Most Expensive Coffee in the World

The most expensive coffee in the world does not hail from Jamaica or Hawaii, but instead from Indonesia.

Kopi Luwak the most expensive coffee in the world does exist, and those who drink the expensive coffee insist that it is made from coffee beans eaten, partly digested and then excreted by the Common palm civet, a weasel-like animal.

“Kopi” the Indonesian word for coffee along with “luwak” is local name of this animal which eats the raw red coffee beans. The civet digests the soft outer part of the coffee cherry, but does not digest the inner beans and excretes them.

Apparently the internal digestion ends up adds a unique flavor to the beans, removing the bitter flavor, and then beans are then picked up by locals and sold. The most expensive coffee beans can cost up to $600 a pound, and up to $50 per cup, if you can get over the fact that you are drinking such a strange brew.

You would know if you drank the most expensive coffee in the world, because the quantities of it are tiny amounts.

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

Most Expensive Home In Singapore

If the sale goes through, the most expensive home in Singapore could be 33 Nassim Road, being sold by the Wing Tai Holdings Ltd (WINGT).  This prime property is located near Orchard Road, Singapore’s shopping hub. The company’s chairman, Cheng Wai Keung is asking S$300 million or $242 million for it. The property has an expanse of 85,000-square-feet and includes a two-story house, a swimming pool and tennis court. The value of the property is not due to the house itself but because of its prime location. Apart from being close to the prime shopping belt, it is near the Botanic Gardens, the British high commission and the embassies of Russia and Japan. Since the huge size of the plot, it could be sold as two separate lots, which could accommodate five homes.

Alan Cheong of Savills (Singapore) Pte stated that this is a very high price even for potential buyers with ultra high net worth. He predicts that the property may go to an Indian or Russian tycoon. In comparison, the most expensive property up for sale in the US, the Crespi-Hicks Estate in Dallas, owned by the former owner of Texas Rangers  Tom Hicks is listed for just $135 million. Singapore happens to be the second most expensive market for real estate after Hong Kong. The growing number of millionaires has added to the demand for luxury real estate. According to BCG’s data, Singapore’s millionaire households went up by 14% in 2011.

The proportion of millionaire homes in the island state is the highest in the world at 17%, followed closely by Qatar and Kuwait. The most expensive home in Singapore till date is the S$87.5 million property on Swettenham Road, also close to the Botanic Gardens. 33 Nassim Road is currently owned by Winright Investment Pte. Cheng and his wife happen to be shareholders of this company, which was established in 1995 to hold properties for long term investment purposes. Jones Lang LaSalle Inc., are the sole marketing agent for this property.

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

Most Expensive Batman Comics

Batman has become one of the most popular comic book characters of all time since his creation over 70 years ago. This success may be due to the fact that, unlike most costumed crime fighters, Batman has no superhuman powers; he relies on his extraordinary detective skills, peak physique and an array of high-tech gadgets to defeat his enemies.

Of course, 70 years of continuous publication have made certain early issues particularly valuable. These are the most expensive Batman comics of all time.

Batman #1 (Spring 1940) – $359,000

Despite being the first comic to feature Batman in its title, Batman #1 is not the first appearance of the caped crusader. A hero is defined by his adversaries, however, and this historical comic featured the first appearances of two of Batman’s most enduring foes—the Joker and Catwoman. The former is, of course, the dark knight’s most iconic nemesis while the latter has been Batman’s enemy, ally and lover over the years.

 

Detective Comics #27 (May 1939) – $1,380,000

Batman made his debut in this issue of the pulp-inspired comic magazine after which National Publications later took its name—DC Comics. The Batman of these days was, however, a bit darker than the Batman with which most readers are familiar. This Batman, as originally conceived by artist Bob Kane and developed (uncredited) by writer Bill Finger, had no qualms about taking the lives of the petty criminals he fought. It wasn’t until the introduction of Robin almost a year later that Batman began to lighten up on Gotham’s criminals and leave them breathing.

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

Top 10 Most Expensive Burgers

Creating expensive hamburgers has become a common stunt for restaurants around the world during the past 10 years. The burger is best known for its role as the king of fast food, but fine dining has taken the burger and turned it into an intriguing culinary indulgence.

Below is our list of the world’s most expensive burgers.

10. The Rossini – $60
The Burger Bar, Las Vegas

Chef Hubert Keller has cemented his place as the burger chef by launching his Burger Bar restaurant in 3 locations, San Francisco, Las Vegas and Saint Louis. The most accessible burger on our list, the Rossini comes in at a mere $60.

