15 Outrageous Purchases of the Filthy Rich

As a culture, we're fascinated with the lifestyles of the rich and famous. The success of shows like MTV's "Cribs" is based on that obsession.

It isn't unusual for the super-wealthy to live lavishly, but having large sums of money can inspire outrageous financial decisions. Mix in the eccentricity that often comes with being a celebrity, and you have a recipe for some rather bizarre spending. To see how the wealthy spend money, here are 15 people who made some outrageous purchases.

Jay Z — rapper, mogul and husband to Beyoncé — famously spent $250,000 on champagne in 2011, according to RadarOnline.com. He reportedly purchased several bottles of Armand de Brignac Champagne, aka Ace of Spades — which The New York Times said retails for $300 per bottle — then he bought a 15-liter bottle for $100,000. He also tipped the staff at the LIV nightclub in Miami's Fountainebleau hotel $50,000, according to RadarOnline.

Jay Z purchased the Armand de Brignac Champagne brand for an undisclosed amount, according to The New York Times in 2014. However, Forbes reported that he owned an interest in the company several years prior.

For a 2007 BET Awards performance, Beyoncé sported a pair of metallic leggings that were a pretty serious investment. The Balenciaga leggings, made of actual gold, cost $100,000, according to Vogue UK. Hopefully, she was able to claim those as a business expense.

How much would you pay to look like your favorite movie character? If you're Tinie Tempah, the answer is $37,500, according to TMZ. That's how much the British rap star sprung for the "Back to the Future II" limited edition Nike shoes in 2011.

Although it might sound outrageous to spend that much on a pair of shoes, TMZ reported that the money benefited the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. "I feel fortunate to be able to help," Tempah told TMZ.

To be fair, Oscar-nominated actor Nicolas Cage could take up a few spots on this list. Over the years, he reportedly purchased shrunken heads, dinosaur skulls and two Bahamian islands, according to the Daily Beast.

However, no less notable is his purchase of the pyramid tomb in New Orleans' St. Louis Cemetery No. 1. The cemetery is also the resting place for voodoo queen Marie Laveau. He bought the tomb in 2010, according to ABC News affiliate WGNO.

Tyrese Gibson bought his 8-year-old daughter, Shayla, an island for Christmas this year, he recently told Entertainment Tonight. The singer and actor didn't disclose the location, nor the dollar amount, but he did reveal the name: Love Island.

Kim Basinger is famous for her roles in "L.A. Confidential," "8 Mile" and other films, but fans might also remember that she bought a town in 1989. With a group of other investors, Basinger purchased the town of Braselton, Ga., for $20 million, according to The New York Times. The town is 53 miles north of Atlanta and had a population of 500 at the time.

Seven-time All-Star baseball player Alfonso Soriano purchased a blue Hummer H2 and spent more than $100,000 getting it customized, according to sports blog BustedCoverage.com. It had his name engraved on the hood, included a wall of high-end speakers and was painted the same shade of medium blue inside and out. In 2012, fans of the athlete and vehicle alike had the chance to buy the Hummer on eBay for $36,000, according to the website.

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The financial misfortunes of former heavyweight champ Mike Tyson have been covered extensively over the years. Among the more notable of his high-end purchases: two white Bengal tigers, for $140,000 total, according to The Seattle Times. He also spent tens of thousands of dollars to create a habitat for them and $125,000 a year for an on-call animal trainer.

In 2015, socialite and TV personality Paris Hilton allegedly forked over $25,000 for two teacup Yorkie puppies, according to Cosmopolitan magazine. One was reportedly a gift for her mom, and the other was a companion for her current dog.

Lady Gaga was among the bidders for an auction of Michael Jackson memorabilia, including his stage costumes and his crystal-encrusted white gloves, according to the Associated Press. Lady Gaga said on her Twitter account that she purchased 55 items and reportedly spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to acquire them. Jackson's "Bad" tour jacket was sold for $240,000, and the gloves sold for more than $100,000 each, an auctioneer told the AP.

Named as one of the top paid athletes in 2015 by Forbes, the media has covered Mayweather's big-ticket buying sprees over the years — including a $50,000 diamond iPod and a $4.8 million Koenigsegg CCXR Trevita luxury car. Most recently, he visited a mall in Dubai and, as shoppers gathered to watch, he purchased a Hublot diamond watch reportedly worth $1.1 million, according to TMZ.

Many people say that a good mattress is worth the investment. When it comes to how much you actually should spend for a good night's sleep, however, is obviously subjective. For "Harry Potter" actor Daniel Radcliffe, that answer is $17,000, according to People magazine. That's how much the former child actor spent on a custom-made Savoir mattress.

Many people adore their pets. However, for some people, money is no object when it comes to giving their pets the good life. Supermodel Rachel Hunter had a Le Petit Maison dog-mansion replica made of her own house for her German Shepherd and Labrador Retriever. It included carved front doors, terra-cotta floors and window flower baskets, according to Forbes. Le Petit Maison custom dog houses are reported to cost as much as $50,000.

Football player Chad Johnson once bought a custom truck for $100,000. That might not sound like much for a celebrity vehicle. However, it's not so much the cost that raises eyebrows, but that the "super truck" is actually a semi that gets less than 10 miles per gallon, according to the Daily Mail.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com:

15 Outrageous Purchases of the Filthy Rich

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