Top 10 Most Expensive Things in the World

As the common masses have adopted the world wide web, a business’ internet address has become more and more important. No one will click on a domain with a bunch of ones and zeros, which also means simple or one-word domains are in high demand. This was the case with Voice.com, which previously had hosted a “Cloud Voice Exchange” platform for developing applications and solutions involving the human voice. In 2019 the company “MicroStrategy” sold the domain via domain selling service “GoDaddy” for 30 million dollars. The address now hosts Block.one’s new blockchain-based social media platform, “Voice.”

Vehicles are an investment that is familiar to millions. When you’re in the market for one, the price is typically based on how new it is, what speed it can get, how comfortable it is, and what it can do. But it becomes an entirely different ballgame when you get into “car collectibles.” For example, this 1963 Ferrari GTO was sold during 2018 in a private deal to David MacNeil, the founder of WeatherTech, for $70 million. The car model has seen considerable success on the race track, with only 36 ever made. Others have sold for $38 million and $52 million, with experts expecting the price of deals like this to only increase in the years to come.

#8: The Pink Star Diamond

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The value of diamonds has never really been in question. Typically the purer the cut and the bigger the size, the more expensive the diamond is. Well, this vividly pink, internally flawless 59.60-carat African diamond broke records in 2017 after selling for $71 million. It was sold at auction in Hong Kong, destroying the previous record-setting sale of a diamond of $57.5 million. The order was by the Hong Kong-based jewelry company Chow Tai Fook (tye fuke) , so it seems like it’s more a corporate status symbol than something attached to the jewelry. Imagine your partner asking for this on an engagement ring! There wouldn’t even be a wedding!

Alberto Giacometti was a Swiss artist renowned for his surrealist sculptures. Influential for much of the 20th century, the price of his art skyrocketed after his passing in 1966 - and has continued to do so. This is especially true of his 1947 bronze sculpture "L'Homme au doigt," or "Pointing Man." While seven versions of the cast exist, this doesn't depreciate its value at all. It became the most expensive sculpture ever in 2015 when it was sold for $141.3 million during the New York "Looking Forward to the Past" sale. This wasn't unexpected, as another one of his works, "L'Homme qui marche I," sold for approximately $104.3 million 5 years earlier.

#6: The Dream Jet BBJ B787

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When most of us peasants get on an airplane, we can expect to be squeezed into a tiny seat among the hundreds of other passengers on the flight. If you’re lucky, you might make it to first class. But what if you had a whole ass house in there? This Boeing 787 “Dream Jet” is a 2400-square foot luxury jet that contains private dining areas, a master bedroom, en-suite bathroom, dressing room, TV area, and lounge. In 2018, Chinese conglomerate HNA Group put this plane up for sale for over 300 million dollars hoping to attract a buyer. But dropping that astronomical amount wouldn’t be the last expense, as operational costs are estimated to be around $74,000 an hour.

While art might be a creative expression of emotions and experiences, it’s also well known for selling for astronomical prices. For example: “The Card Players” painting by French artist Paul Cézanne sold in 2011 for $250 million. But Leonardo da Vinci’s work is at the top of the list of the most expensive paintings ever sold. However, it isn’t the very prominent Mona Lisa that claims that honor. The “Salvator Mundi” is a painting featuring Jesus Christ but is hotly contested whether it is an entirely original work by da Vinci or he just contributed to it. Despite these debates, the price tag still stays strong, having sold for $450.3 million in 2017.

When you see a skyscraper like this, you might think it would be split up for many wealthy individuals. But alas, the “Antilia” is entirely the private residence of billionaire Mukesh Ambani (moo-KAISH awm-BONNY) and his family, sitting in “billionaires row” in Mumbai, India. This vertical mansion contains 27 stories with three helipads, a ballroom, nine high-speed elevators, a 50-seat theater, spa and health center, terrace gardens, swimming pool, a 168-car garage, a temple, and a snow room. As you can expect, this extravagant display of wealth has drawn some ire. But when you’re living in a home that costs between $1-2 billion, you might expect this.

When you think of rich people, yachts tend to be something you associate with them. But if you want to cruise the sea in obscene luxury, you better buy one of the exceedingly expensive ones. The Project Infinity German superyacht is an excellent example, worth $104 million, sporting eight staterooms and a helideck. But it’s not the most expensive. The “Yacht History Supreme” is a £2.8 billion (or $3.8 billion) yacht covered in 100,000kg of gold, platinum, and jewels throughout the base and interiors. It also contains a statue made from actual Tyrannosaurus Rex bones. This ridiculously large expression of wealth was purchased in 2011 by an unnamed Malaysian businessman.

#2: James Webb Space Telescope

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Discovering what’s out there in the far reaches of space is a complex and challenging process, hence why it can be so darn expensive. For example, the Hubble Space Telescope, launched in 1990, cost roughly $4.7 billion after being adjusted for inflation. In 2021, NASA launched the “James Webb Space Telescope,” which blew that budget out of the water, costing around $9 billion. It contained revolutionary infrared technology that would allow scientists to see the birth of stars. It makes sense that space tech would cost something “out of this world,” but if those numbers seem scary to you, you don’t want to know their operating costs.

#1: The Great Mosque of Mecca

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This location holds many titles. It’s the largest mosque globally, the eighth largest building worldwide, and one of the most expensive buildings in the world. The Masjid al-Haram (mess-JID el-hah-RAWM) is an incredibly critical place for followers of the Muslim faith, as all Muslims must perform the Hajj (hadge/hedge) pilgrimage if they are able. Its creation dates back to hundreds of years and it has undergone continual construction, extensions, and renovations, reportedly costing more than $100 billion. While the sheer amount of money spent on the site hasn’t been without controversy, it is undoubtedly the most expensive thing you can find on this list.