Yalos Diamond – $140,000

From Italian company Keymat Industrie comes an expensive television studded with 160 real diamonds, totaling 20 carats. This expensive TV has no visible screws or welds, and the aesthetics are the work of Japanese designer Takahide Sano. This extravagant television can be purchased in sizes up to 46″.

Beovision 4-103 – $140,000

If you’re in the market for a television that’s priced for its technical merits, however, then you’ll want to take a look at the BeoVision 4-103. Featuring a 103”, 100 Hz plasma screen, this Bang & Olufsen television set acknowledges that size really does matter.

Its substantial viewing area isn’t its only feature, though, as the BeoVision 4-103 also features a motorized stand so that you can adjust the viewing angle on the fly. Auto Color Management and Auto Picture Control make sure that you always have the best possible picture, regardless of how much ambient light is in the room or how old the color elements in the plasma screen are.

Stuart Hughes’ PrestigeHD Supreme Rose Edition – $2.26 million

Luxury gadgeteer Stuart Hughes is at it again. After recently making a splash with the gold video game consoles, Hughes has tackled the common element that binds us all together–television. This 55″ PrestigeHD television, powered by Metz, is coated in 28 kilograms of 18k rose gold embellished with seventy-two round cut, flawless 1-carat diamonds. That’s not the end of the luxury materials used in its creation, however, as the most expensive television in the world features alligator skin hand sewn into the bezel.

For those whose wealth can support only slightly less epicurean lifestyles, the PrestigeHD Supreme Edition may be a more cost effective alternative to the Supreme Rose Edition. This one features only 19 kilograms of 22k yellow gold and the 48 brilliant round cut diamonds are only .75 carats apiece. It also features aventurine and topaz gems, all for $1.5 million.

A Tibetan Mastiff

The largest Tibetan Mastiffs can stand over 31 inches tall and the breed typically weighs over 140 lbs. The dogs can be black, grey, brown or even, in some rare instances, completely white. Best of all, their coats shed odors—they lack the troublesome aroma that afflicts other large dogs. In both their native Tibet and the West, they have been prized as livestock guardians and have even been reported to have killed tigers to protect their flock.

The world’s most expensive dog, Yangtze River No. 2, was a Tibetan Mastiff.

A French Mastiff
(Image distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license.)

Typically standing over 24 inches and weighing more than 100 lbs, the French Mastiff can be a terror if not socialized at an early age. The sport of dog fighting was popular in Bordeaux, France, and the Dogue de Bordeaux, as the breed is more properly called, proudly bears the city’s name. The expensive breed may trace its ancestry to the Alans/Alaunts, a breed of dog from the Middle Ages, or the Bulldog. It was known in France as early as the 14th century and was entered into its first show in the 1863. It wasn’t until the 1920’s, though, that the French Mastiff became a uniform breed. The dog was virtually unknown outside of France until the late 1800s and was threatened with extinction after WWII. In 1970, though, the Dogue de Bordeaux population began to grow again.

Famous French Mastiffs include Beasley, who starred alongside Tom Hanks in Turner & Hooch, and Mac, recently stolen from and returned to Dutch football player Andy van der Meyde.

The average price for a puppy from one of these expensive breeds is $750 to $1,000.

Related Information

• Most Popular Dog Breeds
• Most Popular Dog Names

What kind of artist works with a hunting knife? Ask Mark Evans, the pioneer whose work has been called “leather sculpting.” That work will soon adorn the walls of one Russian billionaire’s mansion as the most expensive wallpaper in the world.

Evans works by etching the leather down to the suede with a number of bladed tools of different sizes, from a large hunting knife to several sculpting knives. The results are photorealistic depictions of animals, the crucifixion and even the celebrated “Fight of the Year” between Doug Jones and Muhammed Ali.

Evans’ leather etchings will cover the walls of two rooms in a mansion in Moscow. The unnamed billionaire’s wallpaper will cost $2.71 million, or around $23,675 per square meter.

While the debate over healthcare continues, Forbes has released a list of the nine most expensive drugs in the world—each of which costs patients over $200,000 annually.

At the top of the list is Soliris (eculizumab), produced by Alexion Pharmaceuticals to treat, ahem, paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria. PNH is a rare and life-threatening disease and is the only form of hemolytic anemia—a deficiency in red blood cells caused by their destruction, as opposed to low production—that is acquired rather than inherited.

