10 holiday gifts for the 1 percent
The holidays are a little different when you're a 1 percenter. The rest of the world might be content with video games, new wallets or jewelry from the stores at the mall, but the megarich get gifts like the $500 million yacht that Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich received a few years back.
Indeed, when you have a bottomless bank account, a whole new world of shopping possibilities opens up. Luxury gifts range from the sublime to the ridiculous, from gilded necessities like fancy toothbrushes to over-the-top conversation pieces like a miniature racetrack.
Read on for 10 holiday gifts that might appear under the trees of the extremely wealthy this holiday.
Titanium toothbrush
Reinast says its titanium toothbrush, with a $4,200 price tag, is the world's most expensive toothbrush. But wait -- it's not electric and it doesn't have any fancy spinners, gum massagers, lights or music. So what do you get for all that money? The titanium itself has an antibacterial protective coating that keeps the germs away. And for those people who don't like the taste of metal in their mouths, the company sells plastic covers that it says gives an "accustomed brushing sensation."
The company sells convenience, too. The toothbrush's bristle head can be replaced, and the company sends its customers five new bristle heads at no charge every six months for three years. After that, users need to pony up for additional service plans, which can run as high as $1,600 over 11 years.
"Toothbrushes get thrown out all the time; we wanted to make something that was both enduring and luxurious," Djorde Djokovic, the company's chief technology officer, told Gizmodo. He's right about the enduring part. Few people are going to toss a $4,200 toothbrush.
Giant cocktail shaker
This is the gift for people who like their martinis really, really shaken and not stirred. Jason Crawley, one of the most influential names in the spirits industry, says he found an old drawing of a turn-crank cocktail shaker while flipping through a book in a New Orleans bookstore. He decided to build his own, and the result is the Tanqueray No. Ten Imperial Shaker, which sells at Neiman Marcus for $35,000.
The shaker is five feet tall and made from cast iron, brass, copper and silver. It shakes drinks vigorously when the hand crank is turned. Neiman Marcus will also throw in a one-year supply of Tanqueray gin and a cocktail class for up to 20 people with a Tanqueray mixologist.
Four boxes of candy
Online candy shop Sugarfina opened its first retail store in Beverly Hills last year, offering more than a hundred candies from around the world. The retailer is known for champagne gummy bears, heavenly sours, honey beans and dark chocolate coffee toffee.
For $250, Sugarfina will send you its "kid in a candy store" tasting flight. The set comes in four large gift boxes stacked vertically, and includes a 1-ounce tasting of each of the more than 130 candies in its boutique. It's a fine gift for a kid of any age -- and a few months later, will be a nice windfall for the dentist as well.
An unusual watch
The Tread 2 watch from Devon certainly gets its share of reactions. TechCrunch describes the watch as "a cross between something strapped to Captain Nemo's wrist and a machine designed to saw James Bond in half."
The stainless steel watch is in constant motion, showing the hours and minutes on rotating horizontal and vertical belts. Devon has given the models names like "Murder" (pictured), "Shining," "Ghost" and "Nightmare." At a price of $9,950, the Tread 2 is sure to murder the average American's bank account.
Miniature car racetrack
Every self-respecting billionaire needs a ridiculously ornate miniature raceway in the mansion. Neiman Marcus is selling a $300,000 racetrack complete with period slot cars, pit crews and iconic structures from racing history. The track measures 30 feet by 12 feet -- a 1:32 scale representation, according to the retailer.
It takes six months to build this racetrack, which comes with integrated track cameras and a checkered flag. The company promises to send some "racing legends" to help you host the track's inaugural party.
Silver teddy bear bank
Aw, what an adorable teddy bear bank! Wait, this is a $70,000 teddy bear bank. Kids, go stash your money somewhere else.
The sterling silver bank stands nearly 16 inches tall and was created in London by British jeweler and luxury designer Asprey. It has a money slot at the back of the head. You can open screw heads at the base of the bank to get the money out, just in case you're strapped for cash after spending $70,000 on a bank.
Black leather hat
The Buscemi label came out of nowhere and is now a favorite among luxury circles. The brand is little more than a year old, and its outrageous sneakers have already become favorites of Justin Bieber, Sean "Diddy" Combs, rapper 2 Chainz and other celebrities. Buscemi products are often out of stock -- an intentional move to spur demand, The Wall Street Journal reports.
Buscemi added a $595 screwback cap to its lineup this year. Made from pebbled calfskin in Italy, the cap comes with a screwdriver to adjust its sizing in the back.
Bentley smartphone
You thought the newest iPhone was pricey? The Vertu smartphone, made in partnership with Bentley, costs $17,100. The phone is made out of aluminum and diamond-quilted calf leather, taking its cues from the luxury brand's traditional styling. Even the phone's screws are modeled after the air vents of Bentley cars.
The phone screams luxury, with a sound system tested by Bang & Olufsen, a camera certified by Hasselblad and ring tones performed by the London Symphony Orchestra. Still, many of the phone's specs -- an Android operating system, 64 gigabytes of memory and a 2.3 gigahertz processor -- can be found on other smartphones that sell for a fraction of the price.
Colorful backgammon set
Daniel Chadwick is a well-known figure in contemporary sculpture, but dabbles in other areas as well. He made a $600 portable pizza oven that British foodies rave about, for example.
He has also developed a $940 backgammon set. The limited-edition sets are made of acrylic, and are signed and numbered and available in four bright colors.
Linens throughout the home
Is your towel closet a mish-mash of different colors and designs picked up on sale over the years? Are you missing white linen dinner napkins embroidered with your initials in gold and charcoal thread?
Then perhaps you need the Leontine Linens package selling for $55,000 at Neiman Marcus. The New Orleans company will provide bed, bath and table linens for every room in your house -- including the pool house, of course -- for that price. Leontine's founder, Jane Scott Hodges, also promises to make a personal visit to the buyer's home to consult on the choices.