When money stops being a concern, the idea of fun has a whole new meaning. For the ultra-wealthy, hobbies can drift into territory that feels more like performance art than a pastime. Here’s a look at the odd ways the rich stay entertained, with pastimes that only make sense if your wallet is endless.
Collecting Watches That Never See Daylight
Some affluent collectors buy luxury watches, like variations of the same Rolex, only to lock them in a safe. It’s asset storage dressed up as leisure. These watches can increase in value, but most never get worn.
Submarine Trips to a Shipwreck Graveyard
Booking a private submersible to dive down to the Titanic’s wreck isn’t exactly a quick weekend getaway. The price tag hits six figures, and there’s zero scientific mission behind it—it’s just bragging rights beneath the sea.
Exotic Animal Hunts in Controlled Pens
Wealthy clients pay to hunt animals that can’t escape, often in fenced areas designed for easy targets. The whole thing is dressed up as sport, but it’s really more of a curated hunt, with ethics left behind at the gate.
Buying Cars and Never Driving Them
High-end collectors sometimes purchase million-dollar supercars that never touch asphalt. They’re placed in temperature-controlled garages, sometimes shrink-wrapped, admired only by the owner. The maintenance costs alone could cover a new car every year, but the vehicles just sit still.
Making Vanity Documentaries About Extinct Birds
One donor commissioned giant sculptures of extinct birds, had them installed at historic sighting locations, and brought in a film crew to document the whole thing. No one asked for this project, and no one really watched the finished film—but for the funder, it wasn’t about the birds.
Luxury Fashion That’s Bought, Not Worn
Owning limited-edition fashion pieces without ever wearing them sounds strange—unless you’re rich. Some wardrobes are essentially clothing vaults with sneakers, dresses, or suits that never see daylight. A few items might get worn once for a gala or photo op, then vanish forever into custom-built closets.
Fox Hunting for Ceremony, Not Sport
Still practiced in some elite circles, fox hunting is less about the chase and more about tradition. Riders in red coats parade across the countryside, often with packs of hounds. Critics call it archaic and cruel, but for those in the club, the spectacle is half the point.
Yacht Racing That Burns Cash Faster Than Fuel
Racing 12-meter yachts is a favored pastime among ultra-rich hobbyists. Between upkeep, staff, travel, and entry fees, it’s an exercise in financial drain. As one critic described it, the experience is akin to standing in a cold shower while ripping up hundred-dollar bills.
Climbing Everest With a Line of Sherpas
Reaching Everest’s summit used to be a badge of extreme endurance. Now? It’s a luxury booking. Guided trips with full-service Sherpa teams have turned the mountain into a crowded, high-altitude bucket list item. Climbers wait in traffic jams near the summit while passing litter and oxygen tanks as they go.
Flying Private Jets to Environmental Summits
It’s not uncommon for public figures and CEOs to fly private jets to conferences on climate change. The optics are jarring. Some flights burn thousands of gallons of fuel just to attend panels about carbon footprints. It’s a paradox that keeps repeating, though few participants seem bothered enough.
Recording Acts of Charity for Social Media
Philanthropy becomes performative when wealthy influencers post staged videos of themselves “helping” people in need. The focus is the giver’s expression of generosity. Filming someone’s hardship for likes strips dignity from the act.
Extreme Beverage Collecting Without Ever Drinking It
Some collectors treat beverages like rare art, bought for prestige, not for pouring. Bottles worth thousands are cataloged, displayed, and insured, but never opened. The logic? “It’s an investment.” In reality, many just like knowing they own something others can’t taste.
Solid Gold Bathroom Fixtures
Golden toilets and tubs aren’t a rumor—they’re real, and they’re wildly impractical. Some mansions feature entire bathrooms made of gold, despite the fact that it’s hard to clean, shows smudges, and isn’t exactly cozy.
One-Dollar Bets That Wreck Real Lives
Wealthy circles sometimes treat real people like chess pieces. One notorious example involves rich friends betting trivial amounts on whether they can change a stranger’s life or manipulate a situation. These “experiments” play out for laughs.
Pet Cloning for the Sake of Aesthetics
Pet cloning isn’t about preserving a beloved animal’s memory—it’s about replicating its exact look. In some cases, owners pay six figures to clone a dog or camel because they like its face. The result isn’t emotionally identical, but it sure looks good on a leash.