PNH affects approximately 8,000 Americans. It’s because of that low figure that Alexion can charge $409,500 per year for the most expensive drug in the world. The rarity of the condition means there are very few competitors to compete with for pricing.

The second most expensive medicine in the world is Elaprase at $375,000 annually. It was created by Shire Pharmaceuticals to treat Hunter Syndrome, which has symptoms ranging from a flattened nose to brain damage and afflicts 2,000 people worldwide. The third is Naglazyme, produced by BioMarin Pharmaceuticals, which treats an even rarer disorder that enlarges the head and causes short stature. That drug costs $365,000 annually.

If you’ve never been to a restaurant that serves genuine ramen, you’re likely to think of ramen as the cheapest of all foods—a brick of instant noodles accompanied by a sodium-rich flavor packet, all for about twenty-five cents. It shouldn’t be too surprising, however, that the most expensive ramen in the world is something completely different.

At the ultra-exclusive Fujimaki Gekijyo restaurant in Tokyo, patrons can feast on the Five-Taste Blend Imperial Noodles. The dish is made with over twenty ingredients, including high quality Chinese stock as well as another, spicier stock inspired by Thai tom yum soup. A bowl of Fujimaki’s exquisite ramen sells for a jaw-dropping $110.

Fujimaki Gekijyo is an omakase (i.e. menu-less), reservation-only restaurant that is only accessible to guest who have already dined at one of owner Shoichi Fujimaki’s less expensive restaurants. American diners will be able to try the expensive ramen when Fujimaki opens a restaurant in Los Angeles in August, 2010.

Wilmott – $650 for six issues

Published out of the UK, Wilmott magazine offers information about the most recent research, innovative financial models, reviews and in-depth analysis. Of course, you may need a PhD in mathematical finances to understand any of it. Each issue is an eleven inch square, giving you the feeling that you’re holding the teacher’s copy of a textbook, with all the answers in the extended margins. Individual subscribers pay only $325 for a year-long subscription while institutions pay $650. Subscribers to the expensive magazine are also inducted into the Wilmott Book Club, giving them discounts on many quantitative finance and popular science books.

FINE Exclusive – €500 ($679.45 US) annually

FINE Magazines, headquartered in Finland, publishes exclusive fine wine magazines that are distributed to over eighty-five countries through carefully selected partners. Their main magazines, including several regional FINE magazines and FINE Champagne, are not available for subscription, but digital copies can be purchased through their website. FINE Exclusive, on the other hand, is only available through subscription—and even then you’ll need an invitation.

A FINE Exclusive subscription includes not only the magazine—which features more of the top notch content that makes FINE “the world’s leading publication focused on fine and rare wines”—but also the Fine Wine Drinkability Index and access to the world’s first wine concierge service.

Unfortunately, scant information is available about the frequency of their publication.

Nomenus Quarterly – $6,500 for one issue

Erik Madigan Heck/Nomenus Quarterly

Nomenus Quarterly features previously unpublished photographs, paintings and other artwork. While normally priced around $2,500 for a single issue, the magazine’s founder, editor in chief and photographer, Erik Madigan Heck, has increased the price of the magazine’s seventh issue to $6,500 while reducing the print run from fifty copies to a scant ten. Aside from Heck, the issue features work by Anselm Kiefer, Lucian Freud, Adam Fuss, the Costume Institute and a tribute to the menswear of Ann Demeulemeester.

Kohl – $10,000 for one issue

The United Arab Emirates’ one and only women’s lifestyle and fashion magazine, Kohl is targeted at expatriate Asian women. Publisher ITP teamed up with Damas, a UAE jeweler, to create the stunningly bejeweled cover for the single most expensive magazine issue in the world. The cover, which features sexy Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif, was handmade with 91 grams of gold and 622 diamonds. Gold leaf was also applied by hand to the cover as part of an 86 hour process.

The luxurious cover was displayed in Damas stores until a gala event in October 2008 where it was auctioned. Proceeds from the sale of the world’s most expensive magazine were donated to the Rashid Pediatric Therapy Centre in Dubai.

Giacomo Casanova, the world’s greatest lover, may have been Venetian, but it was the French government who, in early 2010, paid top dollar for the licentious libertine’s manuscript.

