When we think of the “Most expensive thing in the World” our minds often turn to iconic structures like the Burj Khalifa and the Taj Mahal or even high-performance fighter jets. However, it might come as a surprise to discover that none of these hold the title. The most expensive creations in the world of extravagance and opulence are not only rare and exclusive, but also reserved for the super-rich, leaving the rest of us in awe. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the International Space Station reigns supreme in terms of development and construction costs, soaring to an astounding $150 billion. In addition to this record-holder, there are several other awe-inspiring and costly marvels that deserve our attention. In this article, we will take you on a journey through World’s 8 Most Expensive Wonders.
The Most Amazing Things in the World in 2023
Get ready to be amazed as you explore the top eight most expensive things in the world in 2023, listed below;
8 Most Expensive Things in 2023 |
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1. International Space Station 2. History Supreme Yacht 3. Hubble Space Telescope 4. The Antilia Mansion 5. Crown Jewel 6. Air Force One 7. Villa Leopolda. Cost 8. Salvator Mundi’s Painting |
Cost: $150 billion
The International Space Station (ISS) is the most expensive thing ever built, costing over $150 billion. It’s a big spacecraft that orbits Earth and is the largest human-made thing in space. The ISS was assembled during 12 years of shuttle missions, with the final pieces added in 2011. The ISS is a teamwork project involving five space agencies: NASA (United States), Roscosmos (Russia), JAXA (Japan), ESA (Europe), and CSA (Canada). The station is a microgravity and space environment research laboratory where scientists do research in astrobiology, astronomy, meteorology, physics, and other fields.
Astronauts also use it to train and test new space technology. Despite its high cost, the International Space Station has provided multiple advantages to humanity. The station has two parts: Russia controls the Russian Orbital Segment (ROS) and the United States along with other nations manages the United States Orbital Segment (USOS). Our exploration of space has expanded our knowledge and led to the development of new technologies that benefit life on Earth. They plan to keep it going until at least 2030, and maybe longer. ISS is a valuable resource and we should keep using it for research. Read more about most expensive valuables
Mass | 450,000 kg (990,000 lb) |
Launch Date | 20, November, 1998 (24 years ago) |
Length | 109 m (358 ft) (overall length), 94 m (310 ft) (truss length) |
Orbital speed | 7.66 km/s |
Cost: 4.5 billion USD
The History Supreme is a truly extravagant 100-foot superyacht which is designed by British luxury gadget dealer Stuart Stuart Hughes known as an “iPad magician” who designed this $4.8 billion superyacht. It is covered in platinum and gold from front to back and was bought by a Malaysian businessman, reportedly Robert Kouk, the founder of Shangri-La Hotel and Resorts. The yacht has a top-notch engine and passengers enjoy a speedy ride on the water. Inside, everything is gold-plated and passengers can enjoy a range of comforts like swimming pools, dance floors, movie theaters, bars, and lounges. Let`s read more about the most expensive submarines
Owners can even arrive in style via helicopter. According to The Daily Mail, the amazing boat took three years to finish and used a whopping 220,462 pounds of precious metals. The History Supreme, made from 100,000kg of gold and platinum, features a T-Rex bone and meteorite wall and comes with a bottle of liquor adorned with an 18.5-carat diamond. Read further about the Hidden Gems of the World’s Most Expensive Islands to increase your knowledge.
Length | 100 feet |
Beam | 50 feet (15.2 meters) |
Draft | 15 feet (4.6 meters) |
Top speed | 23 knots (42.6 km/h) |
Cost: 2.1 billion USD
The Hubble Space Telescope is one of the most expensive things in the world. It was launched in 1990 and is still active. It is among the largest and most versatile space telescopes. It is celebrated for its vital role in research and its positive impact on astronomy’s public image. Hubble is named after Edwin Hubble, an American astronomer who made important discoveries about the universe, including the evidence that the universe is expanding. This telescope is a joint project of NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA). It has a 2.4 m mirror and five instruments to observe the ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared parts of the spectrum.
