GQ Asks: "Is It Worth It?"

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed)
Apr 22nd 2008 at 4:02PM

In the May issue of GQ hitting stands this week, the magazine gets its hands on twelve of the most expensive items of their kind on Earth to evaluate whether they're really worth the price. From the $5,980 Toto Neorest 600 toilet to the $1.5 million Bugatti Veyron, they try to determine the difference between comically overpriced and extremely valuable.

If you have the money, the magazine says, some things are indisputably worth every penny. The Toto toilet for one, as well as the $64,950 Hastens Vividus bed, a $148,000 pair of ugly but awesome Wilson Audio speakers, and, yes, the Veyron.

Things that are more hype than merit, however, include $6,500 Cheval Blanc wine, $600 java made from the excrement of a coffee bean-eating Indonesian civet cat, the $30,000-per-night Ty Warner Suite at the Four Seasons in Manhattan, and $160 Kobe beef rib eye steak. According to author Benjamin Wallace, "I've had $18 bar steaks that gave me more pleasure." We're willing to take his word for it.

Gallery: GQ's Luxury Test