7 Ridiculously Lavish Vacations Taken by the Ultra-Rich
Written by
Stacy Sare Cohen
Edited by
Rebekah Evans
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With $100 million or more in investable assets, the ultra-wealthy, made up of centi-millionaires and billionaires, are redefining luxury travel through elite, custom-tailored experiences curated by bespoke travel specialists.
These extravagant and sometimes extreme vacation experiences go far beyond five-star accommodations and first-class flights, offering total exclusivity, privacy and adventure far from the crowds.
From sailing to the Mediterranean on luxurious megayachts to launching into space and everything in between, these are the ridiculously lavish vacations taken by the ultra-rich the middle class can only dream of.
Private Clubs on ‘Giga-Yachts’
Many billionaires spend their vacations cruising the Mediterranean or Caribbean aboard private mega-yachts. These floating palaces, known as “giga-yachts,” stretching over 400 feet, are outfitted with luxurious features like helipads, private cinemas, onboard medical suites and world-class spas that rival the luxury of high-end resorts.
This summer, Jeff Bezos cruised through Greece on his 417-foot sailing yacht Koru, accompanied by celebrity guests including Kim Kardashian. David Geffen explored the Mediterranean on his 454-foot Rising Sun, according to Forbes.
Viewing the Earth’s Curves at 100K Feet in a Space Balloon
Today’s space-obsessed billionaires — Bezos, Branson and Musk — are at the forefront of commercial space tourism, already launching private citizens into low orbit with ticket prices soaring into the multimillions. Even for the ultra-wealthy, it’s a steep price to pay.
Space tourism is evolving quickly. The U.S. has established a dedicated Space Force, the moon now operates on its own time zone and Hilton is designing the interiors for Starlab, which will succeed the International Space Station, according to Skift.
Renting a Private Island for $80K Per Night
Necker Island is a private island paradise in the British Virgin Islands featuring 74 acres of rare beauty owned by billionaire Richard Branson. Guests can book one or more rooms in different houses or rent the entire island for $80,000 per night, per Dream Exotic Rentals. The island offers accommodations for 48 guests and six children, accompanied by a private staff to attend to their needs.
Stranded on a Desert Island
The wealthy have had luxury concierge companies, such as Quintessentially, arrange all the details for their guests to be stranded on a desert island. The company curated a special birthday celebration for their clients that reflected the experience of the movie Castaway.
Private Grammy Artist Performance
Having a Grammar winner perform at your wedding is an option for the ultra-wealthy. Pure Entertainment Group handled the details for a Grammy-winning artist to perform at an affluent couple’s wedding in the South of France, one of the most sought-after travel destinations for the well-heeled travelers. It cost the bride and groom $500,000, according to the BBC.
Curated Kidnapping in Remote South East Asia
To celebrate a milestone birthday, a wealthy entrepreneur enlisted the luxury travel company Pelorus to orchestrate a staged kidnapping in Vietnam, according to Skift. The elaborate experience, complete with hired actors, was known only to the performers and the guest of honor who played along.
Floating Above the Arctic in an Air Ship
For a client, the travel company Pelorus partnered with OceanSky Cruises to offer their guests an expedition to view the North and South Poles in a floating airship above the Arctic. These airships that resemble blimps offer a more sustainable way to view the Arctic, per Skift.
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