What I wouldn’t give to be a fly on the wall in a superstar’s home on Christmas day. If there’s one thing celebs know how to do, it’s shop – and when your bank account is deeper than the Atlantic Ocean, the gifts you’d expect a star rapper or a Hollywood heartthrob to give on December 25th are a lot flashier than those flashing reindeer socks your auntie Noreen bought you last yuletide. Although as we all know, celebrities don’t tend to be dating Joe or Joanne Public, they gravitate towards their own kind. They date other celebs. So when money is no object, but your special someone is also a multi millionaire, what do you buy them as a gift? Well my friends, I have the answer. In no particular order, here’s my roundup of 8 of the most extravagant and unusual celebrity gifts you ever did see.
- Gift Giver – Chris Evans (British DJ and Television Presenter
Gift Recipient – Billie Piper (British Actress and Pop Star)
The Gift – Silver Ferrari
When it emerged that Billie Piper was dating Chris Evans (the pair would later get married, and subsequently divorced) the UK was surprised to say the least. Evans was the geeky, ginger 30 something breakfast TV presenter while Piper was a sexy teenage pop icon. On the morning after their first date no less, Chris Evans was so smitten he turned up at Billie’s doorstep clutching an envelope. Inside were the keys to a brand new, silver Ferrari that sat outside Billies house, adorned in roses. The irony? Billie couldn’t even drive at the time.
- Gift Giver – Victoria Beckham (Pop Star and Fashion Icon)
Gift Recipient – David Beckham (Footballer and Fashion Icon)
The Gift – Micropigs
What do you buy the man that has everything? Miniature pigs of course! Reports in December 2009 revealed that former Spice Girl Victoria splashed out around £1,400 on a pair of little porkers and promptly named them Elton and David (after Messrs John and Furnish or course). Presumably she didn’t wrap them up and stick them under the tree in advance of the big day.
- Gift Giver – Jake Gyllenhaal (Movie Star)
Gift Recipient – Taylor Swift (Country Music Star)
The Gift – Guitar
Donnie Darko and Jarhead star Jake, splashed out a reported $11,000 on a guitar for his then girlfriend, Taylor Swift on her 21st birthday. And this wasn’t just any guitar. This was a vintage axe made by Gretsch and signed by country music legend Chet Atkins. Let’s hope she doesn’t get tears all over it.
- Gift Giver – Jackie Chan (Movie Star and Martial Artist)
Gift Recipient – Jaycee Chan (Jackie’s Son)
The Gift – Michael Jackson’s Glove
Jaycee Chan is actually something of a pop star in Taiwan and to celebrate the release of his new album “Luan,” father Jackie splashed the cash to buy him one of Michael Jackson’s sparkly gloves that the mega star was famous for wearing on stage. Jaycee was quoted as saying, “This is the coolest present my dad has given me in history”. The cost? A cool quarter of a million US dollars. Wow.
- Gift Giver – Sharon Osbourne (Music Manager and Media Personality)
Gift Recipient – Ozzy Osbourne (Rock Star)
The Gift – Breast Implants
A weird one this – When Sharon Osbourne decided to have her 34 DD breast implants removed, she wasn’t just going to let the surgeon dispose of them (that would have been just too normal for the Osbourne’s wouldn’t it). Instead she is quoted as saying she planned to give them to husband Ozzy as a present, so he could use them as paperweights.
- Gift Giver – Simon Cowell (Music Manager and X Factor Judge)
Gift Recipients – Cheryl Cole, Danii Minogue and Louis Walsh (X Factor Judges)
The Gift – Botox Treatment
As the final of the 2010 UK X factor competition finished and Matt Cardle walked away victorious, Mr Nasty himself Simon Cowell paid a visit to his fellow judges dressing rooms to give them each a somewhat tongue-in-cheek present to show his appreciation for their hard work on the show – £3,000 worth of vouchers for Botox treatment. Reportedly Cheryl and Danii weren’t too impressed with the connotation, although Louis was said to be delighted.
- Gift Giver – Beyonce (Pop Star)
Gift Recipient – Jay Z (Rapper and Music Producer)
The Gift – Bugatti Veyron
Okay we’re stepping things up a gear now. For rapper Jay Z’s 41st birthday, wife and superstar in her own right, Beyonce, pulled out all the stops (I can only assume she got him a rubbish present for his 40th and had to make amends the following year). She ordered him a Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport – an elite sports car which can go from 0-60 in just 2 and a half seconds! That’s insanely fast. The Bugatti set back Mrs Z an estimated $2 million.
- Gift Giver – Tom Cruise (Movie Star)
Gift Recipient – Katie Holmes (TV and Movie Star)
The Gift – Gulfstream Jet
And finally we go from the sublime to the ridiculous. As their wedding day approached, the enigmatic Mr. Cruise presumably tried to pick out his bride a suitable wedding present, but instead settled on a wholly unsuitable customised Gulfstream Jet, at an expense of £20 million pounds! I’m not entirely sure how Tom wrapped it and snuck it in to the reception but I presume it was exactly what Katie wanted.