Most Expensive Things in the World: Top 17 Items

From luxury yachts and rare gemstones to tech marvels and historic artwork, the most expensive things in the world offer a glimpse into extremes few can imagine. Whether they’re bought for status, investment, or sheer indulgence, these ultra-high-ticket items reflect more than wealth. They reveal shifting global values, innovation frontiers, and what some people are willing to spend for exclusivity.

Today, we’ll walk you through 17 of the most expensive things ever created, purchased, or sold, some of which cost more than entire neighborhoods or countries’ annual GDPs. 

17.  Perfect Pink Diamond: $23.2 Million

Weighing in at 14.23 carats, the Perfect Pink Diamond lives up to its name as a rare, flawless gemstone that stunned collectors when it sold for $23.2 million at a Christie’s auction in Hong Kong. 

Image Source: Telegraph

What makes it so valuable? It has an incredibly pure color and exceptional clarity. Diamonds of this size and color are very rare in nature. In fact, fancy vivid pink diamonds account for much less than 0.1% of the overall diamond production by the Gemological Institute of America.

16. L’Incomparable Diamond Necklace: $55 Million

Known as the most expensive necklace in the world, the L’Incomparable Diamond Necklace is a true example of opulence. The centerpiece of the necklace is a 707.48-carat yellow diamond, known as the largest flawless representative of its kind, surrounded by 91 white diamonds set in 18-karat rose gold. 

Image Source: BriteCo

The rough stone was discovered by a young girl in the Democratic Republic of Congo, making its journey from riverbed to red carpet even more remarkable. Today, it’s more than jewelry. It’s a wearable history and a showcase of elite gemology.

15. 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO: $70 Million

The Tour de France-winning 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO is currently believed to be the most expensive car in the world. Only built in 36 units, this particular model now belongs to David MacNeil, the WeatherTech founder and CEO. Its value comes from a mix of performance legacy, aesthetics, and collector prestige.

Image Source: CNN

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14. Upper Phillimore Gardens: $128 Million

Image Source: Dotnews

Nestled in London’s elite Kensington neighborhood, 24 Upper Phillimore Gardens is one of the most expensive private homes ever sold in the UK, reportedly purchased for $128 million by Ukrainian oligarch Elena Franchuk. Originally a girls’ prep school, the Victorian-era mansion was transformed into a 10-bedroom palace featuring a panic room, an underground swimming pool, a sauna, a cinema, and even a private gym. 

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13. Villa Leopolda: $750 Million

Located on the French Riviera, Villa Leopolda is a gigantic estate that covers over 18 acres of prime Mediterranean coastline. It was built and owned by King Leopold II of Belgium in 1902, from whom it derives its name. The villa has 19 bedrooms, multiple swimming pools, a helipad, and a massive garden with a team of 50 full-time gardeners.

Today, Villa La Leopolda is valued at around $750 million and has been owned by several billionaires, including Edmond and Lily Safra, the Lebanese-born Brazilian banker and his wife. It has also been featured in many notable movies, including one by Hitchcock. 

Image Source: Villa La Leopolda Official Website

12. “Interchange” by Willem de Kooning: $1 Billion (Estimated)

Willem de Kooning’s Interchange isn’t just a painting but a seismic moment in modern art. Sold privately for $300 million in 2015 to billionaire hedge fund manager Ken Griffin, its current estimated value is up to $1 billion, reflecting the sharp appreciation of post-war American art. Created in 1955, Interchange marked de Kooning’s shift from figuration to abstraction, influencing generations of artists. 

Today, it’s displayed at the Art Institute of Chicago. In the world of billionaires, acquiring rare art like this isn’t just for decoration. It’s about legacy, cultural power, and long-term investment.

Image Source: Canvas Wall Art

11. B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber: $2.1 Billion

The B-2 Spirit is a flying fortress engineered for stealth warfare. Built by Northrop Grumman, it is currently known as the world’s most expensive military aircraft. It can deploy conventional and nuclear weapons, while perfectly avoiding radar detection thanks to its unique wing design.

Image Source: AeroTime

Only 21 units were ever produced, and its development involved some of the most advanced aerospace technologies to date. While not for sale on the open market, its staggering cost underscores the price of cutting-edge innovation in defense.

10. Antilia, Mumbai: $4.6 Billion

Soaring 27 stories above South Mumbai, Antilia was built by Mukesh Ambani, the richest man in India. Initially valued at around $2 billion, the skyscraper mansion continues to generate global attention as one of the most extravagant homes on Earth. Today, its value is around $4.6 billion.

Designed to withstand earthquakes up to magnitude 8, the 400,000-square-foot structure features a 168-car garage, nine high-speed elevators, a grand ballroom, a 50-seat theatre, terrace gardens, a temple, a private medical center, and even an ice room that produces real snow.

