The super-rich's secret world revealed
Courtesy Virgin Limited Edition
The super-rich's secret world revealed
Sssh! Don't tell anyone, but there's a whole secret world of exclusive goods and services available to the ultra-rich that few of us know about, let alone use. From special dating apps to members' clubs and elite transport services, here's a sneak peek into a luxury world that most of us can only dream about.
Inner Circle
Inner Circle is part dating app, part events company and was set up in 2012 after one of its founders, David Vermeulen, ended up single and found himself uninspired with other matchmaking sites. While the Netherlands-based service reckons to be "exclusive" rather than "elitist", and has over 1.5 million members, Vermeulen claims its clientele has included Game Of Thrones actors, professional footballers and a "lot of finance people". Inner Circle also arranges events such as polo matches and cabaret nights.
JamesEdition.com
JamesEdition is an e-commerce site for the ultra-wealthy and describes itself as having the "largest collection of luxury goods worldwide" for super-high net worth individuals. Among items available on what feels like an elite version of eBay are a $516,000 (£424k) white gold and diamond Stefan Hafner necklace; Ireland's Knockdrin Castle, pictured, for €12 million ($13.3m/£10.9m); and a 214-foot yacht that boosts nine staterooms for a whopping $38 million (£31m).
Inspirato
For just $1,150 ($945) a month, the more well-off can sign up to Inspirato to get access to luxury holiday homes and travel experiences. Promising a first-class service, the company also offers endless travel with an Inspirato Pass for $2,500 (£2k) a month. This gives members access to tens of thousands of trips in more than 150 destinations across the world. And when the trip's over, all you need to do is go and book the next one.
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The Bohemian Club
Each year, some of the US's most powerful men meet among the redwood trees of northern Californian for the The Bohemian Club summer camp. The top-secret club was founded in 1872 by artists and journalists who were eventually replaced by top businessmen and statesmen. The all-male membership list is now kept secret but former presidents such as George HW Bush and Ronald Reagan are known to have attended. Talk of business remains strictly forbidden for these businessmen who pay $25,000 (£20.3k) to join, and a further $5,000 (£4k) a year after that.
Luxy
The Luxy app describes itself as an exclusive millionaire dating site and claims to offer members the "most upscale and extraordinary dating experience". The average income earned by individuals signed up to look for elite love is over $350,000 (£290k) per annum and the site claims that 43% of users are verified millionaires. When it launched in 2014, Luxy described itself as "Tinder, minus the poor people".
NetJets
NetJets is the world's largest private jet company, with a fleet of 750 aircraft. The company flies the ultra-rich to 5,000 destinations worldwide in more than 110 countries. Last year, it revealed some of the craziest requests it had received from its wealthy customers including one who forced the plane to make a pitstop so their dog could have some fresh air and another who chartered four planes to fly a group of 36 to Disneyland. The crew decorated the inside of each with a Disney theme.
Luxury private jets with sky-high price tags
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White's
White's is one of London's oldest gentlemen's clubs and is so exclusive, it doesn't even have a website. Founded in 1693, the club in St James's reportedly counts the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge and former UK Prime Minister David Cameron among its current members. The private members' club still declines to let in women, although it has made an exception for one – the Queen.
Instagram/@quintessentially
Quintessentially
Quintessentially describes itself as the world's leading lifestyle luxury group. The London-based company offers its elite members a 24/7 luxury lifestyle service to book anything from a last-minute table at a Michelin-starred restaurant to a luxury condo in New York, pictured. Since launching in 2000, it's grown to have 1,500 lifestyle managers in more than 60 offices across the world. Quintessentially also has a network of sister businesses, including an art advisory service.
The Aberdeen Marina Club
The Aberdeen Marina Club is a playground for Hong Kong's ultra-wealthy, with yearly fees reported to be in excess of HK$3,000,000 ($379k/£310k). Founded in 1984, membership is strictly by invitation only and members get access to indoor and outdoor swimming pools, children's play-zone areas and an ice rink, among other facilities. It also offers berthing and vessel maintenance facilities for the ultra-rich who bring their superyachts here.
Sky Premium International
Singapore-based Sky Premium International gives its members access to privileges from more than 200 brands and merchants across wellness, travel, shopping and the wine & dine categories. With a membership card with a gram of gold embedded in it, members can access the benefits from just SGD1,200 ($860/£705) per annum. It launched in its home market of Singapore last November, after garnering 15,000 members in Japan since 2013.
Raya
Model, actress and singer Cara Delevingne is one of the stars said to have used "Tinder for Illuminati" dating app Raya. The service, launched in LA quietly in 2015 by Daniel Gendelman, has more than 10,000 members and another 100,000 on its waiting list. It is so tricky to get listed on it, The New York Times described it as a "slightly harder nut to crack than Harvard Business School". To join, you have to be nominated by two members and then have your social media profile assessed.
