The Billionaire Toybox: What They’re Buying Now

From Superyachts to Submarines: The New Status Symbols of the Super-Rich

Gone are the days when a luxury car or a corner office screamed success. Today’s ultra-wealthy are collecting things that can’t be parked in a driveway or hung on a wrist. In the evolving language of billionaire status, it's not about what you wear—it’s about what you command. From underwater personal submarines to space-bound jets and yachts the size of hotels, here are the new ultra-elite toys the rich are racing to acquire.

Submarines: The Deepest Flex on Earth

Want to impress guests? Try inviting them on a champagne dive to a shipwreck or coral reef—in your own personal submarine. Billionaires are investing millions in these aquatic marvels that can dive thousands of feet with luxury seating, panoramic windows, and even cocktail bars.

Example:
Businessman and explorer Victor Vescovo, co-founder of private equity firm Insight Equity, used his custom Triton 36000/2 submersible to reach the bottom of the Mariana Trench—making him the deepest-diving human in history.

Cost: $2 million to $50 million depending on range and customizations

Superyachts That Double as Floating Cities

Jeff Bezos’s yacht, rumored to cost $500 million, made headlines not just for its scale—but because it required a historic Dutch bridge to be temporarily dismantled so it could pass. His yacht also includes a support yacht with a helipad, personal staff, and toys like jet skis, dive centers, and tenders.

Yachts today come equipped with everything: spas, cinemas, wine cellars, hospitals, and missile-defense systems. Some even have fully staffed science labs for “eco-research” branding.

Cost: $100 million–$800 million+
Annual Upkeep: $10 million–$50 million

Supersonic Jets and Vertical Takeoff Machines

The next frontier? Private jets that don’t just fly fast—they fly faster than sound and land vertically. Billionaires are already pre-ordering supersonic jets like the Boom Overture and investing in vertical takeoff aircraft from companies like Lilium Jet and Joby Aviation.

Example:
Marc Lore, tech entrepreneur and former Walmart eCommerce CEO, is one of many high-net-worth individuals exploring next-gen aviation—investing in futuristic aircraft that cut coast-to-coast travel time in half.

Cost: $10 million–$200 million depending on model
Availability: Most models launching between 2025–2030

Hypercars? Old News. Try Flying Cars.

Yes, flying cars are (almost) here. Several ultra-wealthy individuals have invested in PAL-V, AeroMobil, and Klein Vision’s AirCar, which recently completed a successful intercity flight. These aren’t sci-fi concepts—they’re real vehicles that transition between driving and flying.

Aeromobil

Example:
Larry Page (Google co-founder) has personally funded multiple flying car startups including Kitty Hawk and Opener, racing to lead the “personal flight” category before it becomes mainstream.

Cost: $400,000–$1 million (initial models)

Larry Page

Real Estate That Moves: Seasteads and Sky Penthouses

Forget fixed properties—some billionaires are betting on movable homes. Seasteads (floating mansions that act as self-governing sea states) and sky penthouses (homes within airborne cruise ships or airships) are being developed for ultra-mobile lifestyles.

Example:
The Somnio Superyacht, launching in 2026, is the world’s first "yacht liner" with 39 private residences onboard. Each suite will cost $11 million and up—and owners get global navigation rights and private concierge service.

Cost: $11 million–$100 million+ depending on structure and location

The Real Status Symbol: Exclusive Access

It’s not just about owning the toy—it's about owning the experience. Private access to launches, underwater expeditions, and suborbital flights are the new badges of billionaire honor. Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin have opened the door to commercial space tourism, where a seat can cost $250,000 or more (though unofficially, prices go far higher for private bookings).

Example:
Yusaku Maezawa, Japanese billionaire and fashion entrepreneur, chartered an entire SpaceX Starship mission for a trip around the moon, hand-picking a crew of artists to accompany him.

Billionaires Aren’t Just Rich—They’re Explorers

Today’s billionaire doesn’t just buy to impress—they buy to explore, discover, and redefine luxury. Whether it’s exploring shipwrecks 10,000 feet under, flying over cities in their own VTOL craft, or floating across oceans in five-star sea palaces, their purchases blur the line between sci-fi fantasy and first-class lifestyle.

The message? If you're rich enough, you don’t just own the world. You orbit it.