World’s most expensive Christmas trees: Facts that shock even billionaires
What is known about the world’s most expensive Christmas trees (photo: Freepik)
Some Christmas trees are ordinary, whether real or artificial, and come with a modest price tag. Others, however, are true works of art, valued at millions of dollars.
RBC-Ukraine shares what is known about the world’s most expensive Christmas trees and what makes them so remarkable.
World’s most expensive Christmas tree: Munich's golden pyramid
Germany has taken the idea of holiday sparkle to a whole new level. In Munich, a Christmas tree has been created that’s hard to call just a tree — it’s a three-meter installation made entirely of gold, valued at over £4 million (nearly $5.5 million).
This creation has no needles or pine scent, but it literally dazzles. The idea was conceived by Munich precious metals dealers Pro Aurum.
Technical details of the golden giant:
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The tree is made up of 2,024 gold coins from the Vienna Philharmonic series. The number of coins symbolizes the year the installation was created.
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The structure weighs more than 60 kilograms.
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Instead of a traditional star or angel, the tree is topped with a huge 24-carat gold coin.
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Company spokesperson Benjamin Summa stated that this is not a product for sale, but a way to remind people of the timeless value of gold.
However, not everyone is impressed. On social media, the tree has already been called tone-deaf to people’s problems, hinting that in an era of rising living costs, such decoration feels overly extravagant.
Golden Christmas tree in Munich (photo: Getty Images)
The top-most expensive Christmas trees in the world
Besides Germany’s golden giant, the past three years have seen several other incredibly pricey holiday installations.
Diamond tree in Marbella
The Kempinski Hotel Bahia continues to impress with a Christmas tree valued at $15 million. It's adorned with real diamonds (red, white, and pink), sapphires, and jewels from Cartier, Chanel, and Louis Vuitton.
Garrard jewelry tree in Dubai
At the Mandarin Oriental Jumeira hotel, a tree was installed in collaboration with Garrard, the world's oldest jeweler. Instead of lights, it sparkled with real gemstones, turning the hotel lobby into a veritable vault.
Claridge's designer tree in London
This year’s tree by Burberry (designer Daniel Lee) impresses not only with the value of its materials but also with its cultural significance. Using archival fabrics and exclusive decorations, it has become one of the priciest art objects of the season.
From luxury to absurdity: the strangest Christmas trees in history
Not all expensive trees were admired. Some went down in history for their questionable aesthetics.
Paris toy tree
A 24-meter inflatable tree at Place Vendôme by artist Paul McCarthy was immediately nicknamed the anal plug due to its unusual shape. After acts of vandalism, the installation had to be removed.
Brussels Pharmacy
Instead of a real tree at Grand-Place, a cubic light installation was erected. Residents were so outraged by the digital monster that they called it a pharmacy sign and demanded a real pine be restored.
Metal frame in Wales
The town of Cardigan spent £4,000 on a modern metal Christmas tree. Residents complained that by day, it looked like construction scaffolding wrapped in garbage bags and demanded a natural tree instead.
Earlier, we wrote about which ornaments you should avoid hanging on your Christmas tree because they attract bad luck.
Sources: Guinness World Records, Pro Aurum (Munich), The Sun / Reuters, The Guardian
