11 Outrageous Ways to Spend Money in Retirement
Whether you have excess cash to spend or want to pretend, here’s a look at 11 ridiculous ways retirees can splurge.
Sitting on a small fortune in retirement and don’t know what to do with it? Want to live vicariously through the rich and frivolous?
Look no further. We've put together a list of some of the most outrageous things on which retirees can spend their money.
We all want to give to charities and leave money to our heirs, but it's also perfectly OK to splurge, especially if you made a fortune in the stock market bull run of the last 20 years.
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If indulging is on your list, here are 11 over-the-top ways to do that, whether travel, cars, clothes, gadgets or simply spending money is your thing.
1. Vacay at the Palace of Versailles
Who doesn’t want to live like kings and queens an,d what better way than by vacationing at the Palace of Versailles?
You can do that by booking a room at the uber-luxe, 18th-century themed hotel, Le Grand Contrôle. This 13-suite-and-room hotel is the only one on the palace grounds, giving guests the ultimate status flex: Private, after-hours access to the Hall of Mirrors, the King’s Apartments and the vast Orangerie Gardens.
Living like royalty doesn’t come cheap. A night in the grandest room, the Necker Suite, will set you back a staggering $17,500.
2. Luxury expedition: Yellowstone to Amangiri
You won’t need an RV for this trip to see the American West, but you might have to crack open the vault to afford it. Curated by Neiman Marcus, this luxury expedition spares no expense, and you’ll know it by the $490,000 price tag.
The 11-day trip, which covers you and up to three friends, starts at Yellowstone National Park and culminates at Amangiri — the ultra-exclusive, five-star resort hidden in Utah's Canyon Point.
During this odyssey, you’ll horseback ride across sweeping valleys, raft pristine whitewater rapids and helicopter over the Grand Canyon and Monument Valley, while enjoying high-end amenities, fine dining by private chefs and other exclusive perks.
3. Annie Leibovitz Portrait Session
A picture can tell a thousand words, and when Annie Leibovitz is behind the lens, it can tell your life story. You can get that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity if you're willing to spend $500,000.
That’s what it costs for an Annie Leibovitz Portrait Session, which is another one of Neiman Marcus’ curated fantasy gifts. What does half a million dollars get you from one of the world's most famous portrait photographers? You'll receive a private consultation with Leibovitz, then it's off to hair and makeup, and finally, lights, camera, action! With Leibovitz behind the lens, your accomplishments will become vlisible.
4. Michelin Star restaurant reservations anywhere
Just because you're retired doesn’t mean you have the time (or the patience) to secure a reservation at a hard-to-get-into restaurant. But if you have the cash and a refined palate, that’s where a Sienna Charles membership comes in.
For $75,000, you can text or email Sienna Charles’s concierge 24/7 about any Michelin-rated restaurant you want, specifying the day, time and number of people, and you're in. These aren’t any old restaurants; these are the most highly sought-after reservations at three-Michelin-star restaurants.
5. Rolls-Royce Phantom
Who doesn’t want to shut out the world once in a while in the epitome of style and luxury? Retirees with an unlimited budget can enjoy the silence in the ultimate iconic status symbol — the Rolls-Royce Phantom.
This Rolls-Royce offers nearly limitless bespoke customization and is completely soundproof. That means you're traveling in a fortress of tranquility, where you can shut out the world the second you close the door. This, however, might make you scream. The Phantom starts at around $500,000 and goes up from there.
6. Regents Seven Seas Cruise
If cruising is on your bucket list, you can do it in supreme style and for as long as you want, or your bank account will allow, with one of Regent Seven Seas' cruises.
This cruise line operator takes retirees around the world in opulence. Prices for these cruises start at $15,000 per person and can go as high as $840,000 for the longest, most exclusive world cruise suites. New for 2026 is the Skyview Regent Suite, with accommodations that look more like homes than rooms on a cruise ship. It also includes a private sauna and a personal car with a driver at every port.
7. Fractional private jet ownership
For many retirees, family is everything, and taking everyone on big multigenerational trips is what dreams are made of, until you have to get everyone to the airport, through security and on the plane.
That’s why owning a fraction of a private jet makes sense to a lot of well-heeled retirees. It costs anywhere from $200,000 to $1 million and up, but if it means avoiding unnecessary stress on the way to your destination, it can be priceless.
8. Disney Private Jet Adventure
You can do Disney in style and luxury, and break the bank along the way with the Disney Private Jet Adventure. This vacation package starts at $115,000 per person, but if you hate waiting in line, it might be worth it.
With the Disney Private Jet Adventure, you and up to 75 guests (they have to pay, too) board a Disney-decked-out Boeing 757 and are whisked away to six countries to visit all 12 Disney theme parks around the world. You also get to see iconic landmarks, including the Pyramids of Giza and the Taj Mahal. You also get VIP access to rides, and you stay in Disney’s top-tier resorts.
9. Made-to-order Jimmy Choo heels
Sensible shoes, begone! You made it to retirement, so swap those commuting sneakers for a hot pair of heels. Besides, what says I’ve arrived (into retirement) better than a custom pair of Jimmy Choo heels?
The shoes will set you back $4,000 or more, depending on what kind you want, but you get to strut around in a customized pair of luxury shoes that is all you. That means you get the final say in everything from the color to the finishes. You can even monogram and engrave the shoes to give them a truly one-of-a-kind design.
10. Vertu Signature Cobra Limited Edition mobile phone
Mobile phones have long been a status symbol; ask anyone who waits in line for the new iPhone to be released. Retirees with a lot of cash can have the ultimate status symbol with the Vertus Signature Cobra Edition mobile phone. All it will cost is a mere $504,308.
This phone, one of only eight ever made, is crafted in collaboration with Boucheron, the French jeweler. It's made of 18-karat gold and features a ruby and emerald-encrusted snake coiled around the phone. You'd better act fast if you want this super luxurious and extremely pricey phone; there’s only one more left.
11. A private performance with your favorite band or celebrity
Billionaires and royalty aren’t the only ones who can have private performances by their favorite bands and celebrities; you, too, can book a celebrity if you have enough cash.
Several companies let you hire celebrities for appearances, private parties, corporate events and weddings. Prices for these junkets range from around $75,000 to book bands such as 38 Special to $500,000 for an appearance with actress Amy Poehler. Prices depend on how famous, popular and how much the celebrity needs the money.
Dream a little dream
The list above? It's over-the-top, frivolous and maybe even gluttonous for a lot of people. But here’s the key takeaway: if you have the extra cash to spend, go ahead and splurge.
Maybe dropping half a million on a mobile phone or to hang out with a celebrity is a stretch, but it's OK to indulge from time to time. You worked hard to save for retirement — now go ahead and enjoy some of the fruits of your labor.
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