Hubble orbits around Earth at an altitude of about 340 miles (547 kilometers). This gives it a clear view of the universe without the interference of Earth’s atmosphere. Hubble has a primary mirror that is 7.9 feet (2.4 meters) in diameter. This makes it one of the largest telescopes in the world. Hubble has also taken some of the most iconic images of the universe including the Pillars of Creation, the Hubble Deep Field, and the Sombrero Galaxy. It is still in operation today and it continues to make important discoveries about the universe.
Launch mass | 11,110 kg (24,490 lb) |
Dimensions | 13.2 m × 4.2 m (43 ft × 14 ft) |
Power | 2,800 watts |
Date | April 24, 1990 |
Type | Ritchey–Chrétien reflector |
Cost: $6 billion
The Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom, originally known as the Crown Jewels of England are a collection of imperial ceremonial objects kept in the Jewel House at the Tower of London which include the coronation regalia and vestments worn by British monarchs. The use of special items by English monarchs goes back to the Early Middle Ages when the country became Christian. They created a permanent set of coronation items after Edward the Confessor became a saint in the 12th century. These holy objects were stored at Westminster Abbey, where coronations happened since 1066. These sets of items were used for religious celebrations and the opening of Parliament. Together, they became recognized as the “Jewels of the Crown.”
The regal ia contain 23,578 gemstones, including the biggest clean-cut diamond in the world, Cullinan I (530 carats), which is set in the Sovereign’s Sceptre with Cross. Read more about the most expensive jewelry For over 800 years, the coronation regalia has been a symbol of monarchy. It is the only set still in use in Europe and has the most historical significance in the world. The Imperial State Crown features precious gems like Cullinan II, the Stuart Sapphire, St Edward’s Sapphire and the Black Prince’s Ruby. Queen Victoria obtained the Koh-I-Noor diamond which has adorned three consort crowns. Some historical items at the Tower are either empty or have glass and crystal replicas.
Location | Tower of London |
Size | Approximately 140 objects |
Stones | 23,578 including Cullinan I, Cullinan II, Koh-I-Noor, Black Prince’s Ruby, Stuart Sapphire, St Edward’s Sapphire |
Owner | Charles III in right of the Crown |
Managers | 1. Crown Jeweler 2. Royal Collection Trust 3. Historic Royal Palaces |
Cost: $450.3 Million
Salvator Mundi is the most expensive painting ever sold at auction which means “Savior of the World” in Latin, is a painting that people think was made by Leonardo da Vinci around 1499-1510. For a long time, it was believed to be a copy of a lost original artwork with some added paint. In 2011-2012, This painting was rediscovered, restored and displayed in a major Leonardo exhibition at the National Gallery in London. In 2017, the auction house Christie’s sold the painting and said that most top experts think it’s an original work by Leonardo. But some other experts argue about this. Some say Leonardo only did some parts of it and others think the painting is too damaged to be sure who made it.
This painting shows Jesus Christ in a blue Renaissance outfit, making a cross sign with his right hand. In his left hand, he holds a clear, non-refracting crystal orb symbolizing his identity as the Salvator Mundi and the “celestial sphere” of the heavens. About 30 copies by Leonardo’s students and two drapery drawings by Leonardo are in the British Royal Collection. The painting, sold by Christie’s in New York for US$450.3 million on November 15, 2017, to Prince Badr bin Abdullah Al Saud, set a new record for the most expensive public auction sale. It was said that Prince Badr bought the painting for Abu Dhabi’s Culture and Tourism Department, but there are reports he was actually bidding for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. However, its high price tag is a testament to its rarity and significance.
