Heading 1: The Extravagant Gifts the World’s Wealthiest Will Unwrap this Christmas
No matter how skilled you think you are at gift giving, chances are excellent your paltry presents pale in comparison to the blinged-out baubles the world’s wealthiest will be unwrapping this December 25.
Heading 2: Diamond-Encrusted Handbags and Luxurious Resort Stays
All these privileged types want for Christmas? — think diamond-encrusted designer handbags, five-figure overnight resort stays, a beautiful Tuscan vineyard worth $5 million. And that’s just some of what’s reportedly set to be received by pampered multi-millionaires and billionaires this year.
Heading 3: Insider Details from High-End Concierge Companies
Employees at high-end concierge companies in Los Angeles, London, and New York dished the details on the gaudy goodies with Business Insider as the annual goods exchange draws near.
Heading 2: Diamonds on Handbags? Why Not!
“For the person that has everything, why not have diamonds on your handbag too?” Nicole Pollard, founder of luxury styling firm Lalaluxe, asked rhetorically, revealing she sourced just such an accessory for an unnamed client last year.
Heading 3: The World’s Most Expensive Handbag
Pollard procured a Himalayan Birkin — made from the underbelly of crocodile — with sparkling diamond hardware. The cost? A cool $750,000. The opulent accessory has been described as “the world’s most expensive handbag” — requiring its own security detail during shipment.
Heading 3: Monogrammed Goyard Travel Bags
Pollard proclaims that similar items will also be on billionaire wishlist this holiday. Monogrammed Goyard travel bags, worth upwards of $10,000, are another hot designer item for the season.
Heading 2: Experiences Over Material Gifts
Meanwhile, Winston Chesterfield, founder of London-based consulting firm Barton, says some of his uber-rich clients believe physical items are out of style this holiday season. Instead, they’re gifting experiences to their loved ones.
Heading 3: Renting Private Islands and Luxe Villas
Rather than another Rolex watch or Moncler coat, one of his clients decided to rent a private island in the Caribbean for two weeks instead. Elisabeth Brown, a New York-based client manager at the concierge company Knightsbridge, said her clients were looking at renting luxe private villas in Africa.
Heading 3: Pristine Natural Wonders
The conservancies of Ol Jogi in Kenya and Saanane Island in Tanzania are particularly popular with the world’s wealthy, where the cost of accommodation can run at $40,000 for a single night. Trips to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and Patagonia in South America are also proving popular, with the filthy rich looking to experience the pristine natural wonders — while they still can.
Heading 2: Buying Holiday Homes as Gifts
Brown also revealed that some billionaires prefer to buy, rather than rent, their holiday homes. Her company helped facilitate the recent sale of a $5 million Tuscan villa for a client, which was intended to be given as a Christmas gift. The spread purportedly comes complete with its own honey and olive oil production facilities.
Heading 1: Conclusion
As the holiday season approaches, the world’s wealthiest individuals are preparing to receive extravagant gifts that most people can only dream of. From diamond-encrusted handbags to luxurious resort stays and even private islands, these billionaires spare no expense when it comes to holiday indulgence. However, some are opting for experiences over material gifts, renting private villas in exotic locations or embarking on once-in-a-lifetime trips to pristine natural wonders. Others choose to buy holiday homes as gifts, ensuring their loved ones have a permanent slice of luxury. This Christmas, the world’s wealthiest will continue to redefine the meaning of opulence.
