Just Another Billionaire Tuesday
They’re not worried about traffic or laundry. Their problems are shinier and surprisingly stressful. Peek into what happens when too much becomes normal.
Which Private Jet Fits This Role?
One jet for international flights, another outfitted for quick domestic hops, and a third, perhaps, reserved for pets and children. That’s not excess—it’s logistics. The wealthy don’t just buy jets; they build fleets tailored to their specific purposes and schedules.
Deciding Where To Dock Their Superyacht
As you are busy hooting at someone stealing your parking spot, the ultra-rich are busy with conversations like “Let’s go where the harbor has the least paparazzi”. Monaco? Too visible. St. Barts? Full. These floating palaces, some longer than football fields, can’t just moor anywhere, and that’s a problem.
Which Home To Go To
When you start forgetting which villa has the heated marble floors and which penthouse houses the koi pond, you’ve reached the zone. Ultra-rich individuals typically own nearly three homes, many of which remain empty for 10 months a year. The problem arises when deciding which one to go to.
Needing Staff Just To Manage Staff
Imagine having to schedule a manager just to coordinate your chefs, gardeners, chauffeurs, tutors, and pilots. You’d think it's a business, but it’s just Tuesday for elite families. Estate managers—earning six figures easily—juggle human logistics like a backstage concert crew. Ever heard of a household with an HR department?
Security For Their Security
Celebrities don’t just have bodyguards; they hire security firms that protect bodyguards’s families, too. Billionaire's annual personal security bill surpassed tens of millions, including tech shields and risk analysts. Sometimes, you’ll see a billionaire travel in two identical convoys—one’s a decoy.
Their Kids Can’t Fly Commercial For Insurance Reasons
Forget budget airlines; some wealthy families won’t even allow heirs on the same jet. Why? If disaster strikes, the family fortune needs a living heir to prevent chaos. Some legacy firms require alternate heirs to fly staggered routes. A spare jet for the kids is standard.
Scheduling Plastic Surgery Around Gala Season
It’s not just when you get the facelift; it’s where on the social calendar it lands. Elite circles plan procedures around red carpets and tabloid photos. The Met Gala, for instance, becomes a deadline for nips and tucks. When these times come up, healing must have already kicked on.
Too Many Designer Clothes, Not Enough Storage
You know you’ve arrived when your wardrobe needs its own square footage—think museum-like rooms with glass cases and humidity control. Some clients even hire fashion archivists who catalog items worth millions. Many stars have their outfits organized by hue, hemline, and emotional significance.
Choosing Which Rare Car To Drive That Day
Let’s say your driveway includes all rare beasts. Which one screams “Tuesday brunch”? That’s the kind of dilemma you face with a $50M auto collection. Jay Leno’s garage, famously huge, includes cars so rare they’ve never touched pavement. Decisions, decisions...Do you take the classic V12 or the carbon-fiber one-off?
Pets With Better Health Insurance Than People
The top-percenter’s pets fly private, eat Wagyu, and get acupuncture on weekends. Karl Lagerfeld’s cat, “Choupette,” had a staff, social media managers, and an inheritance. Yup, inheritance. Billionaires insure their pets better than most do their own cars. You can’t make this up—some dogs have concierge vets on 24-hour standby.
Juggling Private School Waitlists For Toddlers
Securing a toddler’s elite education is all legacy. Some parents even go to the extent of donating seven figures before the interview. NYC’s top preschools, like Dalton or Brearley, can have waitlists longer than medical residencies. Admissions consultants—yes, they exist—coach toddlers on posture and pronunciation.
Paying To Rename Stadiums And Hospitals
Who wouldn’t want a legacy? The super-wealthy don’t just donate; they brand. Ever noticed stadiums with surnames you can’t pronounce? That’s philanthropy meets PR. Some spend over $600 million for naming rights just to outdo rivals. It’s a modern-day coat of arms with better lighting and hot dogs.
Finding Art Storage With Humidity Control
Collecting rare art is based on preserving it better than diamonds. These collectors use high-security, climate-regulated vaults to protect canvases from...air. Facilities like Geneva Freeport guard paintings are worth more than oil tankers. Some owners never even see their own pieces in person. It’s more of a “liquid asset”.
Booking Resorts Entirely To Avoid Other Guests
Privacy has a price, and sometimes it’s $134K a night. The elite often rent out entire islands, safaris, country clubs, or five-star lodges just to avoid brushing shoulders with, well, anyone. Helicopters deliver guests. Michelin chefs stay on-site. You’ll never have to fight over pool chairs—but get lost in your own cabana.
When A $10M Watch Feels “Too Casual”
Time is money, but a few watches make money look cheap. The Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime sold for $31 million and still might not “match the vibe” of particular occasions. Collectors stock dozens for varying dress codes. And these aren’t wristwear; they’re status capsules ticking in platinum.