Artist | Leonardo da Vinci (possibly with workshop assistance) |
Year | 1499–1510 |
Type | Oil on the walnut pan |
Dimensions | 45.4 cm × 65.6 cm (25.8 in × 19.2 in) |
Owner | Originally acquired by Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism for the Louvre Abu Dhabi, currently owned by Mohammad bin Salman. |
Cost: 506 million USD
It was the most expensive private residence ever sold at the time and it remains one of the most expensive houses in the world. Villa La Leopolda is a spacious villa located in Villefranche-sur-Mer, in the Alpes-Maritimes department on the French Riviera. It was sold to Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov in 2008. The villa sits on an 18-acre (7.3-hectare) estate. The villa has been owned by some famous people like Gianni and Marella Agnelli, Izaak and Dorothy J. Killam, Edmond (1932–1999) and Lily Safra (1934–2022). Lily Safra inherited this villa after the death of her husband. This Villa is now owned by Michele Alberto Di Grazia, who also owns two other villas “Certosa” and “Versace.” This Villa is a truly unique and luxurious property. It is a symbol of wealth and status and it is one of the most desirable private residences in the world.
The garden covers nearly eight hectares and has olive, lemon, and orange trees. It needs over 50 full-time workers to maintain and look after it. The mansion has a huge 400 m2 room and 12 pools. The main house has 19 deluxe rooms, 14 bathrooms, antique furniture, terraces, sports courts, a bowling alley, and a movie theater. It also features valuable marble and old artwork from the past.
Construction Duration | 1929 to 1931 |
Constructed by | Ogden Codman, Jr. (American architect) |
Built for | King Leopold II of Belgium |
Cost: $660 million
Air Force One is the official air traffic control authorized call sign for a United States Air Force aircraft transporting the president of the United States. It is not surprising that one of the world’s most famous jets is also the priciest private jet. The Air Force One is a customized Boeing 747-200B with a cost of $660 million. In World War II, they decided to use a special military plane for the president because it was not safe to use regular airlines. They turned a C-54 Skymaster into one and named it the “Sacred Cow.” It carried President Franklin D. Roosevelt to the Yalta Conference in 1945 and was used by President Harry S. Truman for two more years.
Air Force One is the symbol of the American presidency recognized all over the world. In 1953, they named the President’s airplane “Air Force One” because it almost had the same flight number as a regular airline plane when President Dwight D. Eisenhower was on a Lockheed Constellation. Since 1962, the President’s plane has a unique design made by Raymond Loewy. Additionally, Air Force One is EMP-hardened, can refuel mid-air, and is accompanied by two fighter jets.
Created in | 1953 |
Made by | Boeing |
Inclusions | · A complete medical facility with an operating room and a dedicated medical team. · A conference room. · Two kitchens. · Multiple sleeping quarters. · All of this is spread across three decks and covers 4,000 square feet. |
Cost: 2 billion USD
Antilia is the world’s most expensive private home, a 27-story multistory building on Altamount Road in Mumba, big enough to accommodate 600 staff. It is a big private home in the fancy part of Mumbai, India. It got its name from an old story about an island in the Atlantic Ocean called Antillia. This is where the super-rich Indian guy, Mukesh Ambani, and his family have been living since 2011 or 2012. The building can handle a big earthquake (magnitude 8). The top six floors are a private residential area.
The design of the building is inspired by the lotus plant and the sun. The building’s construction plan got the green light from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation in 2003. They began building it in 2006, with Leighton Asia leading the project at first, and it was later finished by B. E. Billimoria & Company Ltd. The house is called Antilia, inspired by the mythical island of Antillia in the Atlantic. Its design follows ancient Indian Vastu Shastra principle which is like the “science of architecture.”
Floor Area | 37,000 m² (400,000 ft²) |
Height | 173 m (568 ft.) |
Floor Count | 27 Floors |
Architect | Perkins & Will |
Main Contractor | Leighton Asia |
Location | Altamount Road, Cumballa Hill, Mumbai |
Elevators | 10 |
Other Facilities | · A health spa · A 50-seat cinema · A temple · An ice cream room · A ballroom · A yoga studio · Three helipads · Several swimming pools · 168 parking spaces |
Final Words
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