The Rossini is composed of Kobe beef, sauteed foie gras, shaved truffles, madeira sauce on an onion bun. The burger is named after 19th century Italian composer Giachino Rossini.

If you visit the San Francisco location, you will have to enjoy the burger without the foie gras after the statewide ban went into effect this year. The burger bar might be expensive for a burger restaurant, but it is still affordable if you want to try a gourmet burger. For less than $20, you can create your own Kobe beef burger with the toppings of your choice.

 

9. 777 Burger – about $70 or $777 paired with a bottle of Dom Pérignon
Le Burger Brassiere, Las Vegas

This expensive Kobe beef burger also features Maine lobster topped with caramelized onions, Brie, crispy prosciutto and 100-year aged balsamic vinegar. The bottle of Rosé Dom Pérignon champagne may actually contribute as much as the burger to the price though.

 

8. The Fleurburger 5000 – $75 (or $5000 when paired with wine)
Fleur, Las Vegas

Hubert Keller originally gained burger fame for The Fleurburger which was served in his Las Vegas restaurant Fleur de Lys (now renamed simply Fleur). The burger could be ordered by itself for a mere $75.

But, if you were inclined to drop $5,000 on a meal, and enjoyed Bordeaux wine, you could order the burger with a bottle of 1990 Château Pétrus wine. As part of the meal you received a certificate to prove that you ate the world’s most expensive hamburger and wine pairing.

The burger itself was made of Kobe beef and topped with foie gras and black truffles and served on a brioche truffle bun and garnished with a sauce containing even more truffles.

 

7. The DB “Royale” Double Truffle Burger – $120
The DB Bistro Moderne, New York / Daniel Boulud Brasserie, Las Vegas

In 2007, celebrity chef Daniel Boulud gave the burger a makeover. The unique burger was stuffed with red wine-braised short ribs, off the bone obviously and included foie gras, a mix of root vegetables and preserved black truffle and then a double serving of fresh black truffles to top off the burger. The burger was served on a toasted parmesan and poppy seed bun and a couple choice condiments, fresh horseradish and oven rosted tomato confit.

Today you can visit the DB Bistro Moderne in New York and order the original DB burger, with a few less truffles for $32.

 

6. The Tri-Beef Burger – $125
The Old Homestead Steakhouse, Boca Raton

This expensive burger was created in 2006 at the Old Homestead Steakhouse in Boca Raton, Florida. Called the Tri-Beef Burger, the burger was made of a blend of three different kinds of beef—American Prime, Japanese Wagyu and Argentine beef. The hamburger was served with signature Chipotle ketchup which included the ingrediants truffles and champagne. The restaurant’s owners donated $10 of every sale of the $125 burger to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Don’t worry too much if you missed this burger in 2006, if you visit one of the Old Homstead Steakhouse locations today you can still order a 20oz Kobe burger for about $40.

 

5. The X Burger – 180,000 won, or about $160
W Hotel, Seoul Korea

Chef Ciaran Hickey brings you a burger made of Australian Wagyu beef topped with seared foie gras and shaved black truffles on a brioche bun. The burger is topped with tomato, grilled red onion, fresh asparagus, wild pine mushrooms, and a lobster tail and accompanied by a sauce selection of brunoise tomato salsa, dark red wine truffle sauce, and truffle aioli.

 

4. The Richard Nouveau Burger – $175
Wall Street Burger Shoppe, New York

The Richard Nouveau was a 2008 entry into the burger hall of fame. Named after the fictional writer of PocketChange, an online newsletter about New York’s most expensive offerings published in the 2000s, the Richard Nouveau was available at the Wall Street Burger Shoppe in New York. The ten-ounce Kobe beef burger was topped with black truffles, seared foie gras, aged Gruyere cheese, wild mushrooms and flakes of gold leaf. Like the Fleurburger, it was also served on a brioche bun.

Obviously the expensive cheeseburger wasn’t a huge success for the Wall Street Burger Shoppe, as the restaurant closed and filed for bankruptcy in 2011.

 

3. The Burger – £95, or about $186
Burger King, West London

Surprisingly enough Burger King the fast food giant has decided to live up to its name by producing the then most expensive burger in the world in 2008.. Simply called “The Burger,” this costly hamburger is was available only in the West London branch of the restaurant chain.

