Books by the Meter
Some companies sell books by the meter. The owner—or their interior designer—wants to fill a luxury home or apartment, so they order books. You can even choose color schemes or themes. Many prefer leather-bound editions because they’re pricier and visibly elegant. So, while most people build a small library over years, some order books purely as decoration, in their preferred color and length.
Home Cinema
We’ve seen home theaters on shows where American stars showcase their homes. But for $300,000, you can order a home cinema service that streams movies currently in theaters. They truly don’t need to visit cinemas—even premieres—because every new release is uploaded straight to their device.
Time
The biggest stars have money but no time, so they pay for everything to save it. Need to travel fast? A call to the airport and a charter flight waits if they’re late. Hairdresser, makeup artist, masseuse, nail technician, personal trainer, chef, personal shopper: all come to their door—no need to step out. Need a new phone or laptop? Someone transfers all data and photos to the latest model. There’s even a company that refuels their cars on-site. They have a personal assistant for every errand so they don’t have to deal with everyday hassles.
Amounts
On rare occasions when they need cash, they don’t have to visit the bank: they just call, say the amount, and the bank courier delivers the bills. For them, nothing is off-limits or illegal—they simply ask about fines and factor those into the cost.
Unique
It’s one thing to have cars delivered from the showroom, with custom paint and upholstery—even unique dashboards—but the truly wealthy want more. They get to see new model designs before production. If they like one, they order a limited-edition dream car. It’s not uncommon for someone to own a car of which only 25 exist worldwide. Billionaires go even further, designing and commissioning their own luxury cars built to their specs. (This option is especially popular among Arab billionaires.)
Hired Celebrities
It’s common for stars like Jennifer Lopez or Beyoncé to perform at dictators’ birthdays, but once I worked a party with Demi Moore, Benicio Del Toro, Anthony Kiedis (Red Hot Chili Peppers), and Tony Hawk, the skateboarding legend. They just mingled with guests, pretending to be friends of the host. All this happened at a rich family’s kid’s Halloween party. (Demi was super sweet and even brought her puppies.)
Healing
In the world of the wealthy, there’s no waiting for a doctor’s appointment. They have personal doctors who come to their home, sometimes with a mini-lab to draw blood or other samples on the spot. Surgery? No waiting—operating rooms and expert teams are ready immediately. Abroad, I worked at a hospital with a whole floor dedicated to the rich. Not just rooms, but suites, equipped with the latest medical devices. Of course, patients there don’t eat typical hospital food; a dietitian and chef prepare meals tailored to their condition and taste. Need a new organ? No problem—remember, David Rockefeller had six (!) heart transplants and lived to 101.
Boating
The wealthy hop on their yacht wherever they want. Yacht-taxi companies transport luxury yachts to any requested location. If a star needs to be in Cannes, they just have their yacht delivered there—simple as that.
Abroad
You can buy evacuation insurance, meaning if you’re anywhere and disaster strikes—like a natural catastrophe or military incident—one call and a helicopter rushes to rescue you immediately. Plus, those with money can buy citizenship in any country, complete with a valid passport.
VIP
While we mere mortals miss concerts or games because tickets sell out online in seconds, the wealthy just make a call and get themselves and their whole crew seated in the VIP box. The VIP lounge at airports welcomes them too—so they can relax in comfort while waiting for their private jet. Compared to that, first-class lounges feel like a cheap dive.
