Saudi billionaire buys A380 as his private jet

You're a billionaire who needs a new private jet, so what's top of your shopping list? An Airbus A380, of course.

Prince Alwaleed bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud – a member of the Saudi Royal Family whose investments in real estate and the stock market have earned him a net worth estimated at A$19.5 billion – is set to take delivery of an A380 to replace his current Boeing 747.

The sticker price for the superjumbo was $320 million – hopefully on one of those 'fly away, no more to pay' deals, because after forking over that much you'd hate to be slugged for delivery fees and on-road costs.

But he's putting down a further $175 million on some lavish modifications such as a gold leaf paintjob (there's $60m gone from the budget), a marble-panelled dining room with seating for 14, a movie theatre with leather seats, a gym and a lounge to seat his entourage of 25 aides.

The bar is dressed in curtains to mimic the tents of the Arabian desert, while a fibre-optic mosaic along the interior walls of the aircraft depicts a shifting desert scene.

David Flynn

David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.