Burgess Yachts
Why book a hotel when you rent your own superyacht? Tennis champion Rafael Nadal, Hollywood director Steven Seagal and designer Georgio Armani are among the celebrities reported to own their own. But the more indecisive with cash to spare can charter a boat, such as this one from Burgess Yachts. For just €840,000 ($934k/£764k) a week, travellers on board Secret can enjoy a pool, spa facilities and a gym, and choose to sleep in one of the six luxury cabins.
Billionaire boats to blow your mind – and your wallet
Velocity Black
Velocity Black is a mobile phone-based lifestyle assistant that uses artificial intelligence to give its members access to a range of luxury goods, services and experiences. Aiming to empower to people "to live their most meaningful lives" for just $2,800 (£2.3k) a year, with a $900 (£740) initiation fee. The catch is that the experiences aren't included in the price. Velocity Black counts Formula E world champion Jean-Éric Vergne among its members, who is such a fan he recently invested in it.
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Worldnet International
You may never have heard of it but the rich and famous, not to mention the royals, rely on Worldnet International to ship their expensive clothes across continents. Nicknamed the "Fedex of the fashion cross", Worldnet was the couture freight company who shipped Meghan Markle's dress from Givenchy's Paris HQ to a warehouse in London in time for her wedding to Prince Harry. Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour is also said to be a fan.
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Live Art Auction
The Live Art Auction app claims to be the must-have app for art collectors, featuring sales from auction houses across the world including Sotheby's, Bonhams and Phillips, among others. Live Art Auction, which is available on both iOS and Android, allows users to find and compare lots and sales results and accurate quotes on similar artworks at rival auctioneers.
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Personal shopper
Any wealthy individual worth their fortune will have a personal shopper, like London-based Amber Gordon. Her company Tailored Styling works to track down luxury consumer goods on her elite customers' wish lists. She told the Daily Mail that she once had to fly to the other side of the world at the last minute to track down a Hermès crocodile clutch bag worth $43,000 (£35k) but the sale sadly fell through.
Instagram/@notabeneglobal
Nota Bene Global
Nota Bene Global was set up by Anthony Lassman and his wife Elaine after he had spent more than 30 years putting together luxury trips for clientele including Michael Kors and David Lauren. The former real estate mogul felt there was no-one offering what he felt was authentic luxury. Members, who pay a $30,000 (£24.5k) subscription fee, are assigned a private client consultant to organise their dream trip including, on one occasion, an audience with the Pope.
Wheely
Luxury ride-hailing app Wheely was founded in 2010 by Russian-born Swiss entrepreneur Anton Chirkunov. Currently live in London, Moscow and St Petersburg, the service offers chauffeur-driven rides in executive vehicles such as the Mercedes E-Class. All drivers are properly suited and booted and carry an umbrella, and only qualify after passing a rigorous test in local knowledge and driving etiquette.
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Amex 'Black Card'
The American Express Centurion Card is an invite-only service offered to some of its richest customers. Celebrities including Kim Kardashian are said to have the so-called "Black Card" that you can only get after spending between $250,000 (£205k) and $450,000 (£369k) per year on another Amex card. While also granting users access to other services such as Centurion lounges, pictured, Centurion cardholders are also promised they can buy anything they desire, no matter how inaccessible.
ASmallWorld
The ASmallWorld social network was founded in 2004 and describes itself as being the world's leading premium lifestyle community, combining the traditions of a country club with the power of a digital platform. It organises 100 events a month, including flagship parties in St Tropez and Gstaad, and gives members VIP access to nightclubs across the world. There are several membership options, with access starting from €80 ($89/£73) a year. While the top-level invitation-only Signature tier costs €21,950 ($24.4k/£19.9k).
Survival Condo
For the super-rich fearful of a nuclear apocalpse, companies such as Survival Condo offer luxury condos with 2.5 to 9-feet thick walls in an Atlas Missile Silo on a Formerly Used Defense Site (FUDS) in Kansas. Not only do these condos offer protection but facilities such as indoor pools, rock climbing walls and indoor shooting ranges, from $1.5 million (£1.2m). That's definitely survival in style...
Google Camp
Google Camp for billionaires sees stars, royalty and top business people alike flock to the exclusive La Verdura resort on Sicily for a highly-secretive week-long VIP summit. Here celebrities such as Karlie Kloss, Harry Styles and Diane von Furstenberg, pictured here in 2018, are invited to attend a series of talks on climate change, the future of tech and human rights. But it is not without controversy. Google Camp reportedly clocked up an 800-tonne carbon footprint this year alone.
Courtesy Virgin Limited Edition
Private island living
Necker Island in the British Virgin Isles is privately owned by British billionaire Richard Branson. The 74-acre island is surrounded by white sandy beaches, turquoise seas and coral reefs and promises what Virgin Limited Edition calls "barefoot luxury". The main building was destroyed by a fire in 2011, when Hollywood star Kate Winslet was in residence. It's now been rebuilt and can host up to 30 guests for a mere $77,500 (£63,350) a night, or $87,500 (£72.7k) during peak season.
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