Actual bullfighting lessons from the toreador (Simón Orfila) are extra, but reenactments of his giant pillow dive are free. And Ketevan is known for fixing a mean mcvadi (Georgian barbecue). As we learned from his stabbing of our titular character, though, just don’t leave Don José (Basque tenor Andeka Gorrotxategi) with the knife and skewers.
Cost: $75,000 for a sensible, travel-size version of the production; $100,000 for full cast, crew, orchestra, and stagecraft
A World of Adventure
Fellow billionaires Bezos, Branson, and Musk may be trying to get themselves us to the stars, but we’re not holding our breath. In the meantime, there’s plenty of Earthbound exploring to delight your gift recipient—and their insurance carrier.
This summer, Titanic fans can once again dive to the 1912 wreck, which despite its fame has seen few visitors in recent years, and may be gone in another 20, a victim of erosion and iron-eating bacteria. The Bluefish, a luxury concierge service, is putting prospective divers aboard a Russian research vessel for two weeks in the North Atlantic, including a Mir submersible voyage to Jack and Rose’s love nest more than 12,000 feet down. Four trips are planned, with space for 10 divers on each trip.
Back on solid ground, the company could set your billionaire up with a rare chance to ride pillion with a motorcycle Grand Prix champion or arrange a Japanese sword-fighting class with a samurai descendent—basically, whatever adrenaline rush you can dream, they can do. Like putting seekers in the cockpit of five well-preserved World War II–era aircraft in Southern California, including a P-51 Mustang, the war’s workhorse fighter escort. Go for a barrel roll or shoot down a SpaceX rocket—we’re pretty sure a Tesla can’t do that. Yet.
Cost: $105,000 per person for the Titanic; $30,000 for two days of test flights; $7,500 for MotoGP race; $4,500 for samurai experience
A One-of-a-Kind Vintage Slot Machine
Risk-taking is a billionaire’s game, so go ahead and gift a grand piece of American gambling heritage, the only known existing Mills Dewey-Chicago Triplet slot machine available from M.S. Rau Antiques. Produced from 1903 to 1916, most were destroyed when gaming was outlawed in the early 20th century. Larry Lubliner, an expert and appraiser of vintage coin machines, explains that this oak-encased slot has been completely restored, and while there are many single slots around, a triple is a real rarity. A player simply drops a nickel, quarter, or half dollar (you know, with all those lying around) in the header, picks a color, and pulls the handle to try her luck.
Instead of that mind-numbing beep and chime a modern machine makes, this one has a cylindrical music mechanism that whirs out a ragtime melody. So even if your billionaire loses the game (ha!), at least they get a song out of it. Dancing the Turkey Trot is highly encouraged.
Cost: $425,000
A Chance to Discover a New Sea Creature
Hiring a photographer to Instagram a vacation is so 2016. The accouterment of choice these days is a marine biologist.