A Star In The Sky: 10 Luxurious Celebrity Jets (Slideshow)
Bill Gates
When Bill Gates is flying between Microsoft advisor meetings or for his work with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, he uses a $45 million Bombardier BD-700 Global Express. We're guessing the wealthy businessman is rarely late, as his plane can reach Mach 1 (about 767 mph) with ease and is capable of traveling more than 5,700 miles without stopping. Also featuring a cutting-edge Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion avionics system, Gates' plane is more luxurious in regard to its technology and capabilities than its comforts and amenities — fitting for a former software programmer.
Of course, Gates has been modest about this expense, simply calling it his "guilty pleasure." I guess scarfing down McRib sandwiches or watching The Real Housewives like the rest of us doesn't cut it for the 78 Billion Dollar Man.
Donald Trump
Businessman and television personality Donald Trump (also known as "future President Trump" to some, or "the world's most racist Oompa-Loompa" to others) owns a $100 million Boeing 757 that he takes almost everywhere he goes, which is powered by Rolls Royce engines that can propel the plane at speeds of up to 500 mph.
Click here to see why a Canadian deli decided to drop its cheeky Donald Trump bologna sandwich.
The interior contains a galley, dining area, first-class-style cabin, main lounge with theater system, guest room, and master bedroom and bath. As you might expect, many features of this plane (including the seatbelts) are plated in 24 karat gold, with even his bathroom sink getting the gold treatment. "It's bigger than Air Force One," Trump once boasted to Rolling Stone. "Didja know it was featured on the Discovery Channel as the world's most luxurious jetliner?" It isn't (Air Force One is a much larger Boeing 747 model), and it wasn't (it was actually on the Smithsonian Channel), but the luxurious part is probably true.
Jackie Chan
If you thought Jackie Chan's yellow-and-red-emblazoned Embraer Legacy 650 jet [pictured] was a big purchase, you'll be positively blown away by his new $20 million Legacy 500. Chan, a brand ambassador for Embraer, was the first person in China to experience the new plane when he picked one up earlier this year. The 500 is the first midsize business jet with digital flight controls, based on fly-by-wire technology, featuring side sticks. Like Gates' jet, Chan's also boasts Pro Line Fusion avionics along with eight club seats that convert into four beds, a kitchen, a high-definition video system, surround sound, a cabin management system, and three options for voice communications and connectivity. Although small compared to commercial airliners, the Legacy 500 is still capable of flying at 45,000 feet and has a range of 3,125 miles while transporting four passengers — about 600 miles longer than the distance between Los Angeles and Honolulu.
Jay-Z
After the birth of daughter Blue Ivy in 2012, Beyoncé bought proud papa Jay-Z a $40 million Bombardier Challenger 850 jet for his first father's day. It's not enormous, but it can seat up to 15 people and contains two full bathrooms, a bedroom, a kitchen, and a cream leather living room — all of which reflect the epitome of luxury.
You'll never guess what Beyoncé and chef Gordon Ramsay have in common. Click here to find out.
You may be wondering what other features the plane includes, but we're still hung up on the fact that he got a plane as a gift when she was the one who did all the work.
Jim Carrey
Jim Carrey has been the star of a seemingly endless number of films over the past 30 years, so it's no surprise he could afford the $59 million price tag on his Gulfstream V. Not only is the jet the fastest in its class and capable of seating up to 16 passengers, but there are only 191 individuals units in the entire world — putting Carrey in some exclusive company. The actor is so proud of his purchase that he insists shots of it be included in any film in which he appears that also features footage of planes in any context.
John Travolta
Arguably the most famous celebrity pilot, John Travolta has ruled the skies since age 22, even before he was Danny Zuko or Tony Manero. Travolta is certified to fly numerous aircraft of all sizes, including his own $5 million Gulfstream II and ex-Qantas Boeing 707-138, which can traditionally fit more than 200 passengers (he famously took Oprah's entire studio audience on an eight-day trip to Australia). It features wide hush kits to reduce noise, leather seats and sofas, rich wood paneling, and a private bedroom — and is one of only 13 of its kind ever produced.
Click here for a rundown of what Travolta likes to eat.
Flying is so important to Travolta that he bought a $4.9 million estate in the Jumbolair subdivision in Ocala, Florida, where residents can park their planes right outside of their homes, and have access to the adjacent Jumbolair Airport.
Mark Cuban
Famed businessman and investor Mark Cuban doesn't just own a single plane, he owns three: a Gulfstream G550 (for personal use [pictured]), a Boeing 767 (for charter rentals), and a Boeing 757 worth more than $46 million.
Click here to read about the vegan company Mark Cuban thinks is worth $100 million.
The 757 is used as a team plane for his Dallas Mavericks, and was renovated to accommodate players upward of 7 feet tall and also a weight room. So while most of us would kill for an extra inch of legroom and struggle to keep our luggage under the weight restrictions, Cuban is flying around a plane full of heavy iron objects just so his superhuman athletes can grow even larger.
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey doesn't need a jumbo jet, but that doesn't mean she's pinching pennies when it comes to air travel. Winfrey's $42 million Bombardier Global Express XRS was custom designed to seat 10 passengers in luxurious leather while equipping the bathroom and galley in designer fixtures.
Click here to find out why Oprah says she'll be on Weight Watchers for the rest of her life.
Powered by twin Rolls Royce BR710 engines, Oprah's ride can reach altitudes of 51,000 feet while flying just under Mach 1. For the record, Steven Spielberg and Celine Dion also own similar planes.
Phil Mickelson
Following in the footsteps of his father, a former naval aviator and airline pilot, golfer Phil Mickelson received his pilot's certification in the late '90s. He has since bought a $60 million Gulfstream G550, which he generally prefers to leave in the hands of a more-seasoned pilot when traveling. Maybe it's because he trusts other pilots over himself, maybe it's so he can rest, or maybe Mickelson just wants to enjoy the spacious interior (capable of transporting 14 passengers), internet access, and multiple TVs and media players while the Rolls Royce engines quickly whisk him to his desired destination.
Click here to see what Phil Mickelson and other golf pros eat before a match (and on the course).
Tom Cruise
After filming the 1986 film Top Gun, Maverick Tom Cruise was bitten by the flying bug and earned his pilot's license in 1994. He now refuses to fly on commercial airlines and owns somewhere between three and five private planes, including a World War II-era P-51 Mustang [pictured] and a $28 million Gulfstream IV (maximum range: 7,820 km).
Click here to discover Tom Cruise's favorite vacation destination.
That last one is especially notable for its luxurious beds, and state-of-the-art furnishings and entertainment, as well as a feature that completely replaces the cabin's air every two minutes. Speaking of air, Cruise has been criticized by environmentalists for his excessive use of these planes, and reportedly once sent one of the jets to pick up groceries for then-wife Katie Holmes. For these actions, the environmental lobby has dubbed him "emissions impossible."