For the world’s richest people, flying private can mean much more than chartering a small business jet. Some billionaires travel aboard ultra-long-range Gulfstreams, while others have converted commercial airliners into enormous private aircraft with bedrooms, offices, lounges and meeting spaces.
The most spectacular billionaire private jets can cost tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars once customization is included. But determining who actually owns these aircraft is more complicated than many online rankings suggest. Private jets are frequently registered to companies, trusts or aircraft-management entities rather than directly to their famous users.
For this 2026 ranking, TopMost10 focuses on aircraft with credible public links to billionaires and ranks them primarily by reported or estimated aircraft value. Where ownership or current status is complicated, we say so rather than presenting speculation as fact.
How We Ranked the Most Expensive Billionaire Private Jets
Our ranking considers reported aircraft acquisition values, estimated customization costs, aircraft type, size and credible evidence connecting the aircraft to its billionaire owner or user.
Values should be treated as estimates rather than appraisals. Bespoke interiors are normally private, aircraft depreciate over time, and some of these planes are held through corporate or trust structures. In other words, a reported $300 million aircraft is not necessarily worth $300 million on the resale market today.
We also excluded one of the internet’s most famous private-jet stories: the supposed $500 million Airbus A380 ordered by Prince Alwaleed bin Talal. The aircraft was never completed and delivered to him as the widely described “flying palace,” so it does not belong on a list of billionaire jets actually owned and operated.
10. Bill Gates — Gulfstream G650ER
Estimated aircraft value: roughly $60–$70 million when new
Aircraft: Gulfstream G650ER
Known for: Microsoft co-founder and investor
Bill Gates has long been associated with private aviation, but reports about the size of his aircraft collection have often conflicted.
More recent reporting provides a clearer picture: Gates has been reported as owning a Gulfstream G650ER, while his office previously disputed reports suggesting that he still owned a much larger fleet.
The G650ER is one of the most recognizable ultra-long-range business jets ever built. It combines intercontinental range with a cabin designed for long-duration flights, making it particularly popular among billionaires, global executives and corporations.
Depending on age and configuration, the value of an individual G650ER can vary considerably, so the figure above is best understood as approximate new-aircraft context rather than the current appraised value of Gates’ particular jet.
9. Elon Musk — Gulfstream G650ER
Estimated aircraft value: about $60–$70 million when new
Aircraft: Gulfstream G650ER
Registration publicly associated with aircraft: N628TS
Known for: Tesla, SpaceX and xAI
Elon Musk’s Gulfstream G650ER is arguably one of the most famous private aircraft in the world.
The aircraft commonly associated with Musk is registered to Falcon Landing LLC rather than to Musk personally, illustrating why private-aircraft ownership needs to be described carefully.
The G650ER was designed for ultra-long-range travel and can cover roughly 7,500 nautical miles under appropriate conditions. That makes it capable of connecting many major global business centers without a fuel stop.
Musk has also been linked with other Gulfstream aircraft, including newer-generation models. Because some of those ownership structures are less transparent, we use his well-documented G650ER for this ranking rather than assigning speculative values to every aircraft reported to be connected to him.
8. Jeff Bezos — Gulfstream G700
Estimated aircraft value: around $80 million+, before extensive customization
Aircraft: Gulfstream G700
Known for: Amazon founder and Blue Origin founder
Jeff Bezos has been associated with several high-end business jets over the years, including Gulfstream G650ER aircraft and a Pilatus PC-24.
The aircraft that puts him into the next generation of billionaire aviation is the Gulfstream G700.
The G700 is one of Gulfstream’s flagship ultra-long-range aircraft. It offers a maximum published range of approximately 7,750 nautical miles and can be configured with as many as five living areas.
For someone whose business interests span technology, space exploration, media and investment, the combination of range, speed and cabin space makes the G700 a logical flagship aircraft.
Its base price tells only part of the story. Bespoke cabin configurations, communications systems and other options can push the final cost significantly higher.