Casanova wrote of his adventures from 1789 to his death in 1798, during which time he was employed as the librarian to Count Waldstein in the Castle of Dux, Bohemia. The manuscript, “Histoire de mi vie” or “History of my Life,” allegedly details his conquest over more than 100 women—at least one of which was a nun—and several men. Unfortunately, the general public has only seen censored and otherwise altered versions of the account.

The 3,700 manuscript was acquired by the Brockhaus family in 1820 and survived the bombing of Leipzig in World War II. It was smuggled out of Germany on a US military truck in 1945 and published fifteen years later.

The French National Library purchased the cultural artifact for a cool €7 million—over US $9.4 million—making it the most expensive written manuscript in the world.

While researching the world’s most expensive snowboard, I ran into an interesting story—apparently, the “King of Snow Mountain” in China bought a motorized, solid gold snowboard at a price of $10 million for his son’s 21st birthday.

Yeah, I don’t believe it either.

The Burton Method, on the other hand, actually exists. Burton has been making snowboards for 30 years and purchasers of the Method will benefit from that experience. The board is constructed with Burton’s unfortunately named UltraMeth technology, which employs finely woven carbon strands, titanium edges and S2 carbon composite instead of glass. All of this amounts to a board that is both lightweight and high performance.

The most expensive snowboard in the world is sold out from Burton’s own online store, but expect to pay $1,500 or more if you do manage to find one.

Luxury gadgets, clothing and food are all well and good, but let’s face it—history is written by the land barons. Real estate put the feud in feudalism, made legends of early explorers and put Donald Trump on primetime television. So where is the most valuable land in the world?

The world’s most expensive real estate market, according to a recent survey by the Global Property Guide, is Monte Carlo. Named “Mount Charles” after Prince Charles III of Monaco, Monte Carlo is a northern district in the city-state of Monaco and is home to the Opéra de Monte-Carlo, the renowned Hôtel de Paris and the greater portion of the Curcuit de Monaco, where Formula One drivers race in the Monaco Grand Prix.

Real estate in this land of luxury cost an average of $47,578 per square meter, according to the Global Property Guide’s 2009 report.

Monte Carlo was followed by Moscow, Russia at less than half that price—$20,853 per square meter—and London, England at $20,756 per square meter. New York City placed 6th on the list at $14,898 per square meter.

Global Property Guide’s full top ten list is as follows:

1. Monte Carlo, Monaco – $47,578
2. Moscow, Russia – $20,853
3. London, England – $20,756
4. Tokyo, Japan – $17,998
5. Hong Kong – $16,125
6. New York, USA – $14,898
7. Paris, France – $12,122
8. Singapore – $9,701
9. Rome, Italy – $9,166
10. Mumbai, India – $9,163

The popular worker’s denim trousers have become modern day fashion and status symbols. Designer jeans come in and out of popularity but in the early 2000s, expensive jeans started coming back into fashion with brands such as APO Jeans, Chip and Pepper, Paper Denim & Cloth, Seven for All Mankind, True Religion and many other brands costing $200 or more per pair.

The Guinness Book of Records listed a pair of Gucci Genius jeans featuring elaborate feathers, beads, rips and buttons as most expensive jeans off-the-rack at a cost of $3,134 and Forbes once showcased Escada’s Swarovski crystal-encrusted jeans that sold for US $10,000.

Levi Strauss Company bid $46,532 to buy a pair of their own brand of denim pants back on the popular auction site eBay. However, the most expensive old jeans were an average pair of 501 jeans manufactured in the 1880s and purchased by a Japanese collector in 2005 for $60,000.

Trashed Denim

None of those prices, however, can even hold a candle to that commanded by Dussault Apparel’s Trashed Denim line of luxury jeans. These men’s jeans are handmade using a special process where they are washed thirteen times, with dying and painting performed between each washing to add depth to the jeans. That’s not all, though, as each pair of Trashed Denim jeans is adorned with sixteen 1-carat rubies, twenty-six .05-carat rubies, eight .05-carat diamonds and 1080 grams of 18k white or rose gold.

So how much are the most expensive jeans in the world? Try a quarter-million dollars. That’s right; Dussault Apparel’s Trashed Denim jeans are priced at $250,000. They can be purchased at the Dussault store in Los Angeles or Kustom in New York City.

