While the rest of us are afraid to fly commercials without the ability to stretch our legs during long flights, some celebrities are literally busy living the high life, paying for the best airplane accommodation money can buy. “Almost 8,000 new private jets are expected to be purchased by multinational companies and the super-rich over the next decade,” wrote The Guardian in 2019, adding that “each of them will burn 40 times more carbon per passenger than regular commercial flights.” .
What’s interesting is that, as the store continues to note, celebrities “are among a group of ‘super emitters’ who own or regularly travel on private jets.” Fortunately, for the rest of us, it seems that some stars are finally demanding a change. Upon taking the stage to accept an award at the 2024 Golden Globes, Joaquin Phoenix scoffed at his peers, declaring: “Sometimes we have to take that responsibility on ourselves and make changes and sacrifices in our own lives … We don’t.” I don’t have to fly private jets to Palm Springs for awards sometimes, or back. Please. And I will try to do better, and I hope you do too. ”
While it appears that owning your own plane may be slowly going out of style, some A-listers not only refuse to give up their own, but also choose to regularly flaunt their many luxuries. Let’s take a look at some celebrities who own their own private jets.
Kylie Jenner uses her jet for advertising
If you want to know how Kylie Jenner spends her fortune, look no further than her social media. Never shy to show off his lavish lifestyle (like the time he spent in what Fashion described as “the most dreamy hotel” on the Amalfi Coast for his 22nd birthday), Jenner decided to be even more extra in July 2019. When she customized her private jet for a girl’s vacation that was doubled as a marketing tactic.
Debuting on her Instagram, the beauty magnate’s flamboyant plane was personalized in baby pink, with the word “KYLIESKIN” slapping prominently on the sides. Like Paper In a nutshell, «A vacation that also serves as marketing? That’s the kind of evil genius movement that helps you top the Forbes list of young billionaires. ” Truth be told, they’re right, and if customizing the exterior wasn’t enough, wait until you hear what else. Keeping up with the star Kardashians did. According to Espejo, Jenner made sure all of her “hostesses wore custom pink outfits,” while her friends were offered a KYLESKIN booty that included matching tracksuits, pink plush pillows, gums, and eye masks.
It’s unclear if Jenner has more than one private jet, but it’s easy to assume that she is, as the KUWTK Starlet regularly posts photos of herself inside another plane with an apparently different interior. If that’s not all, the celebrity has tousled some feathers, too, such as the time she used her jet to pick up older sister Kendall Jenner for lunch. Yikes
Donald Trump can’t say no to a good deal
President Donald Trump admitted that he went overboard when he purchased his company’s first aircraft, a Boeing 727, in 1987. “It was a little more than I needed, but I find it difficult to resist good business when the opportunity presents itself. ». reflected The apprentice alum in his book, The art of treatment . When the opportunity arose, Trump pounced and a little “haggling [ing]” and eight million dollars later, his company was the proud owner of his own plane. But it wouldn’t be the last.
In 2010, Trump sold the 727 and traded up to a 757, which he tricked with a decidedly Trumpian flare. According to The New York Times, the so-called “Trump Force One” (above) was made in 1991 and the owner who sold it to Trump completely renewed it in 1995. Its original 200 seats were removed to accommodate “a suite The main one included a bathroom and a guest room ”,“ a conference table ”and a“ bar in the center of the plane ”. Trump then added his own trims, such as 24-karat gold-plated “accessories” throughout and “toilet seats” [that] were upholstered in Edelman leather. “The Flying Executive’s Dream also features state-of-the-art multimedia equipment and seats for around 23 passengers, 12 of which are” sleeping seats, each with its own fold-out monitors. ”
“The plane is very much an extension of the Trump brand,” POTUS said in a documentary (via The New York Times ). We are inclined to agree.