The Burger King creation was made with Wagyu beef. It is also decked with white truffles, onion tempura prepared in Cristal champagne and some of Spain’s finest Pata Negra proscuitto. All of this was presented in an Iranian saffron and truffle bun.

While derided as a cheap marketing stunt, proceeds from The Burger benefited a local charity, Help A London Child.

 

2. Le Burger Extravagant – $295
Serendipity 3, New York

New York, Serendipity 3, known for also having the world’s most expensive sundae and hotdog, recently launched the Le Burger Extrevagant. The burger consists of a Japanese Waygu beef patty infused with 10-herb white truffle butter and seasoned with smoked sea salt. The cheeseburger features a cheddar cheese aged for 18 months by famed cheesemaker James Montgomery. No Expensive burger is complete without truffles, in this case shaved black ones. The burger also includes a fried quail egg, a blini, creme fraiche, Kaluga caviar on a white truffle-buttered Campagna roll.

What else can bring up the price of this burger? Well it comes with a solid gold toothpick, encrusted with diamonds.

 

1. The Douche Burger – $666
666 Burger, New York

The douche burger attempts to make a mockery of the entire expensive burger phenomenon. Created by Franz Aliquo and the 666 Burger food truck in New York City, the cheeseburger features a Kobe beef patty wrapped in gold leaf, foie gras, caviar, lobster, truffles, imported aged Gruyere cheese, melted with champagne steam, a kopi luwak barbeque sauce and Himalayan rock salt.

The owner of the food truck, Franz Alique has this to say about the world’s most expensive burger, “It consists of a f—ing burger filled and topped with rich people s–t.”

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

Most Expensive Headphones

If you’re like me, you think the point of headphones is to be able to listen to music on the go. Clearly, though, that isn’t the case for some audiophiles. The world’s most expensive headphones are hardly portable.

Sennheiser, a leading manufacturer of studio and stage microphones, created a limited number of what have been called the best headphones in the world. That’s right, only 300 of these headphones exist—possibly because they’re handmade. The set includes a high-end vacuum tube amplifier with an all-valve signal path and equally high-end electrostatic headphones with gold connectors.

The most expensive headphones in the world originally retailed for around $15,000 and can still be found for less than $30,000. Of course, if you plan on hooking them up to your iPod, you’ll need to leave the amp at home.

Another pair of expensive headphones, the ULTRASONE Edition 9 Limited Edition S-Logic Natural Surround Sound Headphones, come with some cool features. The S-Logic natural surround sound takes the sound out of the headphones and into the room around you for a three-dimensional sound similar to a live concert. Less stress is put on your eardrums because pressure is decreases by up to 40% (3-4dB), allegedly reducing the risk of hearing damage.

Ultrasone’s expensive headphones also utilize ULE technology with an MU metal shield that reduces radiation by up to 98%. . The ULTRASONE Edition 9 Limited Edition S-Logic Natural Surround Sound Headphones are certainly a luxury to be had by the most discriminating audiophile. At a retail price of $1499.00, they’d better sound good.

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

Most Expensive Bikini

Molly Sims didn’t leave much to the imagination when she wore this diamond-studded swimwear for Sports Illustrated’s infamous Swimsuit Edition in 2006. Of course, what the bikini doesn’t actually cover is obscured by misdirection as the swimsuit, the most expensive bikini in the world, is as eye-catching as the woman modeling it.

Designed by Susan Rosen with Steinmetz Diamonds, the bikini is made up of 150 carats of flawless diamonds—including a pair of fifteen carat, round-cut diamonds; a thirty carat, emerald-cut diamond and a pear-shaped, fifty-one carat diamond. Rather than using cloth to make the expensive swimsuit, Ms. Rosen opted to make it out of platinum.

Including the top, bottom and necklace, the world’s most expensive bikini is valued at $30 million. Considering its value, it’s questionable whether or not it can actually be called “swimwear.” After all, who knows what a dip in the ocean could do to all those precious gems?

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

Expensive Men’s Suits

The business suit, the traditional outfit of men in the Western world, is generally worn with a dress shirt and tie. The modern suit first made its appearance in fashion during the late nineteenth century. While the fashion and style of suits have changed throughout the years, a suit’s power to signal rank and membership maintains. Because of this, we must ask, what are the most expensive suits in the world?

Even if you have your expensive suits made to measure from Savile Row, or have custom Kiton or Zegna in your wardrobe, your suits will likely pale in comparison to the these pricey pieces.

