The elite status symbol ultra-wealthy are now using to set themselves apart from wealthy
Owning personal jets, or even chartering private planes, is incredibly expensive. But as the number of millionaires and billionaires grows, it's becoming increasingly common.
The price of a private jet depends on size, model, age and custom features – but it's certainly no less than a few million dollars, and can cost as much as $100 million.
As of 2023 there are between 22,000 and 23,000 private jets exist worldwide - with 15,000 of them being in the US, according to Blackjet data.
There was a major increase in private jet usage after the pandemic because flyers were concerned about getting COVID-19 on crowded commercial flights.
Kenn Ricci, pilot and chairman of private-jet company Flexjet, said that the 'frugal wealthy' class of people who earn a lot of money but don't splurge started splashing out on travel during the pandemic and never went back.
Hours flown in private-jet hours flown hit record numbers in 2022 and have stayed up ever since. 'It's in vogue to be wealthy,' Ricci told the Wall Street Journal. 'Sometimes we love the rich. Sometimes we hate the rich.'
Private jets are thought to be used by the rich and famous, but others climbing up the wealth ladder are joining them in this luxury.
Indeed, having 'private-jet money' is the new goal amongst the wealthy, dividing the 1 percent from the 0.1 percent.
The US added more than 1,000 millionaires every day last year on average, according to UBS, and the billionaire club grew over 50 percent between 2015 and 2024.
It costs between $5,000 and $15,000 per flying hour to charter a private jet depending on its size, according to Wheels Up a private jet membership and charter company.
Maxx Chewning sold his sour-candy business Sour Strips to Hershey for $75.5 million in 2024 and the first thing he did was fly his wife and six friends to Vail on Dassault Falcon 900 private jet.
He spent $100,000 so that they could skip security lines and fly in the comfort of leather recliners within the wood-paneled cabin. Chewning's goldendoodle Dood sprawled at their feet.
'The joke is, I had to get a private plane so I could bring my dog,' the 35-year-old said according to the WSJ. 'I didn't really care what the price was.'
Tennille Holt, 44, retired in 2023 and nowadays spends her time traveling the world with her husband and eight-year-old cavapoo Hudson.
Hudson, who has his own Instagram account where he documents his travels, has grown accustomed to being fed grilled chicken on private jets.
Holt and her husband spent $200,000 to from Hudson from Australia to Los Angeles to avoid hauling him on the 14 hour commercial flight.
'The goal was to create the freedom to live life on our own terms, which now includes plenty of travel and the ability to fly privately whenever we want, ' Holt says. 'It's the best and most comfortable option for Hudson.'
It's not just the comfort, privacy and convenience of private aviation that appeals to the rich and famous, such jets offer luxuries in the way of fine dining, spa treatments and advanced entertainment systems.
Chef Nobu Matsuhisa created an exclusive a menu for VistaJet passengers that includes a Nobu steamed salmon dry miso dish.
On some flights, cabin staff are trained to give travelers facials in their with Dr. Barbara Sturm's luxury skin care line.
Kevin Hooks, 63, is a Flexjet customers who spends around $800,000 each year on private travel, usually to cross the Southwest in a Praetor 600 midsize business jet that seats nine.
Hooks has been flying private for two years and says he has noticed plane hangars around the country growing more crowded since the pandemic.
He still takes commercial planes sometimes and recalls his four-year-old son getting on a Southwest Airlines flight and asking, 'Who are these other people on the plane?'
Kim Kardashian is one of many celebrities who has her own private jet, which she paid $150 million for.
The luxurious Gulfstream G650ER private jet, nicknamed 'Kim Air', features cashmere-covered seats, custom light wood finishes and two bathrooms. It reportedly has 10 beds on it and each of the seats has its own charging points.
Canadian rapper Drake's private jet is even more expensive, with an estimated cost of $185 million.
The plane has a luxurious lounge area, a bedroom and also features Drake's own OVO - October's Very Own - owl symbol on the exterior.
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