When you have more money than you could ever spend, what do you buy next? Most billionaires already own the usual luxuries—big mansions, private jets, supercars, and yachts. But after all that, some of them start collecting things that might surprise you. These collections are not just expensive—they’re unusual, rare, and often very personal. Some are worth millions, others are one-of-a-kind. Let’s take a look at the strange, fun, and fascinating things that some of the richest people in the world collect.
From Dinosaur Bones to Superhero Comics
- The Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) bought a Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton named “Stan” for about $31.8 million. It’s now on display in Saudi Arabia, showing how even ancient bones can become a billionaire’s trophy.
- Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, grew up loving comic books. So, when he became the richest man in the world, he bought a rare Superman comic book (Action Comics No. 1) for over $3 million. It’s the first comic where Superman appeared—and it’s now one of the most valuable comics ever sold.
- Jack Dorsey, the co-founder of Twitter, turned his very first tweet into a digital item called an NFT and sold it for $2.9 million.
Famous Billionaires and Their Unique Treasures
1. Bill Gates (Net worth: ~$130 billion)
- Collects: Rare books and science items
- Famous buy: Leonardo da Vinci’s notebook (Codex Leicester) for $30.8 million
- Bill Gates bought this 500-year-old notebook full of da Vinci’s sketches and ideas. He even made the pages available online so others could learn from them.
2. Elon Musk (Net worth: ~$180 billion)
- Collects: Movie props and gadgets
- Famous buy: The underwater car from a James Bond movie – $997,000
- Musk liked this car so much that it inspired the design of his Tesla Cybertruck.
3. Oprah Winfrey (Net worth: ~$2.8 billion)
- Collects: First edition books
- Famous buy: To Kill a Mockingbird signed first edition – worth $25,000+
- Oprah’s love for books is well-known, and her collection includes some of the most meaningful stories in literature.
4. Steve Cohen (Net worth: ~$18 billion)
- Collects: Sports cards and modern art
- Famous buy: Mickey Mantle baseball card – part of a $20 million+ collection
- As the owner of the New York Mets, Cohen has turned collecting into a full-blown passion.
Also read: Luxury Aged to Perfection: Billionaires’ Secret Wine & Whisky Collection
5. Roman Abramovich (Net worth: ~$14 billion)
- Collects: Art
- Famous buy: Painting by Lucian Freud – $33.6 million
- He’s one of the biggest art buyers in the world and helped drive up prices for modern art.
6. Larry Ellison (Net worth: ~$140 billion)
- Collects: Japanese swords and entire islands
- Famous buy: The Hawaiian island of Lanai – $300 million
- Owning an island isn’t just a dream—it’s part of Ellison’s real estate collection.
7. Mohammed bin Salman (Net worth: ~$1.4 trillion)
- Collects: Ancient artifacts and art
- Famous buy: Salvator Mundi painting by Leonardo da Vinci – $450 million
- He also owns “Stan” the dinosaur skeleton for about $31.8 million.
8. Mark Zuckerberg (Net worth: ~$110 billion)
- Collects: Rare Roman and Greek antiques
- Famous buy: Ancient Roman helmet and statues – estimated worth $2 million+
Why Do Billionaires Collect These Things?
- For many billionaires, collecting isn’t just about showing off their wealth. These items often have personal meaning—something from childhood, a piece of history they admire, or something they believe will grow in value over time.
- Buying these rare things is also a way to make a mark. While regular investors buy stocks and gold, billionaires buy culture, history, and even digital footprints. Some collect out of passion, others see it as a smart way to invest in things that won’t lose value.
- And of course, with their connections and teams of experts, they often get first access to rare items at top auctions like Christie’s or Sotheby’s. So when something truly unique comes up—whether it’s a dinosaur fossil or a rare book—they’re ready with the money and the motivation to grab it.
In the End, It’s About Legacy
Whether it’s a fossil, a first-edition novel, or a $450 million painting, these collections tell a story. They say something about the billionaire’s interests, their past, and the image they want to leave behind. After all, when you’ve got more money than you can spend, the question becomes: What do you want to be remembered for?
Written by Roshni Mohinani