Brioni Vanquish II, $43,000 USD

In 2009, Brioni possibly the most renown tailored clothing manufacturer in the world released, a stunner of a suit, the Brioni Vanquish II. The suits are of course made-to-measure and the fabric is woven from exotic fibers such as vicuna, pashmina and Qiviuk.

 

Alexander Amosu suit – $110,000 USD

Luxury designer Alexander Amosu’s extravagant suit creation uses the same fabric, the Vanquish II, that Brioni’s suit masterpiece uses. What set’s Amosu’s suit apart is 9 diamond buttons set in 18-carat gold. The suit, which took 80 hours to make also contains 5,000 stitches of platinum and gold threads.

 

R.Jewels Diamond Edition – $943,000 USD

Stuart Hughes and Richard Jewels have crafted the world’s most expensive suit, the R. Jewels Diamond Edition. The suit is made from a blend of Cashmere wool and silk and contains over 480 diamonds. Each gem is half a carat for a total of 240 carats of bling.

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

Expensive Dessert Cake

Lindeth Howe Country House Hotel in Windermere, Cumbria has recently served the world’s most expensive dessert to a British diamond merchant, Carl Weininger.

The 3 inch by 3 inch chocolate flavored cake, made to appear like a Frabrege egg, was infused with peach, orange and whiskey and layered with champagne jelly and a light biscuit joconde. The edible parts were finished with dark chocolate and of course no record breaking dessert is complete without gold leaf.

To fully bring the dessert to the level of an ostentatious display, the dessert is topped with a two-carat diamond.

The dessert cost a mere £22,000, or around $34,000 USD.

Marc Guibert, the head chef, prepares the extravagant dessert.

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

Most Expensive T-Shirts

T-shirts, so called due to their ‘T’ shape, were originally considered undergarments. Nowadays, of course, these ubiquitous shirts are commonly used to express the wearer’s taste in art or music, their political views or their fondness for bad jokes. While T-shirts are usually relatively cheap, sometimes they become collector’s items and enter the ranks of the most expensive T-shirts in the world.

Run-D.M.C. “My Adidas” T-shirt – up to $13,000

This T-shirt was produced as a promotional item for a Run-D.M.C. concert in the early 80s. Because of the rarity of 80s hip hop tees, especially Run-D.M.C. shirts, and the group’s legendary partnership with Adidas, this shirt has become something of a collector’s item. The back of the shirt features a joint Adidas/Run-D.M.C. “My Adidas” logo.

John Lennon “Home” T-shirt – $16,400

This shirt was originally given to Lennon by Richard Ross, owner of the now-defunct Home restaurant, frequented by Lennon and Yoko Ono, in New York’s Upper East Side. He wore it for several shows and it became such an iconic part of his image that reproductions are available to this day, despite the restaurant’s closure.

Hanes/UNICEF 1996 Olympics T-shirt – $42,000

In the days leading up to the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia, Hanes and UNICEF partnered up to raise funds for Olympic Aid-Atlanta, an organization dedicated to helping children in war torn countries, by auctioning T-shirts. The daily auctions raised nearly $1 million for the charitably organization and the highest bid came on the final day of the auctions.

UNICEF Cargo Flight – $300,000

UNICEF has been selling t-shirts for some time now to raise awareness of those in need. UNICEF has a line of 12 t-shirts, Good Shirts, starting at $18US and end up at $1,000. Sales from these expensive t-shirts collect money for a variety of causes aimed to fund everything from mosquito nets, energy biscuits, de-worming medication and even cargo flights from Denmark to Kenya, and are available through Threadless.

The Most Expensive T-Shirt, Superlative Luxury – $400,000

In January 2012 a new expensive shirt designed in London by Superlative Luxuryarrived. The current most expensive t-shirt in the world is created using renewable sources of energy like solar and wind power with almost 100% less C02 production when you compare the manufacturing process to traditional t-shirt production.

Superlative Luxury’s most expensive t-shirt in the world features a special spherical pattern exalted with sixteen certified diamonds. Eight of which are 1ct white diamonds, the other eight are extremely rare and hard to find black diamonds, each over 1ct.

