and Arequipa, is part of the Belmond group too. Decorated with furnishings that marry traditional Peruvian style with Art Deco, the train is a real gem. Other deluxe trains that are now owned by Bernard Arnault's LVMH include the Belmond Grand Hibernian, which operates in Ireland, and the Belmond British Pullman.
Automobiles: Donald Trump's Rolls-Royce Phantom
Now for some classic and supercar eye candy. First up is Donald Trump's 2015 Rolls-Royce Phantom, for which he is likely to have paid something in the region of $500,000 (£386k). The vehicle of choice for the billionaire who values old-school elegance, the grand car is the priciest in Trump's collection.
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Automobiles: Elon Musk's Lotus Esprit S1 Submarine
Elon Musk just couldn't resist splurging more than $800,000 (£600k) in 2013 on James Bond's 1976 Lotus Esprit S1 Submarine car that featured in The Spy Who Loved Me. Nicknamed 'Wet Nellie', the submersible was built specially for the 007 movie at a cost of around $100,000 and clad in a Lotus Esprit S1 bodyshell.
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Automobiles: Jay-Z's Dartz Prombron
Jay-Z possesses one of the most enviable collections of cars in the world. The billionaire hip-hop magnate has a multitude of spectacular motors in his no doubt colossal garage, including an armored Dartz Prombron SUV. The rap icon is reported to have paid $1.3 million (£1m) for the extra-tough vehicle.
Automobiles: Kylie Jenner's Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta
Ditto Kylie Jenner. The reality star and make-up mogul has no shortage of sensational supercars to choose from. They range from a custom Rolls-Royce and orange Lamborghini Aventador to this fantastic $1.4 million (£1.1m) Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta, which like the Aventador features Back to the Future-esque scissor doors.
Automobiles: Kylie Jenner's Bugatti Chiron
That fabulous Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta isn't actually Kylie Jenner's priciest car – far from it in fact. The world's youngest self-made billionaire has a monochrome Bugatti Chiron tucked away in her garage. Jenner bought the to-die-for supercar for $3 million (£2.3m) in October 2019 and posted a video of her new buy on social media, but later deleted it after receiving criticism for showing off her wealth.
Automobiles: Mark Zuckerberg's Pagani Huayra
Mark Zuckerberg's taste in cars used to be pretty modest. The Facebook boss had long favored models such as the VW Golf GTI and Honda Fit but hit the headlines in 2014 when he allegedly invested in a head-turning Pagani Huayra. The carbon-fiber stunner is thought to have set him back around $1.4 million (£1.1m).
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Automobiles: Prince Turki Bin Abdullah's fleet of gold cars
Suspected Saudi royal Turki Bin Abdullah took the UK capital by storm in 2016 when he imported his wow factor collection of gold supercars and cruised around central London's streets in the eye-catching vehicles. They include two Lamborghinis, a Mercedes AMG off-roader, Roll-Royce Phantom Coupe and Bentley Flying Spur, which together are worth some $1.9 million (£1.5m). The young motorhead spends thousands having his vehicles coated in gold, his favourite color.
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Automobiles: Bill Gates' Porsche 959
Along with his private jet, Bill Gates has a penchant for Porsche supercars, which he considers his other rare indulgence. He bought his first Porsche, a 911 Turbo, in 1979, and purchased a rare 959 in 1987 for the equivalent of $511,000 (£393k) in today's money. Now worth up to $2 million (£1.5m), the supercar was impounded by US customs for 13 years and Gates, who recently acquired an electric Porsche Taycan, actually helped pass a law to make the model road-legal.
Automobiles: Jay-Z's Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport
Back to Jay-Z. In 2010 the hip-hop star's mega-generous wife Beyoncé pulled out all the stops and then some for her husband's 41st birthday by gifting him a silver Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport. The supercar would have cost her a cool $2 million (£1.5m) based on the list price for that year.
Automobiles: Rob Walton's Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa
Walmart heir Rob Walton has built up an astonishing collection of classic cars, having spent millions of dollars in the process. Among his many exceedingly valuable models is a sublime 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa that Walton purchased for $12.1 million in 2009, but the vintage vehicle could now be worth up to $40 million (£31m).
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Automobiles: mystery billionaire's Rolls-Royce Sweptail
Unveiled in 2017 to much fanfare, the Rolls-Royce Sweptail is a one-off two-seater that was commissioned for a mystery billionaire, who is reported to have splashed out $13 million (£10m) for the unique vehicle. Needless to say, the Sweptail was the most expensive new car ever produced, but didn't hold on to the record for long.
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Automobiles: mystery billionaire's Bugatti La Voiture Noire
Bugatti snatched the accolade last year with its one-off La Voiture Noire ('The Black Car'). The $18.9 million (£14.6bn) masterpiece, which draws inspiration from the classic Type 57 SC Atlantic, was custom-made for an unnamed billionaire client. Rumors, which later turned out to be untrue, had suggested that the car had been commissioned by footballer Cristiano Ronaldo.
Mehdi Fedhouach/AFP via Getty
Automobiles: Ralph Lauren's Bugatti 57SC Atlantic
The car that inspired La Voiture Noire is worth considerably more than the 2019 upstart. Indeed the fabled 1938 Bugatti 57SC Atlantic, which is the jewel of Ralph Lauren's collection of prestige vehicles, has a value exceeding $40 million (£30.9m). In total, the billionaire fashion designer owns 60 rare classic cars, including a 1929 Bentley Blower and 1958 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa.
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Automobiles: David MacNeil's Ferrari 250 GTO
Drum roll please, the most expensive car ever sold is this 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO. The holy grail of sportcars, the legendary silver Ferrari, which features French tricolore stripes, was bought in 2018 by David MacNeil, the billionaire founder of the WeatherTech car floor mats company, for an eye-watering $80 million (£61.9m).
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