Many multimillionaires spend their time on charity or growing their wealth. However, there are certain pastimes that so many tycoons, film stars, and show business celebrities have embraced that they are now considered "luxury hobbies.".
We present to you Top 10 entertainment options that only the rich can afford.
10. Sailing
Our selection opens with a wonderful sport that's only affordable for the very wealthy. According to TheRichest, chartering a single yacht can cost up to $5,000 per day.
Many celebrities, like George Clooney, are among the lucky ones who enjoy yachting as a hobby. And the world's most expensive yachts belong to billionaires.
9. Collecting works of art
Leonardo DiCaprio, David Beckham and Brad Pitt have all spent six figures on art, proving they live by the adage "life is short, art is forever.".
For example, DiCaprio's collection includes Takashi Murakami's "Mononoke," valued at $735,000, and one of Frank Stella's geometric paintings, valued at $1 million. Even images of the actor himself are highly valued, as his portrait by Elizabeth Peyton sold for $1 million in "American Presidents" in 2013.
8. Horse ownership
This hobby is a fairly common pastime among the rich and famous.
- Madonna purchased two Lusitano horses in 2018 for $100,000 each.
- Steven Spielberg loves horse racing and owns horses that have competed in the Kentucky Derby.
- Richard Gere is a fan of one of the most beautiful horse breeds, the Appaloosa, and sponsors events where representatives of this breed perform.
- Brad Pitt is not only a great rider, but he also bought each of his children (there are six of them) a pony.
7. Owning exotic pets
Few things demonstrate a person's financial resources and eccentricity as clearly as owning an exotic pet. Not only do you have to buy this creature, but you also have to provide it with good housing and food.
Elvis had a kangaroo, George Clooney a pot-bellied boar, and Salvador Dalí an anteater and an ocelot. Nicole Kidman's family farm is home to alpacas, and Nicolas Cage's mansion was once home to two king cobras and an octopus.
Paris Hilton adopted a kinkajou, a small animal from the raccoon family. And, being a predator rather than a lap dog, the kinkajou once bit its owner. Without significant consequences for either of them.
6. Flights
Rich people are sometimes accused of being out of touch with reality. But while many of them unintentionally have their head in the clouds, some millionaires consciously rise up there.
A prime example is Angelina Jolie, who owns a personal single-engine Cirrus SR22 jet and also holds a pilot's license.
Hollywood star Tom Cruise owns a 19-seat Gulfstream IV jet worth $36 million, but Harrison Ford is not satisfied with one jet, so he bought six at once, each costing about $18 million.
Bill Gates, John Travolta, Tiger Woods, Philip Kirkorov, Roman Abramovich and many other foreign and wealthy people have private jets.
And, of course, former US President and one of the world's richest men, Donald Trump, indulged in the luxury of a Boeing 757, which can accommodate up to 40 passengers. Trump paid approximately $100 million for his purchase.
5. Car racing
Full of roaring engines and adrenaline, the speedway competition attracts a crowd of the rich and famous. Foreign superstars, from Steve McQueen and Paul Newman to Jean-Paul Belmondo and Jay Kay, have participated in the races, proving that while money can't buy happiness, it can certainly give you a lot of fun.
According to Nascar Racing Experience, three eight-minute race car driving sessions can cost up to $950.
4. Owning a vineyard
Tasting the world's most expensive wines is a pastime for the world's elite, but many millionaires drink alcohol produced in their own wineries.
Gerard Depardieu, Antonio Banderas, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Johnny Depp, David Beckham, and many other media personalities own their own vineyards and wineries. Renowned director Francis Ford Coppola owns over 2,000 hectares of vineyards. His winery produces nine different wine labels.
3. Polo
The classic "rich man's game" has been and continues to be played by many famous and popular figures, from Princes William and Harry of the British Royal Family to actors Clark Gable and Spencer Tracy and politician Alexei Rodzianko.
A new variation of the "sport of kings" has recently gained popularity: snow polo. Unlike traditional grass polo, the goals in the snow version are not changed after each game. The Snow Polo World Cup is held on a frozen lake in St. Moritz, Switzerland, attracting wealthy individuals from around the world.
2. Golf
It's a sport beloved by many celebrities, from actor Clint Eastwood to Donald Trump and Billy Gates. Rich people have no problem paying exorbitant membership fees at the world's most exclusive golf clubs. And when we say "exorbitant," we mean tens of thousands of dollars. At a minimum.
Anyone can find a golf course to play on the weekend, but few will seek out the best courses in the world and incur all the expenses that this hobby requires. And when you travel to another corner of the world to play golf on one of the best courses, you certainly won't be going there with cheap clubs.
1. Mountaineering
Today, more and more people embrace hiking, trekking, and rock climbing as healthy outdoor activities, but high-altitude mountaineering remains a pastime for the wealthy.
The cost of climbing Everest currently starts at around $35,000, with VIP clients reaching $160,000. And there are many peaks where the cost of attempting to reach the summit is higher than the peaks themselves. In dollars.