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

Expensive AdWords Keywords

When we type a word into google, we generally don’t think about how much companies pay to ensure that word generates their ads at the top of the search results.  Thanks to a study conducted by Wordstream, a company whose software helps users create search engine marketing campaigns, we now know which keywords garner the highest costs per click (CPC for those in the know) in Google AdWords. For over a decade Google’s AdWords solution has allowed companies to create ad campaigns on google’s search results and participating websites and bid on which keywords lead users to those campaigns.  Considering advertising makes up 97% of Google’s total revenue, or 33.3 billion dollars a year, selling these keywords is an integral part of Google’s business model.

Wordstream, a pay-per-click software company, recently study compiled the top 10,000 keywords into categories by weighting the number of keywords within each category and the estimated monthly search volume and average cost per click for each keyword.  The results aren’t as exciting as the most searched for keywords on google, (which mostly involve celebrity scandals, current events, and the weather) but they still reveal some interesting trends.

Insurance – $54.31 per click

It turns out ‘insurance’ ranks number one for CPC.  That in itself is an astonishing number considering the millions of people who see these ads every day.  Keywords in this category include ‘auto price quotes’

Loans – $44.28 per click

Following close behind are ‘loans’, a category that includes ‘consolidate’, ‘graduate’, and ‘student’.  The emerging trend here reveals the type of company that can afford to spend a lot on advertising since they’re able to acquire consistent revenue from their customers over the course of their lives.

Mortgage – $47.12 per click

Keeping in mind these figures correspond to the number of keywords in the top 10,000 keywords that belong to that category, Mortgage come in third.  Keywords include ‘refinanced’, ‘second’ and ‘mortgages’.

Attorney – $47.07 per click

Continuing the trend of either borrowing or spending large amounts of money for major life activities, ‘attorney’ ranks 4th, with keywords like ‘personal injury attorney’.

Credit – $36.06 per click

It comes as no surprise that ‘credit’ makes it on the list, as well all know credit card companies are constantly looking for new card holders.  ‘home equity line of credit’ is an example of a keyword that would generate ads from this category.

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

Most Expensive Vacuum

Hardly an icon of luxury, the vacuum is more commonly viewed as the weapon of choice for janitors, maids, stay at home moms, and those who rank somewhere along the Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder spectrum.  Companies like Dyson, Kirby, and Hoover may offer state-of-the-art sucking technology; but the offensively loud, droning, cat-terrorizing machine is still seen as considerably less sexy and luxurious than, say, a feather duster from The Dollar Tree.

Enter the most expensive vacuum cleaner in the world: The Crystal Ergoripado by Electrolux.  Created in 2009 by Polish Fashion designer Lukasz Jemiol, the vacuum was commissioned to commemorate Electrolux’s popular Ergoripado model.  The limited edition black and white version of this model was chosen to be adorned head to toe with 3,730 Swarovski crystals.  Electrolux lovingly states “Inspired by (the Ergoripado’s) beautiful form, we decided to create something extraordinary”  Electrolux has already won several design awards for the sleek Ergoripado.

This one-off, record-breaking vacuum cleaner is still available at a hefty $19,340, leading one to question the overlap between those who could afford the pricey cleaning device and those who actually vacuum their own houses.

Not since the iconic 50’s Stepford wife glided a Hoover around in high heels has the vacuum had such an image make over.  The lesson here is that with enough diamonds, Swarovski crystals, or even just a bedazzler, the most humble household item can discover it’s inner diva.

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

Most Expensive Beds

A person typically spends a third of their life sleeping, so why not make the most of that time by spending a ridiculous amount of money on an extravagant bed? Each supremely expensive bed is luxurious in its own way, and we’re certain almost anyone will find one of these beds most desirable.

Parnian Furniture bed – over $210,000

Furniture designer Abdolhay Parnian treats his furniture like works of art and it shows in the final product. It’s taken him two years to design this bed and I think you’ll agree that it was well worth the wait. It’s not only visually striking, with the eyelike headboard that will surely dominate any bedroom, but also equipped with features sure to intrigue even the most jaded of millionaires. The purchaser may choose from a variety of materials, including the ebony, sapele and curly maple in the pictured display model, as well as technological features such as iPad holders and charging stations, hidden compartments and pop-up swiveling televisions and computer monitors.

Jado Steel Style Gold Bed – $676,550

If you want to go all out with a bed that conveys wealth like no other, you can’t go wrong with the Gold Bed. As its name suggests, the luxurious waterbed is coated in 24k gold and features Swarovski crystals along the sideboard. It’s equipped with a DVD player and Bose sound system, Blu-ray player, Playstation 3, a foldaway plasma television coated in gold and can even be connected to the internet.

