The holiday shopping season is here already. The intensity of the shopping started earlier than usual this year with Hanukkah beginning Wednesday night before Thanksgiving.
The drumbeat of hype around Cyber Monday and Black Friday, or maybe its Black Thursday now, began weeks ago. Thought of what to buy this aunt, that brother or mom and dad are enough to drive anyone crazy.
But try being so wealthy that money is no object when it comes to gifts. What would you buy then?
Would an iPhone for cousin Clara be good enough? Or would she expect it to be covered in jewels or even gold.
Even the dog or cat in your life would expect something more extravagant than a rawhide bone or a new blanket.
There's no need to worry, though. Merchants and designers have you covered with offerings from designer ice to, well, intimate hygiene products.
Whether you have money to burn or are simply curious about how the superwealthy spend their loot, we bet you'll enjoy window shopping for the Top 10 Most Ridiculous Luxury Items. ThinkAdvisor's pick for the silliest is No. 1 on the list:
10. Yo Ho Ho
Yachts have long been a favored toy of the superwealthy, but why be miserly when you could own the most expensive yacht in the world? The History Supreme comes with a price tag of $4.5 billion—yes, billion. If that sounds a tad high, remember the outside of this 98-foot boat is covered in more than 220,000 pounds of platinum and gold. Designed by jeweler Stuart Hughes, the favorite bejeweler of the rich and famous, the inside comes with a liquor bottle adorned with an 18-carat diamond, a statue made from the bone of a Tyrannosaurus Rex and various pieces of meteorites. An unnamed Malaysian businessman bought the yacht; we wonder how much his insurance costs.
9. Vroooooom Vroooooom
You can't head to the polo club or the marina in just any old vehicle. Why not spring for the Lamborghini Veneno Roadster. The special edition car, of which only nine are being built, was created just for the automaker's 50th anniversary. It tops out at a cool 221 mph and costs $5.3 million. Since time is money, the superwealthy can waste a lot less time getting from here to there.
8. What a Jolt!
Those looking for a jolt to start their day, or perhaps opening their own cafe, might not have to even plug in their Kees van der Westen designed espresso machine. That's because the cost, $20,000 for the top model, should set the pulse racing. To be fair, the brew is supposed to be good to the last drop.
7. Talk Is Definitely Not Cheap
Anyone can customize an iPhone with a colorful case. But just how many can afford to have their 5s model covered in gold, diamonds and even sapphires? Very few, if the $16 million price tag is any guide. Jeweler Stuart Hughes evidently couldn't resist adorning the smartphone. If that seems too much, Gold Genies offer a similar luxury iPhone for just $78,000. They even allow you to have the gold and jewels moved when you upgrade your phone.