7. Mukesh Ambani — Boeing Business Jet
Estimated value: approximately $70–$100+ million depending on configuration
Aircraft type: Boeing Business Jet
Known for: Reliance Industries
Mukesh Ambani is frequently associated with one of the more substantial private aircraft collections among Asian billionaires.
One of the most notable aircraft linked with the Indian business magnate is a Boeing Business Jet, or BBJ.
Unlike a purpose-built Gulfstream or Bombardier business jet, a BBJ is based on Boeing’s commercial-aircraft family and can provide considerably more interior room. VIP versions can be fitted with private offices, sleeping areas, conference spaces and lounges.
The exact value of Ambani’s aircraft is difficult to establish publicly because the final cost depends heavily on its interior completion. For that reason, claims giving an extremely precise figure should be treated cautiously.
6. Larry Page and Sergey Brin — Boeing 767
Estimated customized value: commonly estimated above $100 million
Aircraft: Boeing 767
Known for: Google co-founders
Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin became famous not merely for buying a conventional corporate jet but for acquiring a Boeing 767 for private use.
The Boeing 767 is normally associated with commercial passenger and cargo operations, making a privately configured version dramatically larger than the typical business jet.
Aviation reporting has identified Page and Brin among the very small group of private Boeing 767 owners.
The attraction is obvious: converting an airliner creates enough space for large lounges, sleeping areas, offices and other amenities that simply cannot fit inside a traditional business jet.
Because the cost of an older airframe can be substantially lower than the cost of its subsequent VIP conversion, estimates of the aircraft’s total value vary. The custom interior is a major part of what makes an aircraft like this so expensive.
5. Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah — Boeing 747
Estimated value: more than $200 million depending on aircraft and customization
Aircraft: Boeing 747
Known for: Sultan of Brunei
The Sultan of Brunei is famous for an extraordinary collection of luxury vehicles, and his aviation interests are similarly impressive.
He has long been associated with privately configured Boeing 747 aircraft — enormous four-engine jets originally designed for airline service.
What makes his aircraft particularly remarkable is that the Sultan is himself a qualified pilot and has been reported piloting his Boeing on international trips.
A private 747 provides vastly more interior volume than even the largest conventional business jets. VIP configurations can include multiple lounges, bedrooms, offices and formal meeting spaces.
The precise value of such an aircraft depends heavily on its age and interior, but a highly customized 747 can represent an investment of hundreds of millions of dollars.
4. Joseph Lau — Boeing 747-8 VIP
Estimated value: roughly $350 million+ in widely reported estimates
Aircraft: Boeing 747-8 VIP
Known for: Hong Kong property investments
Hong Kong billionaire Joseph Lau has long been associated with one of the ultimate status symbols in private aviation: a Boeing 747-8 configured for VIP use.
The 747-8 is the final and largest production version of Boeing’s legendary jumbo jet. Only a tiny number were produced for business/VIP customers, making privately operated examples exceptionally rare.
Its enormous cabin gives owners a level of design freedom that conventional private jets cannot approach. Depending on configuration, a VIP 747 can accommodate private suites, dining rooms, lounges, offices and staff areas across an extraordinary amount of interior space.
Published estimates often put the combined aircraft and customization value well into the hundreds of millions of dollars, although the details of Lau’s interior and final expenditure are not fully public.
3. Roman Abramovich — Boeing 787-8
Reported estimated value after customization: approximately $350 million
Aircraft: Boeing 787-8
Known for: Investments and former ownership of Chelsea FC
Roman Abramovich’s Boeing 787-8 is one of the rare cases where unusually strong documentation exists for a billionaire’s enormous private aircraft.
U.S. Department of Justice records stated that a Boeing 787 linked to Abramovich was purchased as an unfinished “green” aircraft for approximately $93.65 million before being sent for extensive customization.
After that work, authorities described the aircraft as reportedly worth approximately $350 million.
