Deciding on the perfect gift to give a loved one can be difficult. There are those who take the sentimental route and bank on presents that will tug at heartstrings. Others depend on the bank itself and purchase expensive treasures that will blow all past gifts given out of the water. For celebrities with bulky bank accounts and no care for how far their cash will go, giving gifts can get extreme.
Giving a gift as a celebrity can get complicated, however. Not only do celebrities have to be concerned with how their gift is received by their loved ones, but they also have to deal with the paparazzi and naysayers. When a gift goes bad, so does their publicity. Additionally, when the gift is out of the ordinary, publicity is a gift that keeps on giving, and they never hear the end of it. Here are the top ten costliest and craziest celebrity gifts.
10. David & Victoria Beckham – Two $50,000 Audis
Babysitting is hard work! As an act of appreciation for watching their four children, soccer superstar and former Spice Girl David and Victoria Beckham reportedly gifted their mothers both a $46,000 Audi. Both celebrities work in demanding careers that undoubtedly required family support to get them where they are today. Oftentimes they continue to require their parent’s assistance. If only we could all thank our parents, or babysitters, for their efforts with a brand new car.
9. Katy Perry – $100,000 Trip To Space
Buckle up, because this strange celebrity gift is literally out of this world. Popstar Katy Perry surprised her former husband Russell Brand with a seat aboard Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic space ship for the sky high price of $200,000 for 2 tickets. Passengers on this plane have the chance to experience anti-gravity for five minutes before reentering the Earth’s atmosphere. Perry purchased herself and Brand both a ticket so they could celebrate his 35th birthday. Unfortunately, she couldn’t escape the gravity of their tumultuous relationship and the two divorced after 14 months of marriage. With no prenup and no gift receipt for his seat aboard the spaceship, Perry’s act of kindness never lifted off of the ground.
8. Jamie Foxx – 2 Horses for Robert Downey Jr.
Close Pals Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey Jr. have all the horsepower necessary to ride off into the sunset together. When Downey and his family purchased a ranch in Malibu, California, Foxx was reportedly ‘appalled’ by the empty stables. Call it brotherly love, call it loneliness, or whatever you want to call it; Foxx bought Downey two horses straight out of his pocket. The Iron Man was thoroughly impressed by Foxx’s gift, and in return Downey gifted Foxx the 1967 vintage El Camino that Tony Stark himself sported in Iron Man.
7. Courteney Cox – $12,000 Bicycle for Jennifer Aniston
What has two wheels and tons of friends? Jennifer Aniston was given a beautiful $12,000 bike by her real-life and on-screen best friend Courteney Cox. Aniston told Cox that she wanted a way to avoid the traffic, and probably the paparazzi, that congest the streets of Los Angeles. These two buds exchange birthday presents every year, the strangest being an 8-speed cruiser equipped with a quilted leather Chanel seat and saddlebag.
6. Kanye for Kim – Ten Burger Kings
Just in case giving the gift of one Burger King wasn’t enough, Kanye covered his bases and bought his wife Kim Kardashian 10 Burger Kings. Now Kim can “have it her way” all around the world. The Burger King franchises that Kanye purchased for his lady are located across the pond, ranging from the UK to Italy. Burger King even offered to cater the dramatic duo’s multi-million dollar wedding. Truly a gift fit for Kings and Queens.
5. Kim for Kanye – Mice Autographed by Jobs & Wozniak
This star-studded couple gives strange and expensive gifts like it is their job. No pun intended. For Father’s Day, Kim purchased a truly nostalgic gift for hubby Kanye. Two computer mice signed by Steve Wozniak and the late Steve Jobs. Kardashian discovered these gems on eBay, where Steve Jobs memorabilia can range from $200-$6000. Between the Burger Kings and computer mice, this duo has definitely put a high price on true love.
4. Angelina Jolie – An Island
Some say love is a river, but for world famous Angelina Jolie, it is a gushing waterfall in California. The waterfall was a gift for Brad Pitt on his 48th birthday. She made this purchase so Pitt could commission a house on it in the style of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater. But wait, there is more. As if a waterfall and Fallingwater replica wasn’t enough for architecture fanatic Brad Pitt, Jolie recently purchased a heart-shaped island 50 miles off the coast of New York City. Jolie purchased the 11-acre Petra island for her hubby as a 50th birthday present. This island comes equipped with a heli-pad and two homes designed by renown architect Frank Lloyd Wright.
3. Scarlett Johannson – Gold Encrusted Wisdom Tooth
The almost always classy Scarlett Johannson gifted then future-husband Ryan Reynolds a gift he will never forget for his 31st birthday. Johansson repurposed one of her pearly white wisdom as a necklace. Soon after, this couple made the arguably wise decision to call off their engagement. Though comparable in size to a rock, and encased in solid gold, a gold encrusted wisdom tooth from the mouth of a former lover is slightly less haunting than the ring from a failed marriage.
