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WorldsMostExpensive

Robb Report Offers the World's Most Expensive Xmas Gift for $500 Million

Filed under: Water, Wings, Wealth


Looking for a really unforgettable Christmas present for that special someone this year? That glossy chronicle of the filthy rich Robb Report has just the thing - a matching custom private jet and megayacht set costing $500 million. The eye-popping present, the world's most expensive, is part of the profligate publication's Ultimate Gift Guide, a seasonal offering of over-the-top exclusives. The recipient will receive an Airbus A380 (above), the world's largest jumbo jet, and a bespoke megayacht, both customized by renowned designer Patrick Knowles. The interiors will complement each other creating what Knowles calls a "custom personal brand" for the lucky owner. There's one catch - considering the backlog on A380 deliveries and the time required to design and build a custom megayacht, the giftee will have to wait at least six years to get their hands on the toys.

$650 Million Price Cut on Villa Leopolda?

Filed under: Estates, Wealth


Villa Leopolda on the Cote D'Azure (above), once the world's most expensive estate with a $750 million pricetag, is apparently back on the market with an astonishing $650 million price cut, a new world record. The 11-bedroom, 14-bathroom mansion has 29,000 square feet of interior space that opens to manicured lawns and a swimming pool. The spiraling outdoor staircases, balconies and terraces have waterfront views and of the surrounding hillsides. Working fireplaces, a sauna, outdoor kitchen and pool house are other features. As we noted back in February, Russia's richest man Mikhail Prokhorov had reportedly agreed to purchase the Villa for $750 million but later backed out of the deal, forfeiting a $55 million deposit. In May we reported that the recession had caused the estate's value to plunge significantly. Owner Lilly Safra did not re-list the property right away, but according to Forbes the Villa is now available for $102 million. The magazine now places it as the 4th most expensive estate in the world, behind No. 1, the Spelling Manor at $150 million; No. 2, Fleur De Lys at $125 million; and No. 3, Updown Court at $117 million.

"Star of India" Rolls-Royce Now Listed at $13 Million

Filed under: Wheels


Last month we wrote about the famed "Star of India" 1934 Rolls-Royce Phantom II convertible custom made for an Indian Maharaja, slated to be auctioned off by a German collector. Now the incredible car has been listed for sale via online global luxury marketplace JamesList for £8 million, or about $13 million. If it fetches that price, the one-of-a-kind Rolls could capture the world's most expensive car title (in terms of confirmed sales), beating out the 1957 Ferrari Testa Rossa that recently sold at auction for $12 million. The 40/50 HP Continental "All-Weather Convertible" features polished aluminum bodywork and saffron paint evoking the Indian spirit of Hindutva. The car is being sold off by famed Rolls-Royce collector Hans-Günther Zach, who's liquidating his private museum dedicated to the marque.

$14 Million Rolls-Royce on Offer in Museum Sale Could Be World's Most Expensive Car

Filed under: Wheels, Auctions


Back in May we reported that a 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa had sold at auction for $12 million, setting a new world record and becoming the de facto most expensive car in the world. Now that record is quite possibly about to be shattered by a bespoke, one-of-a-kind 1934 Rolls-Royce Phantom II 40/50 HP Continental "All-Weather Convertible" custom made for an Indian Maharaja. The incredible car (above), known as the "Star of India", is being sold off by famed Rolls-Royce collector Hans-Günther Zach, who's liquidating his private museum dedicated to the marque in Germany. It's expected to fetch as much as €10 million or $14 million, beating the Ferrari by a wide margin. The Star is just one of classic and collectible 24 Rolls-Royces Zach is accepting bids for until Sept. 15th.

[via JamesList]

Check out a video of the Star of India after the jump.

The World's Most Expensive Lighter for $79,000

Filed under: Writing Instruments, Men's Style

st dupont lighter The venerable Parisian luxury goods firm of S.T. Dupont has come out with the world's most expensive lighter (right) priced at $79,000.

The Ligne 2 Champagne lighter, part of Dupont's Prestige Collection, is made of solid 18-carat white gold embellished with 468 brilliant-cut diamonds.

Also available is a matching fountain pen in solid 18-carat white gold as well with rhodium finished trims and 502 brilliant-cut diamonds for $74,000.

S.T. Dupont, founded in Paris in 1872 by Simon Tissot Dupont, made bespoke pieces for the likes of Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Windsor. Daniel Craig also carried Dupont accessories as James Bond in Casino Royale.