Personal Chefs Needing A Michelin Star
Egg-white omelets hit differently when prepared by someone who ran a kitchen in Paris. High-net-worth households often demand chefs with Michelin backgrounds willing to travel across continents. These culinary artists customize macros, source truffle butter by region, and even manage rooftop herb gardens. No boxed cereal in sight.
Hosting Fundraisers That Raise Less Than The Decor Costs
A $500K gala might net just $200K for the actual cause, but the floral wall was stunning. That’s how philanthropy flexes. From Elton John performances to foie gras fountains, fundraisers often double as social power plays. It’s giving with glitz and a side of caviar.
Their Vacation Homes Need Year-Round Maintenance
Homes in Aspen, the Hamptons, or Gstaad sit empty but perfectly curated 365 days a year. Landscapers trim hedges no one sees, chefs prep for no one arriving, and housekeepers polish doorknobs for guests who may never come. It’s like Downton Abbey, but quieter and Wi-Fi enabled.
They Lease Jewelry Like Regular People Lease Cars
Forget commitment—why own when you can glam and return? High society events require different dazzles each time, so millionaires lease diamonds and emeralds like runway props. Some jewelry includes 24-hour security escorts. If you’ve ever worn a necklace with its own guard, you’re probably not checking price tags.
Insurance Policies Just For Champagne Collections
The world’s rarest vintages don’t sit in fridges; they rest in fortified wine vaults under biometric locks. Champagne collectors protect bubbly worth millions. One bottle of 1820 Juglar Champagne fetched over $40K at auction. Yes, even your toast can require paperwork and a fire suppression system.
Managing A Fleet Of Nannies
One nanny for French lessons, another for nighttime feedings, and a third who knows CPR and gluten-free baking? That’s protocol. Some elite households employ 5+ nannies per child, each with specific duties and rotating shifts. Expect contracts with confidentiality clauses and passports ready for international travel at a moment’s notice.
Owning A Vineyard Without Knowing Anything About Wine
You don’t need to be a sommelier to stamp your name on a vintage. Many ultra-rich buy entire vineyards for bragging rights and hire expert vintners to do the actual blending. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s Chateau Miraval is a prime example. It’s less bouquet, more label.
Building Panic Rooms With Art And Wi-Fi
Not your average safe room. These luxury bunkers come with biometric locks, surveillance feeds, stocked pantries, spas, and, yes, original Picassos. Hidden behind bookshelves or custom mirrors, they often feature high-speed internet, air filtration systems, and panic buttons linked directly to private security firms.
Flying A Stylist Cross-Country For One Outfit
When a gala calls for the perfect silhouette, commercial shipping simply won’t do. High-net-worth individuals fly stylists across states—or oceans—just to select accessories or hem a gown. When the stylists arrive, they sometimes bring trunks of couture options on private jets as just-in-case outfits.
Their Wedding Costing More Than Most Homes
These events are full-on productions. Think fireworks launched from floating barges and performances by chart-topping pop stars. Average cost? Often $2 million and up. One Indian wedding in 2018 reportedly reached $100 million, with guests flown in on chartered flights and hotel wings renamed for the family.
What To Get Your Spouse For Valentine’s? A Black Card
The American Express Centurion Card—aka the “Black Card”—doesn’t come from a website. It arrives by invitation, sometimes after $250K+ in annual spending. With it, you can charter jets or gift-wrap a rare Ferrari. For the ultra-wealthy, a bouquet won’t cut it; your card better glow in the dark.
Building Private Movie Theaters That Rival IMAX
Why deal with sticky floors when your home theater rivals Hollywood studios? These setups feature velvet reclining seats, Dolby Atmos sound, custom popcorn bars, and massive screens. One tech billionaire even installed motion-activated lighting to mimic sunset as the credits roll. Movie night, redefined.
Competing Over Who Has The Greenest Jet Fuel
Billionaires have swapped champagne for sustainability bragging rights. Many now burn Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), which costs up to five times more than regular jet fuel, not for savings but for the image. Some even post carbon offsets like social currency. It’s environmentalism, turbocharged.
Owning Islands That Require Their Own Governance
An island isn’t just land—it’s responsibility. Ultra-rich owners often hire full-time maintenance teams and even enlist the services of off-duty law enforcement. Necker Island, owned by Richard Branson, runs on solar power and employs a full staff year-round. That’s managing your own floating nation.
Getting Sued Over Art That Wasn’t Even Displayed
Art as an asset is tricky, especially when the piece never leaves its crate. Legal battles erupt over ownership rights, authenticity, and provenance. Multi-million-dollar disputes happen between heirs, ex-spouses, or galleries. One collector bought a Warhol, only to spend years in court proving it was a Warhol.