Peter Aloisson’s iPhone Princess Plus – $176,400

The Princess Plus got its name from the Princess cut used on 138 of the 318 diamonds on its surface. The other 180 diamonds on the phone were brilliant-cut. In total, the phone has 17.75 carats of diamonds set in 18k white gold around its rim. The iPhone Princess Plus is worth $176,400 while the somewhat more pedestrian “Brilliants only” version sold for $66,150.

Peter Aloisson’s Kings Button iPhone – $2.4 million

The Kings Button iPhone is, like its predecessor, a jewel-bedecked iPhone. This time, however, Aloisson had the iPhone 3G to play with—and, apparently, a bit of a bigger budget. One hundred and thirty-eight brilliant-cut diamonds line the sides of the phone, but the real prize is the home button—a rare 6.6 carat white diamond.

Goldstriker iPhone 3GS Supreme – $3.2 million

Stuart Hughes of Goldstriker International is known for giving luxury devices such as phones and video game consoles the “Supreme” treatment—covering them with gold and diamonds—and the iPhone is no exception. The iPhone 3GS Supreme features a casing made from 271 grams of solid 22k gold and a screen trimmed with fifty-three 1-carat diamonds. The home button is covered with a single rare 7.1-carat diamond. That’s not all, though—the iPhone 3GS Supreme comes in a chest carved from a single block of granite and sports Kashmir gold and an interior lining made with Nubuck top grain leather.

It certainly doesn’t help that it’s such a tasty fish.

In early 2009, a 282-pound bluefin caught off the northern coast of Oma was sold to a pair of rival restaurateurs who set aside their differences to procure the massive fish for $100,000. In 2001, a 440-pound tuna was sold for the phenomenal price of $220,000.

In 2010, however, the 440-pound tuna’s record was beaten by the sale of a gargantuan 513-pound bluefin. Sold at Tokyo’s Tsukiji market, the most expensive tuna in the world was also purchased by a confederacy of restaurateurs—this time the owners of two sushi restaurants in Japan and the owner of one in Hong Kong.

Part of the reason for these phenomenal prices, of course, is the bluefin’s rarity. While forty-one bluefin tuna were sold at a 2008 auction, only three were sold at the same auction in 2009. The economic crisis, however, may have been a boon for the bluefin population as consumers found the fish too rich for their wallets. In adition, The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas reduced the quota for the 2010 catch to 13,500 tons—around two-thirds of the former quota.

Still, offering a reward for the prize in the fish’s belly might not have been such a good idea after all.

A bluefin tuna fish.

Xbox 360 gold faceplate – $36,000+

This unique faceplate was auctioned on eBay in 2005. Made of 999.9 ounces of solid 24k gold, the faceplate was cast with access to all the ports and receivers necessary to enjoy your Xbox to the fullest extent. While not a console in and of itself, you can be sure that whatever Xbox this thing is attached to is officially the world’s most expensive Xbox.

Ps3 Supreme – $323,000

The most expensive Playstation 3 in the world sports a 22k gold exterior accented with flawless diamonds. Fifty-eight .5 carat diamonds decorate either side of the disc loader on the PS3 Supreme and over 1,600 grams of gold were used to create its shell. The entire process took twelve weeks from start to finish. If you want one, though, you’d better snap it up soon—the PS3 Supreme is limited to only three consoles.

Nintendo Wii Supreme – $481,250

Designed by Stuart Hughes of Goldstriker International, the most expensive video game console in the world is coated in 2.5 kilograms of 22k gold. That isn’t all—the front buttons are decorated with 78 quarter-cut diamonds weighing in at 19.5 carats. This luxury console took six months to produce—four fewer than Goldstriker’s similarly treated iPhone—and only three have been created.

Gin is made by flavoring pure grain alcohol with juniper berries and other natural flavors. While it hasn’t been as popular in mixed drinks as vodka, gin has made something of a comeback in recent years. It’s no surprise, then, that the most expensive gin bottle in the world was produced in 2008.

Bombay Spirits Co.’s Bombay Sapphire brand of gin is flavored with almond, lemon peel, liquorice, orris root, angelica, coriander, cassia, cubeb, grains of paradise and, of course, juniper berries. When Bombay Spirits teamed up with jewelers Baccarat and Garrard and designer Karim Rashid, the result was Revelation.

Five Revelation bottles were created—each one a handmade crystal bottle topped with a bejeweled stopper with a sapphire centerpiece. The collection was unveiled at Garrard’s in London and then sold at five different airports.

