We are always so curious (and jealous) of the private jets of the rich and famous. It must be nice to be able to afford to travel in such luxury. Here, we take a peek at the private jets owned and used by various celebrities over the years. These photos prove that traveling by jet is truly a part of high living.
1. Led Zeppelin
One of the most iconic jets of all time, “The Starship” was a former Boeing 720 passenger jet that could be leased out to rock bands traveling in the 1970s. The first band to use The Starship was Led Zeppelin during their 1973 American concert.
Zeppelin’s road manager, Richard Cole, recalls the jet being a “floating gin palace.” The plane had Led Zeppelin’s logo on the fuselage and came equipped with swivel chairs, a 30-foot-brass-trimmed bar, a cassette player, a television, and even a fully functioning gas fireplace (pictured above). Obviously, the fireplace did not emit any emissions.
2. Deep Purple
Led Zeppelin wasn’t the only band of the 1970s to lease out the Starship. The British rock band Deep Purple also leased out The Starship for their 1974 tour in the United States. The plane’s color scheme remained unaltered, but “Deep Purple” was now emblazoned on the fuselage rather than “Led Zeppelin.”
Along with the amenities noted above, the Starship also featured a king-sized water bed (pictured below), completed with a white fur bedspread. The plane also included two flight attendants and cost $2500 an hour to run.
3. Frank Sinatra
Unlike rock bands of the 1970s who often chartered private planes for themselves, some celebrities owned their own private jets. One such example is Frank Sinatra, who owned a Learjet 23 named Christina II after his youngest daughter.
The jet’s top speed was faster than 500 mph, which allowed Sinatra and his Rat Pack friends to be shuttled between different cities very quickly, and he would often lend the Learjet out to his friends. When Elvis and Priscilla Presley eloped to Las Vegas to get married, the plane he borrowed was Sinatra’s. Marlon Brando and Sammy Davis Jr. also took Sinatra’s first plane to Mississippi to join Martin Luther King Jr. in a Civil Rights march.
In 1967, Sinatra sold the Learjet and purchased a Gulfstream II (pictured above). The interior of the plane was fitted with dark paneling, with settees and club chairs in leather.
4. Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley was so impressed with Frank Sinatra’s Learjet, and jet travel in general, that he bought two for himself. The first jet he bought was a Corvair 880, which he purchased in 1975. He paid $250,000 for the Corvair 880 and then spent an additional $350,000 customizing the interior.
The interior of the Corvair 880, dubbed the Lisa Marie after Elvis’s daughter, featured a forward lounge with club and divan seating, a conference room, a dining area with its own refreshment center, a bedroom with a queen-sized bed, and a private bathroom with a gold sink and faucet. The jet can now be toured at Graceland.
5. John Travolta
Although John Travolta is known for his acting roles in major Hollywood films, his real love is arguably flying. He got his pilot’s license at 23 and now is the owner of multiple jets and planes.
One of the planes that Travolta owns is a Boeing 707, which can typically fit up to 150 passengers. However, Travolta has gutted the interior of the Boeing 707 to ensure his family and immediate entourage can fly in style. The plane features two bedrooms, a full-sized bathroom, and ample seating space.
6. Celine Dion
Today, Celine Dion is worth more than $800 million, making her one of the most wealthy artists in the world. Because of her high net worth, Celine Dion is privy to a luxurious lifestyle, including a Bombardier BD 700 Global Express XRS jet she bought for $42 million. The private jet features several bathrooms and a full kitchen. However, the running cost for such a jet can be around $3 million dollars. Thank goodness Celine Dion has some extra cash to spare.
7. The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are no strangers to flying on private jets and planes. Pictured above is a Boeing 737 that the Rolling Stones used for their 2014 tour which includes the band’s trademark lips image and name on the fuselage.
Like Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple, the Rolling Stones leased the Starship for their tour of America in 1975. However, the Rolling Stones weren’t necessarily impressed with the decor and amenities onboard the Starship. Mick Jagger famously declared the plane to be “so tacky!”