2. Adam Sandler – Luxury Cars for Grown Ups
Funnyman Adam Sandler was so happy to work with his friends on set of the movie Grown Ups that he gave high-end cars to all of his co-stars. The funniest part? Co-star David Spade is reportedly ‘too embarrassed’ to ride around town in his new Maserati. Kevin James, Rob Schneider, and Chris Rock were also recipients of new whips, of which Rock was also too ashamed to be seen in. Sandler might want to slow down and think before making his next big purchase.
1. Jessica Simpson – Speed Boat for Tony Romo
When Jessica Simpson and Dallas Cowboy’s quarterback Tony Romo began their romance it caused quite the uproar amongst Dallas Cowboy fans. The public disapproval of their relationship escalated until fans demanded Simpson be banned from sitting in the stands on game day because she was seen as a distraction. Their relationship received even more flack when Simpson purchased Romo a custom made $100,000 speedboat for his 28th birthday. When the pair separated after two years, Simpson reportedly told Romo to keep the boat as a gift.
What motivates celebrities to give extravagant gifts?
Celebrities often indulge in extravagant gifting for compelling reasons beyond mere financial capability. Here are the key motivations driving their choices:
- Expression of Affection: Many celebrities use lavish gifts to express love and appreciation for their partners, family members, or close friends. These extravagant tokens often symbolize deep emotional connections and significant milestones in their relationships.
- Public Image and Branding: In the celebrity world, image is crucial. Giving expensive and unique gifts can enhance a celebrity’s public persona, showcasing wealth, taste, and generosity. This can help maintain or elevate their status in the eyes of fans and peers.
- Cultural Expectations: In Hollywood, there can be cultural pressure to give lavish gifts, especially during special occasions like weddings, anniversaries, or significant life events. Celebrities may feel obligated to meet these expectations, resulting in extravagant choices.
- Creating Memorable Experiences: For many celebrities, the gift itself is less important than the experience it provides. They often choose gifts that offer unique experiences, like private concerts or exclusive trips, which create lasting memories for the recipient.
- Philanthropic Intentions: Some celebrities use their wealth to support charitable causes. They might give expensive gifts to raise awareness or funds for specific charities, effectively combining personal relationships with their philanthropic efforts.
Key Insights
- Celebrity Gifting Trends: Celebrities often give extravagant and unique gifts, ranging from luxury cars to personal islands, highlighting their ability to spend lavishly and their desire to make grand gestures.
- Publicity and Scrutiny: Celebrity gifts often garner significant media attention, and the reactions to these gifts can impact their public image, either positively or negatively.
- Sentiment and Relationships: Many of these gifts are rooted in personal relationships and sentiments, indicating a blend of affection and status symbolization in celebrity culture.
- Diverse Gift Choices: The range of gifts varies widely, from practical items like cars and bikes to more whimsical or symbolic presents such as autographed computer mice and gold-encrusted wisdom teeth.
- Impact on Relationships: The gifts sometimes reflect or even influence the state of the relationship between the giver and receiver, as seen in the case of Katy Perry and Russell Brand’s space trip gift, which followed a troubled marriage.
FAQ
- What is the most expensive celebrity gift mentioned in the article? The most expensive gift mentioned is the trip to space gifted by Katy Perry to Russell Brand, which cost $200,000 for two tickets.
- How do celebrities handle the public scrutiny related to their extravagant gifts? Celebrities often face intense media attention and public scrutiny when they give extravagant gifts. While some gifts are celebrated, others can lead to negative publicity, especially if the relationship tied to the gift goes sour or if the gift is deemed excessively lavish.
- Do these extravagant gifts have a lasting impact on the celebrities’ relationships? In many cases, these gifts can have a significant impact on relationships. Some gifts, like those from Angelina Jolie to Brad Pitt, reflect deep personal connections, while others, like Katy Perry’s gift to Russell Brand, are overshadowed by relationship troubles. The nature of the gift can sometimes enhance or strain relationships.
- Are there practical considerations behind these celebrity gifts? While some gifts are practical, like the luxury cars given by Adam Sandler to his co-stars, others are more symbolic or whimsical, such as the island purchased by Angelina Jolie or the gold-encrusted wisdom tooth from Scarlett Johannson. The practicality often depends on the personal preferences and lifestyles of the recipients.
- How do celebrities’ careers influence their gifting choices? Celebrities’ careers often provide the financial means for such extravagant gifts. Additionally, their public image and the desire to make memorable gestures can drive them to choose unique and high-profile gifts. Their careers also influence the nature of the gifts, as seen with the busy schedules of David and Victoria Beckham leading to the gift of cars for their mothers.
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