Hiring Therapists For Their Dogs
When Fido feels “emotionally disconnected,” what do the super-rich do? They bring in certified pet therapists. Yep—trained professionals analyze tail-wag patterns, separation anxiety, and “status-induced stress”. Pooches out here reportedly get weekly aromatherapy and Reiki. Add acupuncture to the mix.
Choosing Between A Personal Submarine Or A Helicopter
Why settle for one toy when you can surface from underwater and fly to dinner? Wealthy yacht owners often face this ‘which-vehicle-today’ conundrum. Submarines by U-Boat Worx dive up to 300 meters and cost over $1.5M. Helicopters come with teak interiors and espresso machines. “Commute” just hits differently.
Donating Millions—Then Suing Over Wall Placement
Picture donating $10 million...then finding your name isn’t at eye level in the donor wing. Lawsuits have been filed over plaque size and even font choice. A furious philanthropist could rescind a $30+ million gift when their tribute ends up in a low-traffic hallway.
Photo By: Kaboompics.com, Pexels
Splurging On A Personal Perfume Formula
Scent for the rich can be an investment. Some even commission labs to create custom formulas and get patents so they are never replicated again. A single batch can cost $50,000+, bottled in engraved Baccarat crystal. These perfumes are sometimes so exclusive that even close friends can’t sample them.
Flying In Food From The Source
For billionaires craving authenticity, even distance doesn’t matter. A few don’t feel the pinch when they regularly have pies flown overnight from Naples to Riyadh. It sounds absurd, but with a private jet and a thermal oven in the cabin, it’s just dinner, and cold-chain couriers coordinate every slice’s temperature.
Missing Flights Because The Jet Interior Felt “Off”
Are silk shades too warm? Seat stitching not symmetrical? Some billionaires cancel entire trips if their aircraft interiors feel “wrong”. Custom jets include mood lighting and even fragrance dispensers. If the scent isn’t oud from Morocco, it’s a no-fly. When perfection is policy, a misaligned window shade can ground millions.
Buying Hotels Just For Privacy
Tired of paparazzi or just don’t like room service queues? It has been observed that the wealthy often purchase entire hotels and villas to ensure solitude. Other moguls have bought beachfront resorts outright. This here is controlled seclusion, with butlers on standby and pool chairs no one else touches.
Changing Time Zones For “More Productive Hours”
Some billionaires rotate locations to maximize daylight and mental clarity. With estates across hemispheres, they chase sunrises and business hours like stocks. Homes in Auckland, London, and Malibu allow seamless time-flow control. It’s not jet lag; it’s strategy. Your 9 to 5? They're 24/7.
Scheduling Meetings Around Astrologers
Moon in Capricorn? Then it’s a no for mergers. The ultra-rich may even consult astrologers to greenlight deals and even launch product lines. Heck, some even postpone acquisition over Mercury retrograde. These seemingly fringe beliefs are actually calendar commands backed by high-paid cosmic consultants.
Having A Butler For Each Home
One for Aspen, another for Bel Air, and a third exclusively for international travel. Each knows the family’s wine preferences, preferred towel folds, allergies, and how to polish silver without streaks. Elite families hire from British guilds, with some butlers earning more than CEOs. White gloves? Optional. Excellence? Mandatory.
ANTONI SHKRABA production, Pexels
Investing In Space Tourism Over Stocks
While you’re watching the market, some are orbiting it. Seats on Virgin Galactic and SpaceX can cost upwards of $450K—and that’s just for suborbital joyrides. It’s beyond ROI. Billionaires like Yusaku Maezawa book entire spacecraft just to circle the moon. Now, that’s diversifying your portfolio.
Mark Vande Hei (see EXIF data), Wikimedia Commons
Creating A Logo For The Family Name
Forget the older crests; modern dynasties build brand identities. Wealthy families hire elite design firms to craft monograms and visual assets that appear on everything they own. They could even go as far as to pay millions for a font custom-built from their kin’s handwriting—a stylistic legacy.
Building Wine Cellars Larger Than Restaurants
Imagine a wine cellar with its own tasting room, glass elevator, and climate zones. Some cellars house over 3,000 bottles from Bordeaux to Barossa. Tycoons even built these cellars to mimic huge grottos—complete with waterfall acoustics. This storage becomes an underground statement of taste, aged to perfection.
Siobhan Leachman, Wikimedia Commons
Declining Business Class Because There’s No Shower
If your flight doesn’t offer a 5-minute spa at 40,000 feet, why bother? Emirates first-class suites include private showers and a vanity better stocked than most apartments. For some elites, anything less is a dealbreaker. No wonder they treat business class like the middle seat at a bus stop.
Shwangtianyuan, Wikimedia Commons
