10 Outrageously Absurd Things the Super Rich Have Actually Bought

(And Why We Kind of Love the Chaos)

There’s rich, and then there’s “I-built-a-private-racetrack-in-the-mountains-of-Japan-for-my-family-because-I-got-bored” rich.

And yes, that’s real. Japanese billionaire Tatsumi Kimishima reportedly spent $200 million crafting a racetrack just so he could race go-karts with his wife and kids. He didn't host a Formula 1 event. He didn’t lease it out. He just wanted a little post-breakfast adrenaline with the fam. As one does.

It’s hard to wrap your head around this kind of wealth. When you don’t have to check the price of anything, life turns into a Sims game on cheat mode…full of marble bathtubs, rotating car platforms, and, if you're eccentric enough, a golden bathtub in the shape of your own face!

But here’s the truth: human brains are weird. They crave novelty, stimulation, and status. And when your basic needs are so far beyond met that you forget what cereal costs, the things you buy become… unhinged.

So let’s go down the rabbit hole of wealth’s most deliciously absurd indulgences.

1. The $200 Million Family Racetrack

Let’s start with the beauty that inspired this list.

Japanese billionaire Tatsumi Kimishima had a dream: spend quality time with his family fast and furious style. So he built a private racetrack in the mountains of Japan, winding curves, pit lanes, observation decks, and all. Estimated price tag? $200 million.

It’s like Mario Kart meets generational wealth.

And here’s the kicker: he reportedly doesn’t rent it out, doesn’t monetize it, doesn’t do events. It’s just for joyrides with his wife and kids. Which is, honestly… kind of wholesome? If you’re gonna be outrageously rich, at least make it wholesome and fun.

These Hobbies Trigger Your Brain’s Dopamine Response…no racetrack needed.

2. A $2 Million Bathtub Made of Crystal

When Mike Tyson was one of the richest athletes in the world, he purchased a $2 million bathtub carved out of solid crystal. Not marble. Not onyx. Crystal.

Imagine soaking your bruised body in something that looks like it was mined from a boss level in Zelda.

He later sold it during bankruptcy proceedings, so let that be a lesson to anyone tempted to impulse-buy a tub worth more than a condo.

3. A Solid Gold Toilet That Was Actually Stolen

British artist Maurizio Cattelan created a fully functional 18-karat gold toilet titled America (subtle). It was valued at $6 million and installed at Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of Winston Churchill.

Then…because of course…it was stolen in a dramatic heist that damaged the plumbing and flooded the historic estate.

So yes, someone got away with a gold toilet. We do not know where it is now. Possibly being used. Possibly being worshipped. Possibly melted down and turned into wedding rings. The world is chaos.

4. A Billionaire’s Yacht with a Literal Mountain and Waterfall

Meet History Supreme, a yacht allegedly worth $4.5 billion. Yes, with a "b".

It was reportedly commissioned by a Malaysian billionaire and built using 100,000 kilograms of solid gold and platinum. The master bedroom features a wall made of meteorite rock and…dinosaur bones.

Also: it has a miniature mountain range with a waterfall.

Do we know if it’s real? Not really. But the fact that it could be is the point.

5. A Pet Cloned From Its Own DNA

Celebrities like Barbra Streisand and Simon Cowell have openly admitted to cloning their pets…a process that runs around $50,000 per animal. Streisand cloned her dog Samantha and now has two genetic copies.

Let that sink in: rich people are out here Jurassic Parking their pets.

Meanwhile, the rest of us are just trying to afford the vet bill for that weird cough our cat has had for two weeks.

6. A Personal Skyscraper in Mumbai

Mukesh Ambani, one of the richest people in the world, lives in Antilia…a 27-story skyscraper for one family. Located in Mumbai, India, this $1–2 billion residence has:

• A snow room that literally snows inside.

• Three helipads.

• A 168-car garage.

• A health floor with a spa, gym, and ballroom.

And here’s the weirdest part: it only houses five people. Most of it stays unused.

You know your house is too big when it needs its own air traffic control system.

7. A Whole Town Just to Feel Something

Kim Basinger (yes, the actress) bought the entire town of Braselton, Georgia in the 1980s for $20 million. She planned to turn it into a tourist attraction and movie set.

It… didn’t go well.

She had to sell the town after filing for bankruptcy. But for a moment, she was mayor of her own tiny empire. SimCity but in real life. Would I do this if I had money? Absolutely.

8. A Meteorite Coffee Table

Want to feel grounded and connected to the universe? Or maybe just flex on guests? Billionaire Roman Abramovich owns a coffee table made from an actual meteorite that crashed in Namibia.

Yes, it’s literally space debris.

9. A House Shaped Like a Spaceship for No Reason

Billionaire entrepreneur Steve Huff bought a mansion and renovated it into a full-on spaceship replica. He calls it the “Intergalactic House,” complete with alien-themed bedrooms, spaceship interiors, and a dome-shaped observatory.

He doesn’t rent it out. He doesn’t throw parties.

He just lives in it. Like a space captain. Every day.

Is this absurd? Yes. Do I low-key love it? Also yes.

10. A Shark in Formaldehyde

Art collector and hedge fund legend Steve Cohen paid $8 million for a 13-foot tiger shark preserved in formaldehyde, created by artist Damien Hirst. The piece is literally called The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living.

Sounds deep. Is also…a dead shark in a tank.

It eventually decomposed (as sharks do), so Cohen paid for a second shark to be inserted. It’s sharkception now.

Guess he missed my article about the dangers of shark extinction and why we need them still alive and swimming in the ocean.

So… Why Do They Do This?

Here’s where it gets interesting: the ultra-rich aren’t just spending wildly for fun. Many of them are chasing the same things we are…dopamine, meaning, novelty, control.

The brain can only get so much pleasure from “normal” stuff when you’ve already tasted every wine, driven every car, and bought every Birkin. The hedonic treadmill kicks in hard, and the solution is often: go bigger, weirder, shinier.

They’re not just flaunting. They’re trying to feel something.

It’s just like the rest of us…except instead of buying a candle and a new planner, it’s a cryogenically frozen cat and a snow room in Mumbai.

The Delicious Irony

There’s something beautifully ironic about billionaires dropping millions on cloned pets and solid gold toilets, while the rest of us are high-fiving ourselves for finding a discounted espresso machine on Facebook Marketplace.

But maybe there’s a lesson here too. When life gets too predictable, we all reach for absurdity, just within our own budgets.

For them, it’s racing go-karts on a mountain they personally terraformed.

For us, it’s building tiny racetracks on our desks.
Mini Racetrack Stress Relief Toy that’s cheaper than a $200M build, still fun.

Want to Feel Rich in Spirit?

You don’t need a gold toilet or meteorite furniture to feel a spark of joy. You just need something that lights up your brain…something exciting, weird, playful, or just yours.

Start a new hobby. Learn something odd. Build something just because you can.

Because the truth is, novelty isn’t about money. It’s about mindset.

And that’s something you don’t need billions to unlock.