Each bottle had a price of $200,000.

Technically, a katana is any Japanese sword with a single edge. In practice, however, the word is almost exclusively used to describe the long, slightly curved sword used by samurai from the Muromachi period onward. Katanas are surrounded with mythic resonance and some few swordsmiths, such as Muramasa and Masamune, have become more famous than the warriors who wielded their creations.

The most expensive katana ever sold at auction was part of the collection of Dr. Walter Ames Compton, a physician who started collecting in the early 1930s. In 1992, two years after his death, the Compton collection of 1,100 Japanese swords was sold at a Christie’s auction in New York. The auction grossed $8 million in just its first day.

The most expensive katana of the day was a 13th century Kamakura blade that sold for $418,000 to an anonymous European collector. While the most valuable katanas are likely museum pieces and utterly priceless, we can still call this one the most expensive katana in the world.

Things have been a little quiet on the Dubai front lately, but that doesn’t mean they’ve given up on expensive creations. The recently completed Dubai Fountain, for instance, is the most expensive fountain in the world.

The construction of the fountain by WET Design, the same company that designed the only slightly less impressive Fountains of Bellagio in Las Vegas, was announced in June, 2008, and the announcement was followed by a contest to name the fountain. The fifteen entrants who suggested “Dubai Fountain” split a prize of 100,000 dirham (US $27,226).

The Fountain itself is set in Burj Dubai Lake in the Downtown Burj Dubai development project which also includes the supertall skyscraper Burj Dubai and the Dubai Mall. Dubai Fountain is over 900 feet long and can spray jets up to 500 feet high. The fountain can spray as much as 22,000 gallons of water in the air at any given time, which can be visually enhanced by 6,600 WET superlights and 25 color projectors. The fountain can be set to music, including the Swahili song Baba Yetu from the popular video game Civilization IV and top Arab dance song Shik Shak Shok.

The Dubai Fountain cost $217 million to build.

The holidays are coming up and the UK’s Hallmark Jewelers are ringing in the season with the most expensive Christmas ornament in the world.

Adorned with 500 diamonds—three of them one carat apiece—arranged along a snowflake pattern and orbited by 188 rubies, The World’s Most Valuable Christmas Bauble, as they call it, is a truly exquisite and unique piece of holiday décor.

Work on the Bauble began on Boxing Day (December 26th, for stateside readers) 2008 and took almost a year to complete. The two halves of the interior orb were cast in London’s Hatton Garden Jewellery Quarter. The bulb was unveiled at a VIP gala and its designer, Mark Hussey, plans to display it in his Titchfield store should a buyer not be available.

The Christmas Bauble is valued at £82,000—over US $136,000.

Yesterday and Today was the Beatles’ twelfth US release, a collection of tracks from LPs and singles that hadn’t been released in the US. While the band didn’t appreciate the mishmash approach Capitol Records took with the album, they were able to exert some creative control over the cover—at least until it was banned. Now that cover has become the most expensive Beatles memorabilia in the world.

The original “butcher cover” features the quartet dressed as butchers, with slabs of meat and parts of plastic baby dolls strewn across their laps and shoulders. It was part of a 1966 shoot by photographer Robert Whitaker and, according to Capitol Records president Alan W. Livingston, it was Paul McCartney who insisted that it be used as the album’s cover. Unfortunately, retailer complaints led to Capital recalling the 750,000 copies of the album and pasting over the cover with a more agreeable photo.

To celebrate the remastered release of the Beatles’ back catalogue, the Saint Giles Street Gallery together with the British Beatles Fan Club put together an exhibit full of rare Beatles imagery in October 2009. Called The “Eleven Million Dollar Picture” Show, it was named after the printer’s proof of the infamous butcher cover, upon which John Lennon wrote, “here’s the famous banned butcher cover. You can sell it for $11 million dollars.”

The Saint Giles Gallery, of course, had the proof up for sale for $11 million.

Octopus – $200 million

Owned by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, Octopus is the world’s eighth largest yacht. The 414-foot yacht was first launched in 2003. The yacht has two helicopters, a submarine with room for ten men and seven boats. For those who’d like to see the ocean floor, the yacht even includes a remote controlled vehicle to do so.