Image Source: LMD International

9. Air Force One: $4.7 billion

The U.S. President’s flying command center, Air Force One, is a high-security mobile office that can withstand nuclear threats, cyberattacks, and any other global crisis. The upcoming VC-25B replacement program is expected to cost $5.3 billion, according to U.S. Air Force budget reports. This includes aircraft construction, defense systems, in-flight refueling, and extensive communications upgrades. 

With features like an onboard medical suite, conference rooms, and encrypted global communications, it serves as a symbol of American power and preparedness.

Image Source: The White House

8. History Supreme Yacht: $4.8 Billion

Image Source: LinkedIn

Reportedly commissioned by a Malaysian billionaire and designed by UK-based Stuart Hughes, the History Supreme is said to be the most expensive yacht ever built, with a shocking price tag of $4.8 billion. The 100-foot vessel is covered with 100,000 kg of solid gold and platinum, including walls, railings, and even the base of the dining area.

Rumored features include a master bedroom with a wall made of meteoric stone and a statue crafted from real dinosaur bone. Though its existence has been questioned, the concept alone places it in a class of nautical extravagance unlike anything else.

7. The Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom: $4 to $6 Billion (Estimated)

The Crown Jewels are currently kept in the Tower of London and represent  over 800 years of the history of the British monarchy. It’s a collection of over 100 ceremonial pieces and 23,000 gemstones featuring the Imperial State Crown, the Sovereign’s Sceptre, and the Cullinan I diamond, which is the biggest clear-cut diamond in the world.

Image Source: History Hit

While not for sale, they represent one of the most opulent and valuable jewelry collections in existence.

6. The Romanov Imperial Fabergé Egg Collection: $9 Billion (Estimated)

Created between 1885 and 1917 by master jeweler Peter Carl Fabergé, this unique collection was commissioned by Russia’s Romanov tsars as Easter gifts for their wives and mothers. Only 43 of the original 50 imperial eggs exist today, with pieces scattered across museums, oligarchs’ vaults, and private collectors like Viktor Vekselberg.

Individually, these eggs can cost up to $33 million, but together, the collection is estimated to be worth up to $9 billion due to its extreme rarity, imperial provenance, and the mystique of a vanished dynasty.

Image Source: Westland London

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5. The Forbidden City, Beijing: $70 to $100 Billion (Estimated)

The Forbidden City was built in the 15th century as the largest ancient palace complex in the world. Spanning around 180 acres with 980 surviving buildings, it’s now a Palace Museum that houses priceless works of Chinese art, ceramics, ancient manuscripts, and imperial relics. It’s officially a public heritage site, but the estimators state that its cultural and historic value is somewhere around $70 to $100 billion. 

Image Source: Sapore di Cina

4. Neom’s “The Line” Project: $320 Billion

The Line is a futuristic 170-kilometer-long linear city constructed right in the middle of Saudi Arabia’s deserts. Phase One alone is estimated to cost $320 billion, with more than $50 billion spent so far. Backed by the Saudi Public Investment Fund, The Line represents a bold (and controversial) reimagining of urban living in the 21st century and beyond.

Image Source: AD Middle East

3. The United States Interstate Highway System: $618 Billion

The U.S. Interstate Highway System is one of the most expensive public works projects in American history. Authorized in 1956 under President Dwight D. Eisenhower, its initial price was projected to be $25 billion, but it ended up costing $618 billion in 2023 and took over 35 years to build. Though owned by the government and not a private asset, it remains one of the most valuable engineered networks in the world.

Image Source: ThoughtCo

2. Apple Inc.: Market Cap $3.36 Trillion

Apple Inc. is one of the most valuable publicly traded companies in the world. From iPhones and MacBooks to its growing ecosystem of software, services, and wearables, Apple is a lifestyle builder. Their products and software influence all spheres of our lives, from design to culture and worldwide commerce.

Image Source: Investing.com

1. The Earth: Priceless but Estimated at $5 Quadrillion

According to astrophysicists, if the Earth were ever to be “priced” based on its mass, resources, ecosystem, and uniqueness as a life-sustaining planet, it would cost around $5 quadrillion (that 5 followed by 15 zeros). Proposed by scientist Greg Laughlin, this valuation factors in everything from minerals and water to biodiversity and atmospheric composition. Of course, Earth isn’t for sale, but compared to even the grandest man-made creations, our planet remains the most irreplaceable and valuable asset in existence.

Image Source: Stock Image

Final Thoughts

Among the top 3 of the most expensive things in the world are not things, but symbols of power, progress, and irreplaceable value. Whether it’s a trillion-dollar tech empire, a nation’s most vital infrastructure, or the planet we all call home, their worth goes far beyond a price tag. They represent what humanity builds, values, and depends on the most.