Magnetic Floating Bed – $1.6 million

The 2006 Millionaire Fair in Kortrijk, Belgium saw the debut of a magnetic floating bed that pretty much takes the cake for the coolest bed in the world—and the most expensive. Conventional beds and mattresses haven’t changed much over the years, and that’s where Dutch architect Janjaap Ruijssenaars comes in. The goal in his project was to make a usable piece of furniture that wasn’t constrained by the laws of gravity.

Ruijssenaars reportedly worked on the technology for six years in collaboration with Bakker Magnetics. Permanent opposing industrial-strength magnets allow the bed to float around 1.3 feet off the floor while holding almost 2,000 lbs. This aesthetically pleasing technology could also be applied to other areas in home furnishings like coffee tables, sofas, and Japanese dining tables. How cool would it be to eat sushi and drink sake off a floating table?

While the expensive bed will run you €1,200,000 (US $1.6 million), a smaller unit, one fifth of the full size, costs €115,000 (US $153,000). If you are a millionaire and simply must have this eye-catching bed, the people at Universe Architecture would be happy to make it happen for you.

Baldacchino Supreme – $6.3 million

After four years on the top, the magnetic floating bed has been unseated by luxury designer Stuart Hughes. whose collaboration with Italy’s Fratelli Basile has created nothing short of the most expensive bed in the world–the Baldacchino Supreme.

Fratelli Basile’s Hebanon furniture evokes the timeless qualities of 18th century furniture while making use of modern craftsmanship. This bed, with its chestnut structure and ash wood canopy, is no exception. The exterior is lacquered, patinated and decorated with 107 kg of 24k gold. The bed also features the finest Italian silk and cotton.

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

Expensive Apps on the Android Market

The Android Market was opened in 2008, a mere day after Google released the initial version of its mobile operating system. This mobile software store, according to a 2010 survey by Distimo, over twice as many free apps, by percentage, as any of its competitors—including Apple’s vaunted App Store. Additionally, unlike the App Store’s maximum price of $999.99, Google only allows developers to charge up to $200 for their Android Market apps.

In December, 2010, Business Insider published a list of the most expensive Android apps. Here are the five apps that topped their list.

MobileNavigator GPS – $126.58

This GPS navigation app from Navigon features text-to-speech, live traffic updates and photo-realistic displays.

Emergency Central – $129.95

Unbound Medicine dominates the upper end of the Android Market spectrum with their medical reference apps. This one, intended for use in the ER, features “the Emergency Medicine Manual, Davis’s Drug Guide, Diagnosaurus DDx, Pocket Guide to Diagnostic Tests, and MEDLINE Journals.”

Anesthesia Central – $149.95

For anesthesiologists, this app is a go-to resource full of information about diseases, drugs, tests and procedures.

Nursing Central – $159.95

This app caters to both nurses and students, including Davis’s Drug Guide, Tabor’s Medical Dictionary and a study system to help aspiring nurses pass their exams.

Medicine Central – $159.95

This app, intended for physicians, nurse practicioners and students, includes a “5-Minute Clinical Consult”, MEDLINE journals and resources on drugs and drug interactions.

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

Most Expensive Apple Computer

Before the iPad or the iPhone, before the iPod or even the Macintosh, a pair of Steves created what would be the first model in a long line of Apple computers. One of those computers has become the most expensive Apple computer in the world.

Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs met in 1971, when the latter was only 16 years old. Five years later, Jobs was able to convince a local computer store to buy fifty preassembled computers for the price of $500 each and, based on that purchase order, managed to convince a local hardware supplier to credit him the parts he needed to assemble the fifty computers. The two Steves assembled the fifty computers in time to pay off their credit and the Apple I went on sale for a marked up price of $666.66.

Apple Computer, Inc. went on to produce approximately 150 more Apple I computers before introducing the Apple II. It is considered the first commercially available personal computer, as computer hobbyists at the time usually had to purchase the parts and assemble them on their own.

The Apple I came with 4 KB of memory, which could be expanded to up to 48 KB, and a 1 MHz CPU. Users still needed to supply their own keyboard and monitor—in this case, oddly enough, a television set.

An original Apple I went on sale at Christie’s in London in November, 2010. The computer, model number 82, sold for over $210,000.

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

Most Expensive Hotel Suites

The most important element of a vacation, aside from the destination, is the hotel where you spend your downtime. If you’re going to take a true luxury vacation, of course, it won’t do to have anything less than one of the most expensive hotel suites in the world.