Rising Sun – $200 million

Co-owned by Oracle’s Larry Ellison and media mogul David Geffen, Rising Sun is 453-feet and five stories of oceangoing luxury. It was built with one goal in mind—to exceed the size of Paul Allen’s Octopus, above. This pricey yacht has 8,000 feet of living space with onyx countertops and Jacuzzi bathrooms, a spa and sauna, a gym and even a private movie theatre with an enormous plasma screen.

Lady Moura – $210 million

This 344-foot mega-yacht is owned by billionaire Nasser Al-Rashid. It features a pool with retractable roof, a 75-foot dining table crafted by Viscount Linley and a helicopter. Lady Moura’s most remarkable feature, however, is the beach resort that slides out of one side of the boat. The mini resort features not only sand and deck chairs, but even includes palm trees for a truly authentic resort experience.

Dubai – $350 million

This costly yacht has gone by three names since its conception—Platinum 525, Golden Star and, most recently, Dubai. The Platinum 525 was commissioned by Prince Jefri Bolkiah of Brunei in 1996, but a lack of funds caused the project to be abandoned a scant couple of years later. In 2001, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, then Crown Prince and now ruler of Dubai, took over the project and renamed it the Golden Star. Dubai is as expansive as it is expensive. The 525-foot yacht features an owner’s suite, five VIP suites and a number of guest bedrooms. The bridge features the captain’s quarters, an office and a lounge. The foyer and atrium connects each deck while lighting them from above via skylight. The luxury yacht is powered by four diesel engines with over 9,000 horsepower altogether.

Eclipse – $1.2 billion

Russian billionaire and Chelsea football club owner Roman Abramovich’s super-yacht will be a 560-foot monster requiring a minimum of 70 crewmembers and featuring eleven guests. Abramovich and his guests will be protected by a security system that uses laser bursts to foil digital paparazzi photography when activated, anti-bugging and anti-intruder systems and a missile detection system. They’ll also enjoy a swimming pool that can be drained and used as a dance floor, an additional swimming pool and an aquarium. The yacht holds two helicopters, three boats and a submarine.

Few things could come closer to that clichéd fantasy of young girls, to be married to a dashing prince in an extravagant wedding, than the nuptials of celebrities and billionaires. These weddings can be events that draw thousands of guests, feature lavish decorations and include performances by superstar musicians.

The wedding of Vanisha Mittal, daughter of world’s 8th richest person Lakshmi Mittal, to investment banker Amit Bhatia was the most expensive wedding in the world. The six-day event was held in Versailles in 2004 and included a reenactment of the couple’s courtship, an engagement ceremony at the Palace of Versailles—the only private function ever held in the palace—and performances by Shah Rukh Khan and Kylie Minogue.

The elder Mittal footed the bill for the wedding, reportedly spending $55 million to see his daughter happily married.

From the pyramids of the Egyptian Pharaohs to the costly funerals of the modern day elite, one truth is made quite clear—first impressions may be important, but final impressions last longer. That’s why Michael Jackson was buried in one of the most expensive coffins in the world.

Inspired by James Brown’s 2007 funeral, the late King of Pop ordered a coffin called “The Promethean,” the same model chosen by relatives of the Godfather of Soul, from Batesville Casket Co. in Indiana—Jackson’s own home state.

Jackson’s coffin is a solid bronze casket lined with blue velvet. What makes The Promethean truly spectacular, though, is the hand-polished 14k gold plate finish. All told, the coffin cost $25,000.

While Jackson’s memorial was held on July 7, 2009, he wasn’t interred until September 3rd. He was laid to rest at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.

Porsche Cayenne Turbo S – $112-150,000

This 520 horsepower beast is capable of handling even the most extreme conditions. The Cayenne Turbo S has a base MSRP of $112,000 and hit sales floors in 2003. But if you want it with all the amenities like colored Porsche crests on the wheels, the off-road tech package, and the 20-inch wheels and tires, you can expect a price tag of almost 150 grand! When off-road, the Cayenne Turbo S features a 2.4 inch suspension articulation for those pesky boulders or fallen trees as well as a unique “hill-descent mode” where the SUV can safely inch its way down a slippery slope at a set speed without assistance from the driver’s foot. This SUV will put your standard sports car to shame, running the coveted 0-60 miles per hour in an astounding 4.8 seconds.

