While COVID-19 had other plans for 2020 and we didn’t have many weddings to attend this year compared to usual, we’ve still been admiring awesome wedding gifts for next year’s weddings. We’re taking a look back at some of the most expensive wedding gifts of all time. From royals to Hollywood A-list couples here’s our pick!
The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan & Princess Salama
A 20,000 seat custom-built stadium costing $22 million
Prince Mohammed and Princess Salama got married in 1981. The father of the groom, who was the founder of the United Arab Emirates and the then-ruler of Dubai, gave them a wedding venue as a gift – a custom-built stadium, seating 20,000 people. The wedding itself cost around $100 million and is one of the most extravagant of all time.
Tom Cruise & Katie Holmes
A custom Gulfstream jet
Talk about public displays of affection. Not only did Cruise take his love for Holmes to the Oprah Winfrey show, complete with mad sofa-jumping antics, he also presented her with a custom Gulfstream private jet, costing anything between $14 and $20 million. The couple were married at the 15th-century Odescalchi Castle in Bracciano, Italy in 2006 and lasted six years before parting ways in 2012.
Elizabeth Taylor & Richard Burton
La Peregina – one of the most famous pearls in the world
La Peregrina was discovered in the 16th century and has adorned the necks of many members of European royalty. One of the most recent owners was a queen of the silver screen – Elizabeth Taylor, whose tempestuous romance with Richard Burton (pictured here on their wedding day) was the stuff of legend. Burton gifted it to his wife and Taylor commissioned Cartier to re-design the necklace, setting the pearl with pearls, diamonds, and rubies. The necklace was sold at auction after Taylor’s death, fetching $11 million.
Jorge & Sandra Mendes
A Greek island from Cristiana Ronaldo
Ronaldo is famously close to his manager, who is one of the most successful agents in the world of football. When Mendes got married in 2015, he and his wife Sandra were presented with the gift of a Greek island from the loyal footballer, who also served as his best man. The prices of islands can range from a cool €3 million to the forbidding ‘available upon request’, according to Private Island.
George & Amal Clooney
A mansion in the English countryside
George bought the lovely $9 million country home where he and Amal spent their honeymoon and presented it to his new bride as a wedding gift. The Georgian Berkshire mansion is just an hour away from London, which is handy as Amal works as a human rights lawyer based in the city. The couple are reportedly thinking about raising a family there.
Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie
A vintage platinum Patek Philippe watch
This one has a bit of local flavour. Brangelina had been an item for ages, but they only tied the knot in 2014, the same year they were in Gozo filming By the Sea. While they filed for divorce in September 2016, As a wedding gift, Jolie gave Pitt a $3 million Patek Philippe legacy watch, which she took for inscription to George Farrugia, who runs a jewellery shop near Mgarr ix-Xini. Farrugia says Jolie requested the words ‘To Roly from Nessa’ on the back of the watch – the names of the characters they played opposite each other in the film.
Princess Diana
A boat worth $1 million
On her wedding day, the Emir of Bahrain gave Princess Diana a model boat encrusted with diamonds. The odds of it having been regifted are high, we’d say. Thankfully though, the couple did receive some more practical gifts including a room full of Canadian furniture, a Canadian diamond and platinum brooch for Diana and 20 engraved silver platters from Australians as well as wool carpeting from the New Zealanders. A Royal Admiral even vetted the gifts and if unsuitable they were outrightly refused.