Grand Resort Lagonissi in Athens, Greece – The Royal Villa
$32,000/night

Another three-bedroom suite, the Royal Villa has two pools—an indoor pool and a heated outdoor pool. The nearby marina and beach cement the fact that this suite is a swimmer’s paradise. Visitors will also have access to a private chef to accompany the fully equipped kitchen, a butler and even a pianist.

Hotel Cala di Volpe in Costa Smeralda, Italy – Presidential Suite
$34,000/night

Costa Smeralda—the “Emerald Coast”—in northern Sardinia, is home to many draws for the obscenely wealthy, not the least of which is this fabulous suite. The duplex suite has three bedrooms and as many bathrooms, an outdoor saltwater pool and a private gazebo and solarium.

Four Seasons Hotel in New York, USA – Ty Warner Penthouse suite
$35,000/night

With a carpet that’s so expensive that anyone who walks across it must wear special booties provided by the hotel, ample views of the nation’s largest city, a 700 square foot library and even a waterfall in its Zen room, this suite—which covers the hotel’s entire 52nd floor—is truly a luxury location. It’s named after the founder of Ty Inc., manufacturer of the popular Beanie Babies stuffed toys.

 

The Hotel Martinez in Cannes, France – Penthouse Suite
$35,000/night

This luxurious suite is located on the seventh floor of the Hotel Martinez, already a ritzy location with its Michelin-starred restaurant and prime location on the Croisette in Cannes. The suite itself consists of four bedrooms and an impressive terrace—complete with Jacuzzi—which commands an equally impressive view of the Mediterranean Sea.

Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada – Hugh Hefner Sky Villa
$40,000/night

The City of Sin’s most expensive suite is appropriately named after the Playboy Mansion’s famed resident, and it shows in the 250-person capacity and the extravagant amenities. This suite houses a poker table, wet bar, full size gym with sauna and spa, and a balcony with a spectacular view of the Vegas strip as well as an equally spectacular infinity edge jacuzzi. All of this is centered around an 8-foot rotating round bed.

Hotel President Wilson in Geneva, Switzerland – Royal Penthouse suite
$65,000/night

If you’d prefer a secure suite to an extravagant one, look no further than Switzerland. The Royal Penthouse suite, renamed and repriced from the $35,000 Imperial Suite, boasts a private elevator, bulletproof windows, armored doors, surveillance cameras and even bedside panic buttons. Of course, it’s not all about security; the suite also features a number of period pieces and stunning views of Mont Blanc and Lake Geneva.

Taj Boston $6 million Hotel Suite in Boston, USA
$6 million/two nights

Less than 5 miles from Logan Airport and overlooking Boston’s majestic Public Gardens, Taj Boston will be king of the crop for a very limited time. On the weekend of October 15-17, 2010, the hotel’s presidential suite became the most expensive hotel suite in the world to comemmorate the new theatre complex at the Boston Conservatory.

Along with two nights in the 1,540 square foot presidential suite, the $6 million price tag included transportation to Boston on a private jet, limo service, a Jaguar XJ, an engraved Chistofle sterling silver platter, etched Tiffany Champagne flutes and a magnum of Cristal Rose Champagne. The guest also received two lifetime services–valet parking at the hotel and tickets to performances at the Boston Conservatory.

Perhaps the most remarkable feature of this expensive package is that the guest’s name will be engraved on the Conservatory’s new theatre.

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

Most Expensive Baby Cribs

It’s never too early to get your child started on a life of luxury and pampered living, so why not buy a luxurious crib? Whether you’re more concerned with the aesthetic quality of the crib or the technology that reduces your stress, check below for some of the most expensive cribs in the world.

Intellicot – $1,576?

For a crib with as many bells and whistles as your favorite smartphone, look no further than the Intellicot. This high tech crib features automatic rocking, a mattress-raising system to reduce strain on your back, air circulation to keep your child cool, a soft blue nightlight and a video monitoring system so you always know your little one is safe and sound. Unfortunately, Intellicot is still under development and current pricing is unavailable, but the crib was originally intended to sell for around £1,000.

Camelot Crib – $3,650

This custom crib, offered by aBABY, is handcrafted out of solid hardwood and hand painted in pink “garden” colors that will let everyone know that your baby is a perfect princess. The mattress height is adjustable and the crib features a single dropside.