Spyker D8 Peking-to-Paris – around $300,000

Originally called the D12, the Spyker D8 Peking-to-Paris SSUV was introduced in 2006 at the Geneva Motor Show. Some of the standard features of the Spyker SSUV include: fulltime four-wheel drive, four doors (suicide configuration), carbon-ceramic matrix brakes, and all aluminum construction. While it was originally intended to have a Audi W12 engine, it is now believed to be fitted with a V8 by an unknown American company—hence the change from “D12″ to “D8.”

“Warrior One” Hummer H1 – $1.25 million

On January 20th of 2007, CNN auctioned off a Hummer used by journalists that were covering the war in Iraq. Proceeds from the auction were donated to the Fisher House Foundation. Dave Liniger, a Vietnam veteran and the founder of Re/Max International Inc., purchased the most expensive SUV ever sold at auction, bidding $1 million for the Hummer. Another bidder, Dave Ressler, contributed an additional $250,000 to benefit the charity. The Hummer H1 was the world’s most expensive SUV until it ended production in 2006.

Dartz Prombron Monaco Red Diamond Edition – $1.5 million

Perfect for the urban warrior, this bulletproof SUV is an upgrade from the original 8.1 liter GM V8-powered Dartz Kombat T98. Debuting at the 2010 Top Marques Monaco show, the most expensive SUV in the world will feature ruby red matte paint, gold-plated bulletproof windows, 22″ Kremlin Red Star bulletproof wheels, tungsten exhaust and a coating of kevlar. The badges and dials are made with white gold, diamonds and rubies. It also features a special Vertu mobile phone with an “alert” button and a Rogue Acoustic Audio System. Best of all, the interior is lined with whale penis leather!

That is good, right?

A West End stage production of Breakfast at Tiffany’s, featuring Anna Friel in Audrey Hepburn’s iconic role, has opened this month and Chambord has crafted the most expensive breakfast in the world to mark the occasion.

Chambord, known for their black raspberry liqueur, has combined the culinary arts and the jeweler’s craft with a croissant embellished with edible gold and diamonds, as well as Bar le Duc hand-seeded redcurrant jam. The meal also includes Kopi Luwak—the world’s most expensive coffee—and a Chambord and Perrier Jouet Belle Epoque champagne cocktail worth over $30,000. As if that wasn’t extravagant enough, the Chambord is served from a gold, diamond and pearl-encrusted bottle worth $2.4 million.

Should you wish to enjoy this breakfast of champions, it’ll set you back nearly $35,000. If you plan on taking in the show afterwards, however, be sure not to snap any pics of Anna Friel’s nude scene—the ushers have been instructed to confiscate any phones or cameras used for such nefarious deeds.

If that doesn’t scream “Cover it in diamonds,” well, I don’t know what does.

Amosu BlackBerry Pearl Diamond Edition – $88,000

Amosu released their BlackBerry Pearl Diamond Edition in 2008. The diamonds used to make this particular phone were recyclable—owners could have them refit to their next BlackBerry when the Pearl became obsolete. The Amosu BlackBerry even came with a year of access to an exclusive concierge service allowing purchasers to enjoy a variety of luxury services.

Amosu Curva Diamond BlackBerry – $191,000

Not one to rest on his laurels, Alexander Amosu has created a brand new exclusive BlackBerry customization. The Amosu Curva is covered in 4,494 brilliant cut VS1 diamonds totalling about 28.42 carats set in a coat of 18-karat gold. The best part, though, is that only three of these luxury smartphones will ever be made. Each purchaser will have the option of having their name engraved on the back. Like Amosu’s previous offering, Amosu Curva owners will enjoy a free year-long global concierge service in 44 cities.

Knalihs Athem BlackBerry Bold Limited Diamond Edition – ???

Swiss luxury designer Knalihs Athem has also created a suitably expensive BlackBerry. Each Knalihs Athem BlackBerry Bold Limited Diamond Edition is customized with the buyer’s choice of pink, yellow, black, champagne and white diamonds. The back of the phone is also customized with leather, crocodile or snake skin, or denim—each available in at least two different colors. Of course, it also has all the standard features of the BlackBerry Bold. Unfortunately, the price of Knalihs Athem’s expensive BlackBerry seems to have been filed under “If you have to ask, you’ll never know.”

Do you ever feel like your bath tissue doesn’t communicate your wealth as well as it could? Fortunately for anyone who does, that insurmountable problem has been surmounted by Renovo, makers of the most expensive toilet paper in the world.