Brad Pitt perhaps took his role in the film too seriously
Brad Pitt’s 2014 movie Fury sees the actor as a WWII tank commander leading his crew to Germany. Also on that set, Pitt absorbed as much as he could historically. “We are only tourists in the war experience,” reflected the actor El Telégrafo , adding that he actually fell in love with his tank, Fury, over time.
Well, although Pitt couldn’t exactly squander a tank to drive, the celebrity got the best: a fighter jet of the time. By the Irish Examiner , Pitt distributed £ 2 million ($ 2.47 million, according to the exchange rate at the time of writing this article) on “a World War II Spitfire aircraft”, which he intended to learn to fly thanks to the lessons “at Boultbee Flight Academy in Oxford”. The outlet also reported that the flight lessons would essentially complete Pitt’s training in World War II, as a source The Sun said the protagonist “has done everything from sleeping in the trenches to learning how to drive a tank for the movie, [and] has now invested in one of the iconic machines «.
While it should be noted that Pitt’s plane is not a per-say jet (the Spitfire has propellers), it is still a massive waste for the Ad Astra celeb, and fun too.
The Paris Hilton lifestyle? Is hot
Although it is sometimes known that it flies on commercial jets, are we really surprised that Paris Hilton has her own private jet? Probably not, but leave us more details.
Obviously, the hotel’s heiress flaunts her celebrity status regularly, and according to the Daily Mail , Hilton posed in and out of her plane for Instagram photos, sometimes even letting her little sister, Nicky Hilton, tag along as well. Of course, like many of the things Mrs. Hilton does, it seems some are not too happy with how often she uses her private jet. As the National Mail revealed in 2019, A-listers who trade coaches for charter flights “produce a staggering 10,000 times more carbon emissions than the average person.” Uh-oh, it’s not too hot, Paris.
Still, nothing seems to stop the DJ from bragging about his lavish lifestyle. Namely, the star’s house was used as the setting for Sofia Coppola’s house. The bling ring – a tally of the five real-life robberies that Hilton was subjected to, because the thieves thought it would be too “dumb” to realize (by Vanity Fair ) Of course, this allowed Hilton to brag about his elegant digs, but still the question was raised: why would Hilton want to relive the traumatic experience? “Sofia came to my birthday party last year,” said Hilton The Hollywood reporter . “She loved my house and said she couldn’t recreate herself on a set.” Flattery, it seems, can take you somewhere.
Harrison Ford likes to be ‘another driver’
Harrison Ford has not been private about his love of aviation. In fact, the Indiana Jones star even opened up to the Daily Mail about her passion in 2010, reflecting: “Flying is like good music: it elevates the spirit and it’s an exciting freedom. It is not an exciting thing or an adrenaline rush; it is participating in a process that requires focus and commitment. ”
Ford started flying when he was 52 years old and has since built up a nice little fleet. I have a Citation Sovereign, a long-range jet; a Grand Caravan, a turboprop aircraft capable of operating in unimproved strips; and a De Havilland, a bush plane, “Ford told the Daily Mail, adding:” I have a 1929 Waco Taperwing open-top biplane; a 1942 open-roof PT-22 monoplane trainer; an Aviat Husky, a two-seat cloth-covered bush plane; and a Bell 407 helicopter. ” Not bad, huh?
It seems that, for Ford, flying their private jets is really one of their greatest joys. “I think one of the things I like most about flying is that when I’m here, I’m Beaver on November 280,” Ford explained in the documentary, Just Another Pilot . I’m another pilot, another plane. I am not a movie actor.
Welcome to Yeezy floating office
Some celebrities have to pay for their private jets, but are you Kanye West? Well, you may be lucky to have one for yourself. According to Travel + Leisure , West’s wife, Kim Kardashian, revealed in her Instagram story that her husband received his own personal jet “for ‘Team Adidas’ for his Yeezy brand.” As he boasted, “It’s not a big deal just taking a private 747, that’s how [Kanye] does it now,” adding that the plane has been dubbed the “Yeezy floating office.”
