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Publications Offer Gifts for the Millionaire on Your Holiday List

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Associated Press

Can’t think of the perfect stocking stuffer for those well-heeled friends on your Christmas list this year?

What about a customized jet for $70 million? Or a Formula One super car? Or an $80-million submarine?

Those are some of the suggestions from the Robb Report and the duPont Registry, two publications that cater to folks not too concerned about economic downturns.

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The submarine is one suggestion from the Robb Report, which comes up with a list of 21 gifts for its money-is-no-object readers each Christmastime.

“I think a lot of our readers haven’t really been impacted by the economy slowdown. They are recession-resistant,” said Brett Anderson, senior vice president and editorial director of Malibu-based Robb Report.

The duPont Registry’s holiday gift catalog also features highbrow stocking stuffers: A $450,000 Bentley Estate Station Wagon is described as “the ultimate family vehicle for the truly refined lifestyle.” A pair of McLaren Formula One super cars go for about $1.5 million apiece.

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There’s also a 1968 Mercedes-Benz 600 Presidential Landaulet, built for Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu, for $295,000. And it has only 30,000 miles on the odometer.

The well-to-do also are hanging out at home a lot more.

“There’s a lot of spending on home -- entertainment theaters, wine cellars, commercial-grade kitchens,” Anderson said. “They are creating their own theater and restaurant in the home. It’s cocooning.”

Tom duPont, chairman of St. Petersburg, Fla.-based duPont Publishing, said the duPont Registry items are designed to impress. But they also reflect America’s trend of staying home.

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“Along with the nesting, there is nesting going on in the garage,” duPont said. “People with resources are buying classic and luxury cars -- the everyday car, the weekend car and the commuter car.”

The duPont Registry and the Robb Report definitely aren’t for the Chia Pet crowd. The average annual income of a Robb Report reader is $800,000, with an average net worth of $4.9 million.

The Robb Report’s list includes a 144-carat diamond necklace at $10 million, a customized private jet for $70 million, the new $350,000 Daimler-Chrysler Maybach 62 sedan, a $1.6-million Formula One Ferrari, a residence in London’s fabled Regent’s Park for $29.9 million and a $1.25-million 24-day America’s Cup vacation.

Too expensive? How about an original copy of Ian Fleming’s “You Only Live Twice,” signed by the author, for $75,000?

Anderson said there’s been a subtle change in the buying habits of the rich because of the dot-com bust and stock market slide. Conspicuous consumption is seen as tasteless by some.

“People are more interested in discreet luxury,” Anderson said. “Back in the heyday of the dot-com boom, executives were buying $200,000 and $300,000 Ferraris and there was a lot of show there.

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“What has changed is Robb readers are going back to basics -- spending on the home, classic cars and historic artifacts and antiques.

“People are more self-conscious about displaying wealth.”

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