Renovo’s luxury toilet paper is the ultimate in luxury toiletries. This soft TP is made of 100% virgin pulp for maximum softness. It’s three-ply and colorfast. Yes, you read that right—it’s colorfast. Renovo’s designer toilet paper comes in six different colors—black, red, green, orange, blue and fuchsia.

Renovo toilet paper is priced from just over $3 for a single roll to $7.60 for six rolls. It can be seen—and, I suppose, used—in upscale restaurant and hotel bathrooms in the US, Canada and Europe.

Falke Luxury Cashmere Knee-High Socks
$77

These 90% finest cashmere socks feature reinforced toes and heels and a slightly ribbed band. They’re available in anthracite, black and plum.

Marcoliani Men’s Luxury Cashmere/Silk Windowpane Socks
$79

A blend of 60% cashmere, 26% silk and 14% nylon, these over-the-calf socks feature a tasteful windowpane pattern and can be purchased in a variety of colors. They’re produced by traditional craftsmen in Milan, Italy and very limited.

Marcoliani Sexy Cashmere & Lurex Knee-High Glitter Socks
$89

These Marcoliani socks are imported exclusively by CustomShirt1.com. Made primarily from the finest cashmere (80%) and nylon (18%), the glitter effect is accomplished with a Lurex metallic yarn. They are also available in a slightly cheaper ankle-length variety for a mere $75.

If you’re like me, you’ve been pondering the most expensive sheep ever since the UK’s highest priced sheep, Tophill Joe, died some months ago. Well, wonder no further—the world’s most expensive sheep has been sold.

Purchased by a British farmer at an agricultural auction, this record-setting bit of livestock is called Deveronvale Perfection. Like Tophill Joe, Deveronvale Perfection is a Texel ram—a breed that, surprisingly, comes from the island of Texel, off Holland. Texel sheep are known for their lean meat. Deveronvale Perfection, in particular, is said to have a strong loin.

Deveronvale Perfection was purchased for £231,000 (US $376,000) which, according to the British Texel Sheep Society, is £26,000 more than the former most expensive sheep in the world.

Back in Olde Tymes, when men were men and razors were less than clean, aftershave was important for its antiseptic qualities. Nowadays, though, we use it primarily for its aromatic properties.

The world’s most expensive aftershave is Amouage Die Pour Homme. The 1.7 oz Eau de Toilette—a term referring to the concentration of fragrance and not the fragrance itself—comes in a vintage bottle which is 24% French lead crystals and embellished with pink gold. The scent is floral, consisting of frankincense, peony, plum blossom and, uh, leather, among other fragrances. It’s recommended for evening use at any time of year.

The most expensive aftershave in the world can be purchased for $250.

It’s said that a rolling stone doesn’t gather moss. It seems the saying applies just as well to British Invaders as it does to their geological namesakes, as the Rolling Stones are the world’s most expensive wedding performers.

The band, whose name comes from a song by Muddy Waters, first claimed international superstardom with their 1965 hit, “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.” Now, frontman Sir Mick Jagger, guitarists Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood and drummer Charlie Watts commanded over $8 million when performing for a US wedding in 2002. Even for that astronomical sum, the most expensive wedding band doesn’t perform private sets unless they’re already on tour.

Pop icons Sir Elton John and Kylie Minogue came in second place, each having charged a paltry $3.2 million for wedding performances.

The world’s most expensive piece of furniture isn’t a bed, a chair or even a couch—it’s a cabinet. Blurring the line between art and craft, the Badminton Cabinet is truly a unique item.

The Badminton Cabinet (or Badminton Chest) was commissioned by Henry Somerset, 3rd Duke of Beaufort, at the age of 19. It took thirty experts six years to create and is named after the Duke’s seat of power, Badminton House in Gloucestershire, where it sat until it was auctioned by his descendents in the late 20th century.

The ebony cabinet is over 12 feet tall and features scenes rendered in pietre dure—the arrangement of finely cut, polished and colored stones. Among the inlaid stones are a number of semiprecious stones.The clock face set at the top of the cabinet is marked with fleurs-de-lis.

The Badminton Cabinet became the most expensive piece of furniture in the world when it was auctioned for $15.1 million in 1990 and retained its status when it was auctioned again in 2004, this time for $36.7 million.