Encomium
The rich and famous are not like us mortals. Why? They don’t face long queues, ticketing issues or flight cancellations like we do because they fly in their own planes.
From American billionaire businessman, Donald Trump’s private Boeing 757, said to be worth almost $100million (N19bn), to Hollywood star, John Travolta’s fleet of aircraft – not to mention two private runways attached to his Florida home – these stars have taken their love of aviation to astronomical heights.
According to Adam Twidell, CEO of PrivateFly: “Private jet travel is understandably popular amongst high profile celebrities”.
A look at the private planes of the world’s richest will leave you gasping for breath…
– Roman Abramovich: Chelsea owner, Russian billionaire
Model: Boeing 767-300
Estimated Cost: $83,600,000 (N15.88bn)
The sky’s the limit for the Russian billionaire, who also owns the Chelsea Football Club. After all, the paint job alone for his stunning aircraft costs £50,000.
The magnificent jet has the same air missile avoidance system as the Air Force One, plus room for 30 seated dining guests on board.
– Donald Trump: American billionaire businessman
Model: Boeing 757
Estimated Cost: $95,800,000 (N18.2bn)
The real estate mogul sure knows how to travel in style. His private Boeing 757 is as luxurious as it gets, complete with a double bed, spacious lounge with sofas, gold accents and even a marble bathroom.
Pillows and cushions throughout are, of course, embossed with the clan’s crest.
– Oprah Winfrey (media mogul), Celine Dion (iconic singer), Steven Spielberg (legendary movie producer)
Model: Bombardier Global Express XRS
Estimated Cost: $42,000,000 (N7.98bn)
Known for its ultra long-range performance capabilities, the Global Express XRS is the perfect pick for those with schedules as hectic as these Hollywood heavyweights.
The spacious all-leather interior can comfortably fit anywhere from eight to 14 passengers and the bathroom and galley are complete with luxurious designer fixtures.
– Jim Carrey: Canadian-American actor
Model: Gulfstream V
Estimated Cost: $59,000,000 (N11.2bn )
Funny man, Jim Carrey has made millions off of his successful film career, starring in franchises such as ‘Ace Ventura’ and ‘Dumb and Dumber’, and, as it turns out, he’s spending his fortune on one impressive form of travel.
The Gulfstream V is one of the highest performance private jets in the world.
It can accommodate up to 16 passengers and fly nearly as fast as the speed of sound.
– Tiger Woods: Golf star
Model: Gulfstream G550
Estimated Cost: $53,500,000 (N10.16bn)
After racking up an impressive 14 major championship golf wins – and an estimated fortune of over $1 billion (N190bn) – Tiger Woods can now jet off to any course in the world on a whim, thanks to his Gulfstream G550.
The G550 has the efficiency to fly over 12,000 km nonstop for more than 12 hours, can comfortably fit 18 passengers and reaches altitudes of up to 51,000 feet.
– John Travolta: Hollywood star
Model: Owns 7 planes – among them: Boeing 707, Bombardier Challenger 601, Boeing 727 and three Gulfstream jets Estimated Cost: Not Available
‘With Love from Paris’ star, John Travolta has made his love for aeroplanes well known over the past several years, even going so far as to build two customized runways for his jets on his Florida (USA) property.
While extravagant, such a multi-million dollar home makeover makes sense for a man who owns seven planes, including a Boeing 707, a Boeing 727 and three Gulfstream jets.
– Tom Cruise: Hollywood star
Model: Gulfstream IV
Estimated Cost: $36,000,000 (N6.84bn)
For a man as well known for his action-packed roles as Tom Cruise, and it seems as though his time spent on the set of ‘Top Gun’ has inspired his real-life love of aviation – it should come as no surprise then that he’s the proud owner of a state-of-the-art G4 jet.
With a crew of two and room for up to 19 passengers, the Gulfstream IV has a maximum range of 7,820 km and can reach an altitude of up to 45,000 feet.
– Barack Obama: United States president
Model: Boeing 747-200B
Estimated Cost: $390,000,000 (N72.16 bn)
It’s known across the world as the Air Force One when it’s transporting the world’s most powerful man around the globe – and this heavily-modified aircraft is tailored accordingly.
The grand luxury private jets have been dubbed the ‘White House on Wings,’ with 4,000 square feet of floor space on board.
The front of the aircraft mimics the aesthetic of the White House and the Presidential Suite is composed of beds, a shower, vanity, double sink and a private office.
The Air Force One also carries a full medical crew and is stocked with essentials and raw food materials.
And when it comes to security, the plane has some of the most state of the art attack countermeasures in the world, such as encrypted communication lines, and is even able to weather the effects of an electromagnetic pulse, such as those generated during a nuclear detonation.
