Money can’t buy happiness. This age-old proverb is true to a great extent. But in this age of show-and-tell, money can buy you some really awesome and expensive experiences and objects. Some of these objects are ordinary, everyday things, but their value and price have made them unbelievably expensive. If you are rich enough to spend money without giving a second thought to your wallet, then this article might prove to be your next shopping list. So, keep reading to find out what some of the 10 most expensive things around the world are that you probably never heard of.

1 School: Institut Le Rosey ($130,500 per year)

The most expensive school in the world is the Institut Le Rosey in Switzerland. It costs $130,500 in tuition fees. The school has 400 students enrolled with 90 teachers.

Founded by Paul-Émile Carnal in 1880, the Institut Le Rosey is a boarding school located in Switzerland. It is Switzerland’s oldest international boarding school. The school has two campuses in two beautiful locations. The spring/summer campus is the main campus and is located in the 14th-century Château du Rosey estate in Rolle. In the winter, the school shifts to chalets in the ski resort of Gstaad. Some of its famous alumni include Prince Rainier of Monaco, King Albert II of Belgium, King Farouk of Egypt, and the Shah of Iran.

Currently, there are approximately 400 students at Le Rosey ranging in age from eight to 18. This international boarding school accepts students from 67 countries and maintains a perfect gender split. Students of Le Rosey are usually bilingual, and they are allowed to study up to four languages at a time. At present, there are 90 faculty members and 200 other staff at the school. The school is widely known for its extravagant fees of $136,000 per year. Le Rosey has also been mentioned in many novels relating to the rich and famous. (1, 2)

2 Liquid: scorpion venom ($39,000,000 per gallon)

The most expensive liquid in the world is scorpion venom which sells at $39,000,000 per gallon. Known for its medical value, scorpion venom contains proteins used in the treatment of various ailments including cancer.

Since ancient times, scorpions have intrigued human beings. While some worshiped them in the form of gods and goddesses, others feared them due to their dangerous venom. Decades have passed by since then, but the scorpion, especially its venom, still remains a topic of interest among people. With the advancement of science, researchers have found that scorpion venom contains cancer-detecting and tumor killing proteins. Chlorotoxin found in scorpion venom binds certain types of cancer cells in the brain and spine. It helps in finding out the specific size and location of tumors. The chemicals present in scorpion venom had been used to eliminate malaria in mosquitoes. There are many other compounds in scorpion venom that researchers are trying to use for various purpose.

Currently, scorpion venom is not available on a large scale as it is very difficult to obtain. One scorpion produces only one drop of venom, and each scorpion needs to be milked by hand. That’s why the cost of scorpion venom is very high. A gallon costs $39 million making it the most expensive liquid on Earth. $130 will get you only a minuscule amount that is smaller than a grain of sugar. (1, 2)

3 Cell Phone Number: 666-6666, ($2,750,000)

The most expensive number ever sold is cell phone number 666-6666. It was auctioned off for charity in Qatar in 2006 where it fetched $2.75 million. The previous record holder was the Chinese number 8888-8888 sold for $280,000.

In May 2006, the world’s most expensive phone number was sold in an auction. The number auctioned was 666-6666. While in some cultures, this number might seem devilish, in others, it represents the opposite. In Judaism, 666 is a holy number as it represents the six directions – up, down, north, south, east, and west. In Arab culture, it equates to the word “Allah” which means God.

The charity auction where cell number 666-6666 was sold was held in Qatar by national telco Qtel. The auction started at a million riyals. The bidding quickly escalated, and finally, it was sold for 10 million Qatari riyals ($2.75 million) to an anonymous Qatari bidder. (source)

4 Tea Bag: PG Tips Diamond tea bag, ($14,000)

To commemorate the 75th anniversary of Brooke Bond’s PG Tips, the company created a $14,000 tea bag encrusted with 280 diamonds.

There are regular teas, and then there are expensive teas which can cost up to $1 million per kilo. But what about the tea bags? You know, the little bags that we dip into hot water and then throw away. Can they be significant? They can, especially if the tea bag is diamond-encrusted. Yes, you heard that right. In 2005, to celebrate their 75th anniversary, Brooke Bond’s PG Tips gave the humble tea bag a makeover and adorned it with 280 diamonds, escalating its price to $14,000.

The $14,000 PG Tips tea bag was created to raise money for a Manchester Children’s Hospital in England. This charity was chosen by workers at PG Tips in Trafford Park. The tea bag is pyramid-shaped and contains tea leaves. Both its sides are embellished with one hundred, 2.56-carat diamonds. Another hundred are on the inside and the white gold string is decorated with 80 diamonds. This tea bag is not just for show. You can actually dip it in hot water and prepare tea, just make sure you don’t throw it away after dipping. (1, 2)

5 Keyboard: Happy Hacking Keyboard HP Japan, ($4,240)

The world’s most expensive keyboard cost over $4,240 USD. It is hand lacquered using a brush made from the virgin hair and then coated in gold dust.