Corsican Cinderella Carriage Crib – $3,749

Inspired by the timeless fairy tale, this iron crib features large wheels and a crown decorated with leaves and birds for that classic pumpkin carriage look. The Cinderella Carriage Crib is available in six colors, including white, antique steel and pink. Best of all, it probably won’t turn back into a pumpkin at midnight.

Majestic Carriage Crib – $19,995

This luxury crib is constructed with a solid cedar frame. It features birch details, a round mattress and a faux leather seat with a maximum weight of 25 pounds. Best of all, you’ll save space with the luggage rack, located on the back of the carriage, which is actually a changing table. This baby crib is custom-built when you order and requires some assembly upon delivery. Available from Posh Tots

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

Most Expensive Car

If your passion for performance and luxury autos cannot be stopped, and your McLaren F1 is becoming a bore along with the rest of your exotic cars, it might be time to check out Top Gear’s “Car of the Decade,” the Bugatti Veyron. The most recent model, the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport, has an estimated price tag of $2.3 million and, if that figure is even close to the ultimate price, will be the most expensive car in the world.

The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport “World Record Edition”

The Super Sport, unveiled at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in August 2010, is not your typical luxury car. Its W16 engine—essentially two narrow-angle V8s sharing a crankshaft—with four turbochargers generates 1,200 hp and, along with improved aerodynamics over the original Veyron, allows it to reach a top speed of 268 miles per hour. That makes the Super Sport the fastest production car in the world.

The original Bugatti Veyron 16.4, which entered production in 2005, hits 60 mph in 2.5 seconds, does the quarter-mile in 10.5 seconds and reaches its top speed of 252 mph in just 55 secs. It came after a long absence from the market for Bugatti and helped the brand reclaim its title as the ultimate performance car and reign supreme as the world’s most expensive production car.

Bugatti Veyron Speed Test

The Bugatti Veyron 16.4

The Veyron is named after Pierre Veyron, who won the 1939 24 Hours of Le Mans while driving a Bugatti Type 57 with Jean-Pierre Wimille.

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

Most Expensive Speeding Tickets

Here in the US, you can expect to pay the same for a speeding ticket whether you’re a millionaire or a pauper. Not so in Europe, however, where countries like Switzerland, Germany, France and Austria assess traffic fines based on the offender’s income.

In 2007, Switzerland overhauled their flat traffic fine system due to the disregard wealthy individuals had shown for basic traffic laws. This has led to a $290,000 fine for one repeat offender with an estimated $20 million in assets who was caught doing twice the 30 mph speed limit through a small village.

Similarly, a driver in France was charged 70,000 francs for speeding at 151 miles per hour.

Both of these fines, however, are dwarfed by the penalty to one Dutch 22-year-old who was caught doing 100 mph in a 50 mph zone near Rotterdam. In the Netherlands, an offense of that severity can result in the offender’s vehicle being confiscated by the authorities.

Unfortunately for the youth, son of Trust International CEO Michel Perridon, he was driving dad’s Bugatti Veyron valued at around $2.4 million, and now the most expensive traffic fine in the world.

Oh, he lost his license, too.

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

Most Expensive Cupcakes

Do you like cupcakes? What about diamonds? Gold? If you said “Yes!” to all of these questions, then you’re in for a treat—or two—as we tell you about the most expensive cupcakes in the world.

Decadence d’Or – $750

First, there’s Decadence d’Or by Pastry Chef Long Nguyen. Available at Las Vegas’ Palazzo Resort, ‘Decadence’ is made with edible gold flakes, gold-vanilla caviar, a Louis XIII de Remy Martin Cognac bottled around 1900 and Palmira Single Estate Chocolate. This cupcake truly has the “most expensive” look with its fantastic ornamentation.

 

Diamond cupcake by Mervis – $30,000

Created by Mervis Diamond Importers, these classy cupcakes weren’t just well-decorated—they were well-decorated with diamonds. Made to usher in the 2009 wedding season, each cupcake included a single, 2-carat asscher cut diamond surrounded by eight brilliant cut diamonds. Clearly the cupcakes weren’t bad enough for your teeth without the diamonds.

 

ROX diamond cupcake – $150,000

Created to mark the three-day Glam in the City fashion event in Glasgow, Scotland, this iced pastry—pardon the pun—is sparkling with gems from ROX luxury jewelers. ROX collaborated with Cupcake Glasgow to create this delightful diamond dessert. The event, fronted by fashion consultant Gok Wan, runs from June 18th to June 20th, 2010.

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal]