Expensive hobbies like space tourism and vintage car collecting often serve as status symbols for the ultra-wealthy, blending passion with extravagant spending that can exceed millions annually.
For most of us, a hobby is a simple escape—a way to unwind, create, or learn something new without emptying our wallets. Think gardening, knitting, or even a good old-fashioned Netflix binge. But for the world’s wealthiest, a “pastime” can be an extravagant, all-consuming, and mind-bogglingly expensive obsession. Welcome to the world where hobbies aren’t just for fun; they’re a display of wealth, a testament to ambition, and sometimes, a little bit weird.
Here are 10 of the most expensive hobbies in the world, complete with the reasons they cost a fortune and some of the eccentric characters who indulge in them.
1. Motor Sports & Vintage Car Collecting
It’s one thing to drive a nice car; it’s another to own a garage full of priceless, high-performance vehicles or to fund a professional racing career. The price of a rare vintage car can easily hit eight figures, and that’s before you even think about insurance, climate-controlled storage, and a full-time mechanic.
The Eccentric Collector: The Sultan of Brunei is rumored to have a collection of over 7,000 cars, including a custom-made golden Rolls-Royce. This isn’t a collection; it’s a national museum that just happens to be in a private garage.
Fun Fact: In 2022, the Red Bull Formula 1 team was fined $7 million by the FIA for exceeding a $145 million budget cap. It turns out even when you’re racing at 200 mph, there are still rules about how much money you can burn.
2. Space Tourism
Why go on a cruise when you can leave the planet entirely? A trip to the International Space Station can cost upwards of $60 million, and that’s just for the return ticket. Add in a small, per-night fee of around $35,000 to “camp out” in orbit, and you can see why this hobby is reserved for a select few.
Fun Fact: The line for space tourism is surprisingly long. Virgin Galactic has already taken deposits for their 90-minute trips to the edge of space, proving that for some, the ultimate escape is quite literally out of this world.
3. Polo
Known as the “Sport of Kings,” polo has earned its regal title for a simple reason: it’s obscenely expensive. A single well-trained polo horse can cost over $50,000, and players often own a string of them for a single tournament. Add in the cost of a team, trainers, gear, and travel, and you can see why this isn’t a pastime you’ll pick up at the local park.
Fun Fact: Prince Harry, Prince William, and a number of other royals have all been known to play the sport, perhaps because polo is the only thing that can make their royal bank accounts feel a little lighter.
4. Yachting
Owning a yacht isn’t a hobby; it’s a lifestyle, and a very expensive one at that. The purchase price can range from millions to hundreds of millions of dollars. But the real cost is the upkeep. Annual maintenance, fuel, crew salaries, and docking fees can easily amount to 10% of the yacht’s purchase price.
Fun Fact: One Reddit user’s dad famously said of his boat, “It’s a hole in the water you shovel money into.” It seems even for the rich, the joys of yachting are not without a sense of humor.
5. Private Aviation
Learning to fly is one thing, but owning your own plane is another entirely. A private pilot’s license can cost around $12,000, but a used Cessna Citation jet can go for up to $2.5 million. And like a yacht, the recurring costs of maintenance and fuel will ensure your bank account stays in the red.
Fun Fact: One aviation enthusiast on Reddit mentioned that renting a 50-year-old Cessna 172 costs about $200 an hour, but that only includes about 30 minutes of actual air time once you factor in pre-flight checks and taxiing.
6. Art & Antique Collecting
Collecting art is a timeless hobby for the wealthy. It’s not just about buying a painting; it’s about curating a legacy. The most valuable artworks can fetch hundreds of millions of dollars at auction.
Fun Fact: Nicolas Cage, known for his eccentric on-screen roles, has a bizarre and expensive off-screen hobby: collecting rare and sometimes strange artifacts. At one point, he purchased a Tyrannosaurus rex skull for millions of dollars, which he later had to return due to legal disputes.
7. Thoroughbred Horse Ownership
Beyond polo and equestrian sports, the ultimate horse-related expense is owning and racing thoroughbreds. The cost to purchase a potential champion can be astronomical, with one-off expenses and annual costs running into the tens of thousands of dollars.
Fun Fact: As one horse owner put it, “Every dollar I spend is returned 10x by the joy I get from it!” This is a polite way of saying the joy is priceless because the horse itself costs a small fortune.
8. Collecting Rare Wine & Whiskey
Some people collect stamps; the ultra-rich collect rare bottles of Scotch and Bordeaux. A single bottle of Macallan 1926 Adami whiskey sold at Sotheby’s for a staggering £2.2 million, making it the most valuable bottle ever sold. The hobby is driven by the simple economics of supply and demand: every time someone drinks one, the remaining bottles become more valuable.
Fun Fact: Richard Gooding, a man who amassed the second most valuable whisky collection ever sold, dedicated over 20 years to his “exquisite assortment of delicious drams.”
9. High-Stakes Poker
While it might start with a few chips at the kitchen table, for some, poker becomes a professional pursuit that can be incredibly expensive. It’s a game of skill, not luck, and playing in high-stakes tournaments requires a buy-in that can be a few months’ salary for most people.
The Eccentric Player: Ben Affleck, the Oscar-winning actor and director, is a renowned poker player who won the California State Poker Championship in 2004. For him, the game is a private escape from his public life, a place where he can hone his skills and find a competitive outlet.
10. Private Animal & Exotic Pet Ownership
While a cat or dog can be a relatively low-cost companion, some people prefer a more unusual pet. From cheetahs to white lions, the cost to purchase one of these animals can be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. The expenses don’t stop there, as they require specialized care, food, and often a license to own.
The Eccentric Owner: Beyoncé, Queen of the “Bey Hive,” has a surprising and very literal hobby: beekeeping. She reportedly has about 80,000 bees and makes hundreds of jars of honey each year, proving that even a global superstar can find a little peace in a slightly weird, albeit productive, hobby.