It takes generational talent and a lifetime’s worth of commitment to achieve superstar status in today’s music industry – for those that make it, though, the winding road on which the rest of their life is driven is one plunged in financial surplus and ostentation. Rewarded with the fruits of their labour, then, where exactly do these musicians choose to splash their cash?
While there have been some awesome purchases over the years, there have been some pretty questionable ones, too. In this article, we have collated some of the wildest and wackiest purchases by musicians over the years.
A music studio
Famed for creating some of the most iconic scores in film history, Hans Zimmer decided to invest in himself (and an Oscar charge) by purchasing a huge recording studio in Los Angeles. Having earned his worth in the production of The Lion King soundtrack, Inception, and Interstellar, Zimmer has an unbelievable knack for matching auditory production with the quality of a film. If you’re that good at producing and have more money than you could spend, why not own a private studio?
Easily accessible and perfect for a pandemic (too soon?), it seems like a pretty good idea for a music producer. Before Hans Zimmer’s success enabled him to purchase his private studio, though, he would have had to utilise public production venues. So, aspiring score-producers out there, a venue like Pirate music studios has us covered for all of our production needs for now, before we reach the level of the incredibly talented Zimmer, that is.
The neighbour’s house?
In perhaps one of the biggest ‘flexes’ of the 21st century, Canadian superstar Drake was not lying in his 2015 collaboration with Future ‘Where ya at’ when he said, ‘I buy the neighbour’s house if they complain about the noise.’
After receiving noise complaints from the neighbours of his $7.7 million mansion, Drake did indeed proceed to spend another $3 million in the purchase of their house, adding the property to his multi-million-dollar estate, along with his personal, indoor basketball court.
California Chrome
Estimated to be worth over 1.4 billion dollars, Jay-Z is one of, if not the, most financially successful artists of all time. It is no wonder, then, that the US rapper can afford to drop $55 million on a racehorse by the name of California Chrome. With little explanation for the purchase out there, we can assume the artist splashed out simply because he could – if you’ve worked as hard as Jay-Z to become as successful as he is, why not!
Tigers. Obviously.
Carole Baskin, look away. Though, I’m not sure she would have much to say to a guy once called the baddest man on the planet. Iron Mike Tyson has owned several white Bengal tigers over the years – famously appearing in The Hangover – and costing him over $70,000 for each cat. It’s probably fair to say that a tiger is a much better-suited pet to an ex-heavyweight champion than a cute kitten.
An expensive play-toy
Do you remember the first gift you received from your parents? While unlikely, it was probably something small and sweet like a rattle toy, or a nice dummy, or even a cool top that reads ‘Mummy’s Fav’. Well, Jay-Z and Beyonce’s daughter Blue Ivy got something a splash more costly from her parents, who spent over $80,000 on a diamond-encrusted barbie doll for her first birthday.
A water park, because why not?
Having not learnt the dangers of water from her musical contributions to the 1997 classic Titanic, Celine Dion kitted out her home, located on the extremely exclusive Floridian Jupiter Island, with an awesome waterpark. The investment was a part of her $38 million mansion, but it might just be worth it for something as entertaining as a waterpark; the fun will go on… and on.
Who let the dogs in?
A car covered in dog hair is every owner’s nightmare and a feat to avoid for sure. So, while most owners would ban dogs from the car or perform regular valets, Miley Cyrus thought it would be easier to buy her dogs their own car to roam and shed their hair in. If you’ve got it, why not…?
The takeaway here might be, then, that while they say money can’t buy happiness, it sure can buy a bundle of other things that are bound to bring a bit of joy with them. The other takeaway might be that these musicians have some curious spending habits!
