Editor’s Note
From dinosaur fossils to rare trading cards, prestige collectibles are the new frontier for ultra-high-net-worth individuals. Based on the *Knight Frank Luxury Report 2025*, this article explores how the world’s wealthiest are turning passion assets into both status symbols and serious investments.
Dinosaur bones, handbags, or ultra-rare Pokémon cards—these are some of the priceless collectibles that the world’s ultra-rich are currently vying for. For those who already have everything, these highly coveted items serve as true outward signs of wealth and are also particularly profitable investments. Discover what the ultra-rich are currently splurging their fortunes on, based on the latest trends from the Knight Frank Luxury Report 2025. Amounts are indicated in US dollars, followed by a conversion to euros.
The Knight Frank Luxury Report 2025 offers an interesting look into the lavish lifestyles of the world’s great fortunes. At the heart of the report, the KFLII (Knight Frank Luxury Investment Index) scrutinizes ten categories of collectible items considered as investments. Over the past twenty years, these assets have outperformed the S&P 500, but in today’s sluggish market, five categories saw their value decline in 2024, with art recording the sharpest drop of over 18%. On the upside, growth remains modest: leading the ranking, handbags gained only 2.8%.
Yet, some items among these ten categories continue to ignite the passions of the ultra-rich, such as dinosaur bones, the Miami Vice-style Lamborghini, works by Banksy, or Hermès Birkin bags. Rare and ultra-exclusive, these pieces see their value skyrocket and reach astronomical amounts at auctions. Let’s decipher this trend together, starting with fossils…
Dinosaur bones are the latest fashionable trophy among billionaires. These ultra-rare pieces, true objects of desire, ensure unparalleled prestige, to the point that even some ultra-rich individuals struggle to bear the cost. Last July, a 150-million-year-old stegosaurus nicknamed Apex was sold for a record sum of $44.6 million (€38M) at a Sotheby’s auction in New York. The buyer was none other than billionaire and hedge fund manager Ken Griffin, who immediately loaned this exceptional fossil to the American Museum of Natural History in New York.
In terms of high jewelry, the world’s great fortunes are no longer satisfied with a simple piece signed Cartier or Chopard. Today, to truly carry weight in the closed circle of luxury, jewelry pieces must have a royal pedigree. In November 2024, a sumptuous diamond necklace (pictured), associated with Queen Marie Antoinette and a resounding scandal that precipitated the fall of the French monarchy, soared to $4.8 million (€4M) at a Sotheby’s auction in Geneva. Among recent sales of royal objects, the dispersal of 100 exceptional jewelry pieces from the collection of Tsar Ferdinand of Bulgaria is also noteworthy.
Owning a simple Ferrari is not enough to impress a billionaire. However, owning a 1960 California Spyder 250 GT SWB? That’s a different story. The ultra-rich swear by rarity, and with its production of only 56 units, this automotive gem ticks all the boxes. The very first example, the most exceptional of the series, was sold for over $17 million (€14.5M) at an RM Sotheby’s auction in Monterey last August.
The impetuous sports cars of the 1980s and 1990s are popular among young buyers. According to Knight Frank, the iconic Lamborghini Countach LP5000 QV, made famous by the cult police series Miami Vice, perfectly embodies the unbridled luxury of that era. In addition to attracting all eyes, the supercar also constitutes an exceptional investment whose value has climbed 60% in just five years. A rise all the more remarkable given that, over the same period, the value of collectible cars increased by only half that figure. A well-maintained 1988 model now trades for around $605,000 (€515,000), according to the automotive insurance company Hagerty.
The wealthiest buyers have also developed a marked taste for more discreet but high-performance sports cars. The 1990 Mercedes 190E 2.5-16 Evo II, produced in only 502 units, is a striking example. This rarity with its sober design has seen its value double in the space of five years and now exchanges for around $515,000 (€438,000).
According to Leila Dunbar, an expert on the British show Antiques Roadshow, baseball player Babe Ruth has reigned supreme for a century in the world of sports collectibles. Items belonging to this baseball legend sell for dizzying prices, with the ultra-rich willing to spend fortunes to own a piece of this popular heritage.
The famous “Called Shot” jersey that Babe Ruth wore during the 1932 World Series was sold last year for $24.1 million (€20.5M) at a Heritage Auction sale in New York, thus setting a new record for a sports collectible.
