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The concept of gifting isn't alien to many as gifts are primarily an expression of love and gratitude to loved ones. Surprisingly, the purpose behind some gifts may not necessarily be to show appreciation but for other reasons best known to the person giving them. Typically, for events like weddings, birthdays, and even anniversary celebrations, one may not bother about the quality or price of the gift, as it mostly comes from a place of love and empathy. Alternatively, gifts given to obtain favors may consider value and importance to the receiver. In light of this, let us take a look at the top 10 most expensive gifts ever given in the world.
Elizabeth Taylor's 68-carat Diamond ($6.6 million)
Having lost the bid for the 68-carat diamond to famous jeweler Cartier International SNC, Welsh actor Richard Burton went ahead the next day to purchase it from Cartier. Richard purchased the shiny piece diamond to gift his then-wife- Elizabeth Taylor, in 1969. Unfortunately, after the couple divorced in 1978, the 68-carat diamond was auctioned off for $6.6 million, with the proceeds used to fund the building of a hospital in Botswana.
Alberto Giacometti's Femme de Venise ($14 million)
Former Chelsea Owner and Billionaire Roman Abramovich is no stranger to splashing funds on gifts, especially for friends and loved ones. It was no surprise to many that the Israeli-Russian politician spent $14 million on the bronze sculpture for his then-girlfriend Russian-American art collector and businesswoman Dasha Zhukova.
Katie Holmes' Gulfstream Jet ($20 million)
When Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes married in 2006 in a lavish wedding, many would not have predicted the ending barely six years into the marriage. However, while the marriage lasted, rumors had it that the couple were gift givers, as they both splurged their cash on each via gifts. One of many gifts is the Gulfstream jet Tom acquired for Katie as a wedding gift. However, after the divorce in 2012, it remains unclear whether Katie is still in possession of the luxury item.
RA 1 Members BMW7 Luxury Cars ($30 million)
After the release of the 2011 Indian Hindi-language superhero movie, Bollywood icon- Shah Rukh Khan opted to give the BMW7 to three of the many stars that made it a global commercial success. At the time, the car was valued at $10 million each and was received by Bollywood stars- Arjun Rampal, Rajnikanth, and Anubhav Sinha.
Nita Ambani's Jet ($60 million)
Like many of his wealthy contemporaries, Mukesh Ambani is not afraid to splash the cash on his friends and loved ones. The second-richest Indian man today, who spent 13 consecutive years as the Asian country's wealthiest, is never shy to show off his wealth. To gift his beautiful wife on her 44th birthday in 2007, the then-richest Indian man opted to splash $60 million on a custom-fitted Airbus-319 luxury private jet. The news at the time got tongues wagging, as the luxury private jet was a limited edition custom-made for Nita Ambani.
Tina Ambani's Yacht ($84 million)
When Dhirubhai Ambani died in 2002, his business, Reliance Industries, was taken over by his sons Mukesh and Anil Ambani and was estimated to be worth $81.3 billion. This wealth ensured that none of his children were left with nothing, even after the demise of the business mogul. However, in 2008, Anil opted to splurge part of his funds on his Bollywood actress wife, Tina Ambani, when he bought her a yacht. The 34-meter yacht, built in Italy and named Tian, cost Anil a whopping $84 million.
The Jewel in the Crown, Koh-i-Noor ($485 million)
In 1849, the last Maharaja of the Sikh Empire, Duleep Singh, presented an 86-carat Koh-i-Noor diamond to the Royal Queen of the United Kingdom, Queen Victoria. This gift's purpose symbolized a treaty and was well appreciated. However, at the time, the queen requested her consort, Prince Albert, to fashion it into a piece of 105.6-carat diamond jewelry. The value of that apparel today is a whopping $485 million.
The Taj Mahal ($827 million)
Constructed for 21 years between 1632 to 1653, The Taj Mahal is the tomb house of the late wife- Mumtaz Mahal, of the Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan. The illustrious design of the tomb house features a base, dome, minaret, plant motifs-wall, reflective tiles, and marble jali lattice. Alternatively, its interiors also feature flowers carved in marble, incised paintings, finial floor tiling, and many other art pieces. The building, which also hosts the tomb of the late Mughal Emperor, is valued at around $827 million today.
Cubist Masterpieces ($1.1 billion)
The Cubists is a collection of artworks and pieces designed by the late legendary Spanish painter, sculptor, and printmaker Pablo Picasso. However, these artworks belonged to famous American philanthropist and businessman Leonard Lauder. Surprisingly, in 2013, Leonard opted to gift the artworks, valued at $1.1 billion at the time, to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
American War of Independence ($20 billion)
In 1778, after three years of war with Great Britain, the United States of America was cash-strapped and signed a treaty of alliance with France. This treaty gave them an unlimited supply of military equipment to win the war of independence and enough money to see through it. Today, it remains the most expensive gift ever given in history, valued at $20 billion.
Sources: Renesabino, Byliner.