As Travel + Leisure revealed, a two-story 747 can accommodate “up to 660 when used for a commercial flight, but for Kanye, all that space is for his luxurious double bed suite, marble bathroom, living room … rooms, dining room, comfortable seats and other areas to really spread out «. Where’s our invitation?
However, for this high-profile couple, taking private jets has not come without its own set of criticisms. According to the Daily Mail , Kardashian was criticized in 2019 for what many thought was hypocritical behavior: expressing interest in meeting with teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg, and then boarding a rented luxury jet from Armenia back to Los Angeles, California. Oh Kim.
John Travolta parks his planes right outside his house
John Travolta has been an avid pilot for years, in fact he flew alone when he was only 19 years old and has been in love ever since.
Acting as an aviation ambassador, the actor Grease spoke to Airport Diaries , revealing, “I am certainly genuine in my feelings about it. Couldn’t be more authentic about my passion. It has always allowed me to distract myself from life’s problems. ” Continuing, he explained, “I have used aviation as a beautiful expansion of the pleasures of my life. There’s nothing like that, really, that I don’t enjoy. And I really want others to enjoy it. He enjoys it, and as he revealed to the store, he has owned several aircraft over the course of his career, from a “single-engine, two-seater aircraft” to giant commercial aircraft.
If that’s not all, the Pulp Fiction Star has also accommodated his life to suit his obsession. According to Forbes, “Travolta has the highest possible medical pilot certification and is qualified to fly several different types of single-engine and multi-engine aircraft.” As the store continues to note, Travolta’s passion has led him to live at Jumbolair, “an exclusive housing development in North Ocala, Florida that allows you to park your plane right outside your home, or in the case of Travolta , a Boeing 707 and a Gulfstream «.
Morgan Freeman has wanted to fly since he was a child
Of course, the actor who has played God several times is looking down on us. Morgan Freeman’s obsession with aviation dates back years, from when he was a child. “I started flying on my desk at school,” the Driving Miss Margaret the actor reflected on General Aviation News . “My English teacher saw me ‘flying’ an F-86 Sabrejet at my desk.”
Freeman’s fascination led him to try to join the Air Force “before finishing high school.” As he told the store, “They told me to go back and get my diploma,” adding that he eventually worked in the Air Force (as a radar mechanic), before his big break in Hollywood. The Seven However, Star never gave up on his dream, and in 2002, Freeman had his first flying lesson. Two years later, Freeman purchased a Cessna 414, and in 2005, he was the proud owner of a Cessna Citation 501.
But Freeman’s love of flying has come with his own set of scares. According to ABC News Freeman had a terrifying experience in 2015 when his plane “went off the runway” in Tunica, Miss., During an emergency landing. The plane blew up a tire while taking off near Clarksdale, Miss. And he had to “burn fuel before trying to land.” Freeman was not the pilot in that case, but People told him, “I have been in many difficult situations. I have seen death face to face several times … [I] simply said, ‘Well, this may be it.’
Miley Cyrus makes her own plane
There’s no denying Miley Cyrus’ enduring legacy in pop culture. As a 2019 Vanity Fair star piece explains, her debut role as Hannah Montana “aired when she was 13 years old.” At 26, “she has been a public figure, a teenage idol, then a pop star, then an outcast, and so on, whatever it is now, for more than half of her life.” However, with all her fame, the singer still tries to maintain a sense of normalcy about her.
Case in point? In 2013, Cyrus showed fans a glimpse of his lifestyle during his documentary, Miley: The Movement . As revealed by MTV , the Black Mirror actress showed that she is quite capable of doing her own chores, like vacuuming her private jet in her pajamas. Hmm, maybe it’s not that easy to relate, but it’s an extremely unexpected story, right?
