- Home
- tech
- The 12 Best Toys Of Tech's Wealthiest Executives
- The 12 Best Toys Of Tech's Wealthiest Executives
The 12 Best Toys Of Tech's Wealthiest Executives
Google chairman Eric Schmidt has a $72-million yacht called the "Oasis," which he charters out for $400,000 a week. The yacht has plenty of amenities, including a pool, jet skis, and a gym that can be converted into a disco.
Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer is known for her taste in high-end designer goods. In 2006, she had some 400 pieces of glass art by Dale Chihuly installed in the ceiling of her penthouse apartment at San Francisco's Four Seasons hotel. Chihuly's work typically sells for an average of $15,000 each, and the delivery reportedly caused significant traffic problems in the city.
Source: Gawker, Business Insider
Though he has a net worth of at least $200 million, Tumblr founder David Karp isn't a showy person. He does have a Vespa that he likes to ride to work each morning.
Source: New York Magazine
In 2013, Tesla CEO Elon Musk paid $866,000 at auction for the Lotus Esprit submarine that appeared in the 1977 James Bond flick "The Spy Who Loved Me." He's said he wants try and make it "transform for real."
Source: Jalopnik
Google cofounders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, along with chairman Eric Schmidt, have quite the selection of planes. They reportedly pay $1.3 million a year to keep their fleet — which includes a Boeing 757, Boeing 767, and two Gulfstream Vs — at Moffett Federal Airfield in Silicon Valley. In 2008, Page and Brin added a 1982 Dornier Alpha fighter jet to their collection.
Source: CNN Money, New York Times
In addition to the planes, Larry Page has his own superyacht called "Senses," which he purchased from New Zealand businessman Sir Douglas Myers for $45 million in 2011.
Source: New Zealand Herald
Oracle CEO Larry Ellison is arguably the king of extravagant toys, with a huge real estate portfolio and a collection of fast cars and military planes to his name. In 2012, he paid more than $500 million for the island of Lanai, which he plans to develop into a model of sustainable living. Later that year, he bought Island Air to help shuttle guests out there.
Source: SF Gate
Virgin Group billionaire Richard Branson owns a 74-acre retreat in the Caribbean called Necker Island, where his luxury resort can accommodate up to 30 people. When guests get tired of lounging by the pool or beach, they can hang out on Branson's yacht, the Necker Belle, or explore the sea on his submarine, the Necker Nymph.
Billionaire investor Mark Cuban owns three private jets: a Gulfstream V, Boeing 757, and a Boeing 767. When he bought the Gulfstream online in 1999, the Guinness Book of World Records named the $40 million purchase the largest e-commerce buy ever.
Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates is known to be an avid reader, and his home library is filled with rare books selected by a professional book dealer. In 1994, he purchased Leonardo da Vinci's "Codex Leicester," a manuscript that dates back to the 15th century. He paid $30.8 million for the journal at auction, a price that made it the most expensive book ever sold.
Source: Fast Company, Business Insider
Not to be outdone by his Microsoft cofounder, Paul Allen has plenty of toys, from a collection of WWII-era fighter planes to sports teams like the Seattle Seahawks and Portland Trail Blazers. His 414-foot yacht, the Octopus, is one of the largest in the world, and it boasts two helicopters, a submarine, and plenty of space to throw lavish, celebrity-packed parties.
In May, former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer won a bidding war to purchase the Los Angeles Clippers for a jaw-dropping $2 billion. If the deal isn't blocked, it will be the second-largest amount ever paid for a North American professional sports franchise.
Source: Los Angeles Times
These tech execs have other plans for their money.
Get your weekly dose of essential news delivered right to you, plus explore a world of insights with our diverse newsletter subscription options.
- Weekly newsletter
- Uncover the latest in Tech, Finance, Business, and more
- Handpicked web stories, in-depth articles, and expert analyses
Advertisement