The 787 is dramatically larger than an ordinary business jet. Originally developed as Boeing’s long-range Dreamliner passenger aircraft, a privately configured 787 offers enough space to create something much closer to a flying residence than a conventional executive cabin.
The aircraft’s ownership structure and subsequent sanctions issues make its current legal and operational circumstances more complicated than those of a typical billionaire jet. Nevertheless, the documented connection and reported $350 million customized value make it one of the most notable private aircraft associated with any billionaire.
2. Alisher Usmanov — Airbus A340-300 “Bourkhan”
Reported estimated value: around $350 million, with historical estimates reaching higher
Aircraft: Airbus A340-300
Name: Bourkhan
Alisher Usmanov’s enormous Airbus A340-300, commonly known as Bourkhan, has appeared for years in discussions of the world’s most expensive private aircraft.
The four-engine A340 was designed as a long-range commercial airliner, giving a VIP conversion considerably more cabin space than a conventional private jet.
Investigative reporting by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project connected the aircraft to Usmanov and placed its value at approximately $350 million. U.S. sanctions documentation has also identified the aircraft in connection with him.
However, there is an important qualification. Representatives for Usmanov have disputed simple descriptions of him as the aircraft’s current owner, stating that assets including the A340 are controlled by an independent trustee of an irrevocable discretionary trust.
For that reason, it is more accurate to describe Bourkhan as an aircraft historically and publicly linked to Usmanov rather than pretend its current legal ownership is straightforward.
Historical reports suggested that extensive customization could potentially have pushed the total cost much higher than the original aircraft price, although exact interior costs have never been publicly confirmed.
1. The Most Extraordinary Billionaire Private Jets: Wide-Body VIP Aircraft
There is a problem with declaring a single billionaire the undisputed owner of the “world’s most expensive private jet” in 2026: the aircraft most often competing for that title have opaque ownership structures, disputed present ownership, aging valuations or values that include unverified estimates of secret interior modifications.
Rather than invent certainty, our #1 position goes to the class that genuinely sits above conventional billionaire business jets: customized wide-body VIP aircraft such as the Boeing 747-8, Boeing 787 and Airbus A340.
Individual examples associated with Joseph Lau, Roman Abramovich, Alisher Usmanov and other ultra-wealthy owners have been valued in the $300 million-plus range. Depending on the airframe and bespoke interior, historical estimates can climb substantially higher.
These aircraft offer something even a Gulfstream G700 cannot: the floor space of a commercial airliner transformed into a private environment.
And that distinction matters. A viral $500 million claim is not enough to establish an aircraft’s real value. For TopMost10, documented ownership and defensible estimates are more important than producing a sensational number simply to make the #1 position look impressive.
Top 10 Billionaire Private Jets in 2026: Summary
| Rank | Billionaire | Aircraft | Approx. Reported/Estimated Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Bill Gates | Gulfstream G650ER | $60–$70M when new |
| 9 | Elon Musk | Gulfstream G650ER | $60–$70M when new |
| 8 | Jeff Bezos | Gulfstream G700 | $80M+ |
| 7 | Mukesh Ambani | Boeing Business Jet | $70–$100M+ |
| 6 | Larry Page & Sergey Brin | Boeing 767 | $100M+ |
| 5 | Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah | Boeing 747 | $200M+ |
| 4 | Joseph Lau | Boeing 747-8 VIP | $350M+ estimated |
| 3 | Roman Abramovich | Boeing 787-8 | About $350M reported |
| 2 | Alisher Usmanov | Airbus A340-300 | About $350M reported* |
| 1 | Ultra-Luxury Wide-Body Class | 747-8 / 787 / A340 VIP aircraft | $300M+ depending on configuration |
*Current legal ownership of some aircraft is complicated by trusts, corporate structures, sanctions or disputed reporting. Values are estimates and should not be interpreted as current professional aircraft appraisals.
What Is the Most Expensive Private Jet in the World?
