These are the 11 things the 'ultra-rich' are spending their money on
Cars — Yes, wealthy people still really like cars. Knight Frank recorded a 490% growth in the price of automobiles in the 10 years since its last Luxury Index report. Supercars, which can cost over a $1 million in some cases, are popular, but the report said that "eight of the 25 cars ever to have sold for over $10 million at auction went under the hammer in 2015."
Wine — The ultra rich not only enjoy drinking the best wine in the world, they also like to invest in it. The index showed a 241% price jump in wine spending over the last decade. The report notes that many "investment-grade Bordeaux wines have now started to recover from the slump induced by the sharp drop in Chinese demand."
Coins — Collecting coins is rather lucrative as a long term investment strategy as prices for rare pieces have risen 232% in the last 10 years. For example, the first dollar coin ever issued in 1795 by the US government is also the most expensive ever bought. It sold for $7.85 million in 2005.
Art — Collecting seems to come with the territory when you're ultra rich, especially since prices have grown 226% over the last decade. Purchasing art is an investment as much as hobby for the Ultra Rich. The most expensive painting ever bought was a Willem De Kooning (pictured) for $300 million in 2015.
Stamps — The world's wealthiest invest in collecting rare stamps, much like how they do with coins. Rare stamps have seen a price increase of 166% since Knight Frank's last report. The world's most valuable stamp is the "British Guiana 1 Cent Magenta", the last surviving stamp from a range released in 1856, worth over £6.4 ($8.9) million.
Jewellery — Whether it's to put in a vault or on their bodies, the ultra rich have always liked gold — mainly because it's seen as a safe haven. Jewellery prices have grown 155% in the last decade. L'Incomparable diamond necklace (pictured) is the most expensive ever sold at $55 million.
Coloured Diamonds — Precious gems are always a favourite with the wealthy but coloured diamonds have become particularly fashionable over the last decade, with prices ballooning by 67%. According to Forbes, the world's most expensive diamond ever sold is the Wittelsbach-Graff diamond. It went for $80 million in 2011.
Watches — They may have fallen by the wayside for many with a phone, but the ultra rich still like an expensive way to tell the time. Prices for watches have increased 67% over the last ten years. The Breguet Grande Complication Marie-Antoinette is thought to be the world's most valuable watch. It's thought to be worth around $30 million.
Chinese ceramics — However you pronounce them, vases remain a huge business. Their popularity with Ultra Rich has grown 50% since 2006. An 18th Century Chinese vase was sold for £53 million in 2010.
Furniture — A huge mansion needs a lot of furniture, and the Ultra Rich's appetite for expensive sofas, tables and beds has increased 21% over the last half-decade.
Yachts — The rite of passage for the super rich is to own a home on the sea. Luxury yacht sales grew 66% between 2009 and 2014. Chelsea Football Club owner Roman Abramovich is the lucky owner of the world's most expensive operational yacht, called The Eclipse. In fact it's so expensive no-one can really say how much it's worth anymore, with guesses ranging from $450 million to $1.2 billion.
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