To celebrate their 10th anniversary, Fujitsu launched the Happy Hacking Keyboard (HHKB) in 2003. Fujitsu designed the keyboard in collaboration with Daitetsu-Yatsui Urushi Workshop. The HHKB keyboard has 60 keys instead of the usual 101 keys. Retailing at $4,240, it is the most expensive keyboard in the world. What’s so special about this keyboard? Well, the keys are hand polished with Urushi, a Japanese lacquer. To apply this polish, a special brush is used that is made from virgin hair. As a final touch, the keys are dusted with gold dust. (1, 2)

6 Contact Lens: diamond contact lens, ($15,000 per pair)

Created by an Indian optometrist, the most expensive contact lens is encrusted with 18 diamonds on a gold plate, each pair costing $15,000.

Human love for accessories can be understood by the fact that we have an accessory for almost every body part except for some very sensitive parts such as our eyeballs. Well, an Indian optometrist, Chandrashekhar Chawan, had revealed that he had found a way to accessorize even our eyeballs. After being inspired by his wife’s jewel-encrusted teeth, he created the world’s first diamond contact lens.

The contact lens is encrusted with 18 diamonds and set on a gold plate base. The base comes in two options: white gold and yellow gold. Each pair of lenses weighs about 5 grams. According to Chandrashekhar, these lenses are safe to use as the diamonds sit about 6 mm to 9 mm away from the cornea allowing it to receive oxygen from the air. Also, these lenses hold water in the front to soothe the eyes. At $15,000 per pair, he hopes that it would be bought as a family heirloom. (1, 2)

7 Cheese: Pule, ($600 per pound)

The most expensive cheese in the world does not come from a cow or a goat but from a Donkey. Known as “Pule Cheese,” the cheese is made entirely by the milk of Balkan donkeys. It fetches $600 per pound and is not even available in the commercial market.

Cheeses made from cow and buffalo milk are quite common in the market. You might have even tasted cheese made from sheep’s milk. But, have you ever tasted one made from donkey milk? Probably not. That’s because Pule, the cheese from donkey milk, is the costliest cheese available on the market. It is made from the milk of the Balkan donkey which are native only to Serbia and Montenegro. At $600 per pound, Pule is not even available on the commercial market. Why? Well, it is because to make one kilogram of this white, crumbly cheese, you would require 25 liters of milk which can cost up to $52 per liter.

One donkey can produce only 2 liters of milk a day, while a cow can produce up to 15 times as much. And donkeys only produce milk while nursing their offspring. So, even if a farm has 200 donkeys, chances are that only 20-30 donkeys produce milk at one time. Price tags and rarity aside, the Pule cheese has multiple health benefits. It is exceptionally high in protein, calcium, and Omega-3 fatty acids which are essential to maintain a healthy heart. Also, donkey’s milk is low in fat, packed with anti-allergen properties. and has 60 times more vitamin C than cow’s milk. (1, 2, 3)

8 Ice Cubes: Luxury Ice Cubes, ($325 for 50 ice cubes)

Sold by a California based company, world’s most expensive ice cubes are each handcrafted into a perfect square shape. 50 piece of these ice cubes cost $325.

If you are a fan of “on the rocks,” then American brand Glace Luxury Ice Co. has just the perfect ice cubes for you. Their luxury ice cubes could be yours if you are ready to pay $325 per bag (1 bag contains 50 ice cubes). Seems a bit expensive? Well, according to this California-based company, their ice is of higher quality than regular ice as it is purified and packed in a re-sealable, air-tight package. The package ensures the purity. The firm also claims that its ice cubes undergo a special process so that it has “zero taste.” Each ice cube is handcrafted, and the cubes take between 15 and 40 minutes to melt completely.

But, what if you are bored with ice cubes? Fret not, because they also sell spherical-shaped ice named “Glace Luxury Ice Mariko Spheres.” (1, 2)

9 Toilet Paper: 22-karat gold toilet paper, ($1,376,900)

An Australian company is selling gold toilet paper that is made of 22-carat gold flakes. It is safe to use and is being sold at $1.38 million.

If you have every possible expensive thing in this world, then what else would you want? Probably, a golden posterior. Maybe this was what Australian company Toilet Paper Man was thinking while launching their product: 22-carat gold toilet paper. At $1.38 million per roll, it is a quality, 3-ply toilet paper with 22-carat gold flakes running through it. It comes gift wrapped with a complimentary bottle of champagne.

The company claims that the gold toilet paper is absolutely safe to use. When used, the 22-carat gold flakes will fall on the floor and stick to your behind “taking you to another level of sophistication.”(1, 2)

10 Feather: feather of huia bird, ($10,000)

The huia bird went extinct in 1907, and its feathers are very rare making them a collector’s item. In 2010, a single tail feather was bought by an anonymous bidder at an auction for an astonishing amount of $10,000 making it the most expensive feather ever.

Huia birds are New Zealand wattlebirds whose last confirmed sighting was in 1907. Before its extinction, this bird had a special place in Maori culture. The huia birds were treasured for their plumes. Maori people of high rank often wore the tail feathers of huia bird as a headdress. The tail feathers were so highly valued that tribes exchanged it for other valuable goods such as shark teeth and pounamu. It was also given as a token of friendship and respect.

Since its extinction, the tail feathers of huia birds have become a collector’s item. These feathers are very rare. That’s why when a single tail feather went up for auction at Webb’s Auction House in Auckland, it fetched $10,000. The brown and white feather was bought by a family from the city of Wellington. (1, 2)