There is no universally verifiable answer because private aircraft purchase agreements and interior-completion costs are generally confidential.
Customized Airbus A340s, Boeing 747s and Boeing 787s linked to billionaires have all attracted estimates of roughly $300 million or more. Claims of $500 million or higher frequently include unverified assumptions about bespoke interiors.
That is why readers should be skeptical of rankings that present exact values such as $487 million or $503 million without explaining where those numbers originated.
Why Do Billionaires Register Private Jets Through Companies?
It is common for expensive aircraft to be registered through limited-liability companies, trusts, leasing structures or aircraft-management entities.
These arrangements can be used for liability management, financing, administration, privacy and other legitimate business reasons. As a result, searching an aircraft registry for a billionaire’s personal name does not necessarily reveal all aircraft associated with that person.
How Much Does a Billionaire Private Jet Cost to Operate?
Buying the aircraft is only the beginning. Owners must also account for fuel, pilots and cabin crew, maintenance, insurance, hangar space, navigation and landing charges, engine programs and depreciation.
Operating an ultra-long-range business jet can therefore cost millions of dollars per year. Running a converted commercial airliner can be considerably more expensive because of its size, fuel consumption and maintenance requirements.
Why Are Gulfstream Jets So Popular With Billionaires?
Gulfstream aircraft combine speed, long range, cabin comfort and access to far more airports than a converted Boeing or Airbus airliner.
A billionaire does not necessarily need the largest aircraft. For frequent international travel, a Gulfstream G650ER, G700 or G800 can often be more practical than operating an enormous four-engine airliner.
Frequently Asked Questions
What private jet does Elon Musk own?
One of the best-documented aircraft associated with Elon Musk is a Gulfstream G650ER with registration N628TS. It is registered to Falcon Landing LLC rather than directly to Musk. He has also been linked with additional Gulfstream aircraft.
What private jet does Jeff Bezos own?
Jeff Bezos has been publicly associated with multiple private aircraft, including Gulfstream G650ERs and newer Gulfstream aircraft. His aviation assets have typically been held through corporate structures rather than registered simply under his personal name.
Does Bill Gates own a private jet?
Yes. Recent reporting has associated Bill Gates with a Gulfstream G650ER. Reports describing a larger four-aircraft fleet appear to be outdated; his office previously said he owned one Gulfstream.
Did Prince Alwaleed bin Talal own a $500 million Airbus A380?
No completed private Airbus A380 matching the famous “flying palace” descriptions was delivered to Prince Alwaleed. Although he placed an order for an A380, that order was later cancelled. It should therefore not be ranked as an aircraft he actually owned and operated in that configuration.
Can a private jet cost $500 million?
Potentially, particularly when a very large commercial airliner receives an exceptionally elaborate VIP conversion. However, many $500 million private-jet figures circulating online are estimates rather than publicly documented transaction prices.
What is the best private jet for billionaires?
For ultra-long-range business travel, aircraft such as the Gulfstream G700, Gulfstream G800 and Bombardier Global 7500 represent the top end of the purpose-built business-jet market. A converted Boeing or Airbus provides substantially more room but is also far more complex and expensive to operate.
Final Thoughts
Billionaire private aviation ranges from relatively practical ultra-long-range Gulfstreams to customized commercial airliners that function like mansions in the sky.
What makes the subject especially interesting is that the biggest number does not always represent the best aircraft. Elon Musk, Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos can travel enormous distances aboard purpose-built business jets without the operational burden of a Boeing 747-sized aircraft.
At the opposite extreme, wide-body aircraft associated with billionaires such as Roman Abramovich, Joseph Lau and Alisher Usmanov demonstrate what becomes possible when commercial-airliner space meets an almost unlimited customization budget.
As new aircraft such as the Gulfstream G700 and G800 enter billionaire fleets, this ranking will continue to change. TopMost10 will update this page as credible ownership information and aircraft values become available.