However, not everything is fun and games for planes aboard Cyrus. According to Metro , in 2019, Cyrus’ plane, where his mother, Tish Cyrus, and sister, Brandi Cyrus also sat, nearly crashed twice on the way to the Glastonbury music festival in England. Although it is unclear whether or not this plane was Cyrus’ personal jet or whether she chartered it, it is a heartbreaking experience, regardless.
All aboard Air Drake
Although Drake’s net worth has held steady at $ 180 million as of 2024, the rapper still received his luxurious Boeing 757 for free. Hope for? According to the Explosion , the artist of the “Plan of God” announced a partnership with the Canadian air cargo company, Cargojet, in 2019, after they built their own plane. As Drake boasted on Instagram, “No rent, no timeshare, no co-owners.” Very well, right?
So why did Cargojet offer to give an A-lister a free jet? Well, according to TMZ , Drizzy’s “Air Drake” came about after the company believed that “more will be paid than just advertising like a high-profile billboard featuring one of the world’s greatest rappers.” As for the price tag? The store speculates that the plane is worth “up to $ 200 million.”
Drake has also wasted no time showing off his aerial digs. As the video revealed on the rapper’s Instagram, the interior of the jet has gold-tone accents and leather seats. Outside, “Air Drake” is prominently displayed alongside the artist’s personal logo, the OVO owl. Cargojet’s efforts seem to have paid off, as Drake returned the generosity by lending his plane to the Sacramento Kings for a 20-hour flight to India. Good publicity, no?
Oprah Winfrey knows what her greatest luxury is
While some celebrities brag about their questionable “self-made” fortunes (ahem, Kylie Jenner), Oprah Winfrey actually built her own empire. “Winfrey is a self-made billionaire … with luxurious houses hidden behind doors and, yes, her own studio,” wrote The Hollywood Reporter in 2019. “She also has a television network, along with a magazine of the same name and a mega deal with Apple ».
So for a celebrity who has it all, what is Winfrey’s biggest treat? “I’d say having your own plane is the greatest luxury,” reflected the host of the British talk show Moda, the editor-in-chief, Edward Enninful, added: “Because it means you’re in New York for a minute and then you say … I think I will fly to London ».
It turns out that Winfrey needed some conviction before buying her first G4 for a whopping $ 25 million. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter , the celebrity once remembered that she chartered a plane and ran into Bill Cosby’s wife, Camille Cosby. “Ms. Cosby is on the plane with a pair of coveralls and diamond earrings and she is going somewhere to do her PhD and I said, ‘Where’s everyone at?’ And she said, ‘It’s just me.’ I said, ‘Are you going to use this whole plane?’ And she said, “I deserve it.” Just like that. And I said, ‘Well, if she’s worth it, maybe I’m worth it.’ ” Now that’s the kind of thinking that we can support.
Why have one, when you can have two?
If owning a private jet is a symbol of success, then it makes sense for Taylor Swift to have two, right? According to Celebrity Net Worth , the singer “Shake It Off” is worth $ 400 million, so owning two planes probably won’t hurt your wallet. According to Jalopnik , Swift “has a pair of Dassault Falcon jets,” ensuring that if one is under maintenance, another is likely to be available at any time. ”
The star’s first purchase was the Dassault-Breguet Mystere Falcon 900, which, according to Vulture , She purchased in 2011 “for about $ 40 million.” For Jalopnik , the plane has the number 13 “painted near the door of the main cabin.” As Swift revealed to MTV in 2009, “My first album went gold in 13 weeks. My first song # 1 had a 13 second intro. ” As he recited more facts about his lucky number, he added: “Basically, when a 13 appears in my life, it’s a good thing.” As for Swift’s second jet? By Jalopnik , the celebrity Dassault Falcon 50 was added to their collection the following year, in 2012.
Although not much is known about the details of Swift’s two jets, German singer OMI released some information about one of the star’s planes in 2015. BBC said he had the opportunity to fly the star to MTV Video Music Awards. «Wood finish, leather, everything works. It was very comfortable, the atmosphere was very good ».