[via JustLuxe]

First Ever Pur Sang for Sale at $3.8 Million

Filed under: Wheels


Last week we reported that a third Bugatti Veyron Pur Sang, one of only five made and the world's most expensive production car, had been listed for sale via global online luxury marketplace JamesList. Now a fourth Pur Sang has surfaced for sale at Florida's exotic auto dealer Forza Collezione. The car on offer is said to be the first of the five Pur Sang's built and we're told the pricetag is $3.8 million. This means only one of the five Pur Sang's remains in private hands. The first was offered up in Abu Dhabi, and the next one surfaced a couple of weeks later in Frankfurt, Germany, where the car was originally unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The special edition supercar with exposed carbon fiber and aluminum bodywork sold out within 24 hours of its original announcement.

Another Pur Sang Offered Up in the Great Veyron Sell-Off

Filed under: Wheels, Wealth


Earlier this year we reported on two ultra-exclusive $3 million Bugatti Veyron Pur Sangs, the world's most expensive production vehicle of which only five were built, being put up for sale. The first of the special edition cars with exposed carbon fiber and aluminum bodywork, which sold out within 24 hours of their original announcement, was offered up in Abu Dhabi. The next one surfaced a couple of weeks later in Frankfurt, Germany where the car was originally unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Now a third Pur Sang has been listed for sale via global online luxury marketplace JamesList in Munich.

With the other two Pur Sangs already on the block as previously noted, only two of the cars seemingly remain in private hands. Also back in April we noted that 18 Veyrons were on offer via JamesList; that number has now swelled to 23, or nearly one-fifth of all Veyrons built to date. The cheapest is a 2005 model with 29,000 miles on it offered at €789,000 or about $1.09 million. Obviously the pitiful economy means many people are having to try and unload these agonizingly expensive automotive status symbols.

$15 Million Membership at World's Most Expensive Club

Filed under: Wealth


A Hong Kong-based company is offering memberships in what is billed as the world's most expensive private club for $15.2 million apiece. Only 100 Charter Corporate Platinum Memberships in the Richman's IMC (International Millionaire's Club) will be available worldwide, good for 30 years. The whopping fee is justified by its being an an "all-access, first-class VIP pass" to megayachts, yacht clubs, jockey clubs, country clubs, golf courses, ski resorts, gentlemans clubs, supper clubs, luxury hotels and restaurants around the globe, eliminating the need for multiple memberships.

You also get the right to own and race horses at China's Royal Nanjing Jockey Club, where prizes run to the millions; confidential concierge and problem resolution services including 24-hour international emergency medical assistance; global executive travel assistance; personal bodyguards, travel guides and elite escorts worldwide; and the ability to charge expenses to an exclusive global biometrics-protected club card with a $1 million credit line. It all sounds incredibly ambitious considering there's an international recession on.

[via JustLuxe]

The Classicist: The New World's Most Expensive Estates

Filed under: Estates, The Classicist, Wealth


Five months ago when Forbes ranked the world's most expensive houses (in terms of current listings) only three of them clocked in at over $100 million. And in fact, one of those, Leona Helmsley's Dunnellen Hall in Greenwich, CT which started out at $125 million had already been reduced to $95 million by the time the list was published (it's currently being offered at $75 million). The other, Fleur de Lys in Beverly Hills listed at $125 million, was therefore the world's most expensive and one of only two $100 million-plus properties officially on the market.

Re-surveying the field now we've decided it's time for a new World's Most Expensive list, mainly because despite the recession - or, perhaps, because of it - there are now seven properties in what we've dubbed the Hundred Million Club (N.B. - those listed at only $100 million don't make the cut), three of which are in the U.S. These are the modern-day equivalents of the magnates' great estates we wrote about back in February.

Some recent market activity which regular Luxist readers will be aware of makes a new ranking imperative. For starters, last month Candy Spelling listed her Holmby Hills mega-mansion at $150 million, making it the world's most expensive estate. Then just last week a mansion at No. 10 Belgrave Square in London hit the market for around the same price - £100 million, or about $149 million (depending on exchange rates), while a second Belgrave Square property finally completed renovations and has been listed at £80 million, or about $120 million.

We also received confirmation this week that an incredible 40-room private mansion in Paris' Place des États Unis (above), built in 1890, has been listed at €105 million, or about $138 million. Fleur de Lys, whose "world's most expensive" status (though not its "legendary estate" status) was also usurped by the $135 million Manaplan Residence in Palm Beach now languishes in 5th place (sorry, Mariah).

Here is our new ranking of the world's most expensive estates (in terms of current verifiable listings), all members of the Hundred Million Club:

1. The Manor - Holmby Hills, CA: $150 million
2. No. 10 Belgrave Square, London, UK: $149 million
3. Place des États Unis, Paris, France: $138 million
4. The Manalapan Residence, Palm Beach, FL: $135 million
5. Fleur de Lys, Beverly Hills, CA: $125 million
6. No. 31 Belgrave Square, London, UK: $120 million
7. Updown Court, Surrey, UK: $110 million



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