The Most Expensive Holiday Splurges — and How Much They Cost
Written by
Choncé Maddox
Edited by
Rebekah Evans
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The holidays are a time of giving, celebration and let’s be honest: spending. Whether it’s upgrading your tree decorations or buying one too many stocking stuffers, most of us have splurged at least once in the name of holiday cheer. But if you’re looking to feel a little better about your own seasonal spending habits, just wait until you see what some of the ultra-wealthy and celebrity set have done during the holidays.
From multimillion-dollar Christmas trees to luxury vehicles wrapped in bows, these over-the-top splurges aren’t just about holiday spirit. They’re status statements with sky-high price tags. And while these stories might seem outlandish to the average shopper, they offer a fascinating look at how different the season of giving can be when your budget has no ceiling.
A $15 Million Christmas Tree in Spain
In late 2019, the beachfront luxury property Kempinski Hotel Bahia (near Marbella, Spain) revealed what has been billed as the “most expensive Christmas tree in the world” — a 19-foot fir adorned with pink, red, white and black diamonds, sapphire ornaments and other high-end jewels. According to MarketWatch, its estimated value is over $15 million.
Beyond sheer spectacle, the story serves as a reminder that for some venues, holiday décor functions less as seasonal cheer and more as a marketing and prestige statement.
Beyoncé’s $350,000 Hermès Birkin Bag Haul
According to multiple media sources, superstar husband Jay-Z surprised Beyoncé with a collection of Hermès Birkin bags worth around $350,000 for Christmas. According to Essence, the bags were purchased in a private room at the Madison Avenue store on Christmas Eve.
It’s a textbook example of how holiday gift-giving among the ultra-wealthy can mean six-figure price tags and how such gifts often become part of the celebrity narrative.
Mariah Carey’s $400,000 ‘MommyMC’ Rolls-Royce
In 2010, Mariah Carey, often dubbed the “Queen of Christmas” for her holiday-themed repertoire, received a customized Rolls Royce Phantom from then husband Nick Cannon for Christmas. The price tag: approximately $400,000 and it came with personalized license plates that read “Mommy MC,” per Luxify.
For everyday folks, that’s roughly the size of a lifetime vacation fund for some families. But for the well-versed luxury-spender, it’s just a holiday bonus.
Kourtney Kardashian’s Multiple Christmas Trees Worth $36,500
In 2018, reality-star Kourtney Kardashian reportedly invested in at least five Christmas trees for her home, with the total valuation estimated at $36,500, according to People. That figure may not even include some of the extra, oversized faux bear decorations.
While that still pales in comparison to multi-hundred-thousand-dollar gifts, it’s a useful contrast for high-end holiday decorating budgets and shows how “splurge” gets scaled up even in décor.
Holiday Luxury When Travel Is the Gift
While collectible gifts and décor get the most headlines, one of the stealthiest forms of holiday splurge is travel and accommodation. For example:
- In 2015, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt spent Christmas at the ultra exclusive resort Amanpuri in Phuket, Thailand, staying in a ten-bedroom villa that cost $18,000 per night, according to Vanity Fair.
- One article by The Sun reported celebrity families chartering super yachts for holiday stays or renting mega-villas for tens of thousands per night often with private staff, chefs and full-service amenities. Travel has become a major arena for holiday splurging: what better time to go all-out than when the world is in celebration mode?
Stories like these grab headlines and for good reason. A $15 million tree covered in diamonds? A half-million-dollar handbag haul? These jaw-dropping holiday buys are attention-grabbing precisely because they feel so out of reach and, for most of us, completely unrelatable.
The best kind of holiday spending is mindful spending. That means sticking to purchases that bring true joy or lasting value whether it’s something useful, meaningful or memory-making. You don’t need a $400,000 gift to show someone you care. And you certainly don’t need to go into debt just to keep up with curated online wishlists or social media highlight reels.
Instead, make your money work for you this season. Set a budget that aligns with your goals. Choose gifts or experiences that you’ll actually use and enjoy. And most of all, remember that a thoughtful, well-spent dollar will always be more rewarding than an impulsive one, no matter how big or small.
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