# What's the most exclusive product/service in the world? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 25, 2008, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-exclusive-product-service-in-the-world/478663 "2008-12-25T18:11:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![whorfin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/6f9a4e/32.png) [@whorfin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whorfin)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2008, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-exclusive-product-service-in-the-world/478663/41 "2008-12-27T18:52:27Z")
> [@CC](#): > > True enough, and yet, I’m trying to imagine a situation in which Bill Gates wishes to have a meeting with the esteemed representative from Wyoming. Maybe wangling a hunting date with Cheney? Finding a location for his secret lair. (also, Cheney was the representative from Wyoming when he was in congress-so at that time, meeting with him was probably a very good way to arrange a hunting date with Cheney) Actually, private islands of meaningful size are probably a good answer to the OP (as well as a better secret lair location than Wyoming) (and are a more fun way of carrying out **Coffeecat’s** suggestion-why have to use a club island when you can have your very own!)…there’s a very limited supply, they’re very expensive if they’re at all practical, are probably all owned by the wealthy or by people who’ve owned them for a long time–either way, a group of people probably not willing to sell out on a whim, so you can’t just go out and buy one-you have to find someone willing to sell. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2008, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-exclusive-product-service-in-the-world/478663/42 "2008-12-27T20:46:56Z")
> [@whorfin](#): > > Actually, private islands of meaningful size are probably a good answer to the OP (as well as a better secret lair location than Wyoming) (and are a more fun way of carrying out **Coffeecat’s** suggestion-why have to use a club island when you can have your very own!)…there’s a very limited supply, they’re very expensive if they’re at all practical, are probably all owned by the wealthy or by people who’ve owned them for a long time–either way, a group of people probably not willing to sell out on a whim, so you can’t just go out and buy one-you have to find someone willing to sell. I disagree big-time on that one. There are way more private islands in the world than most people realize (many thousands of decent ones and probably more in North America and the Caribbean alone). You can buy a decent sized Caribbean Island for a few million dollars because there are so many uninhabited ones. The same goes for some of the 6000+ islands off the coast of Maine, in the Great Lakes, and off of the Pacific Northwest to name a few. Even an upper-middle class person could own an island somewhere if they wanted to badly enough. The problem becomes getting water and other utilities in as well as getting to the island reliably in the first place. Most people just don’t have the inclination but the supply is very high for private islands. > **[Private Islands Inc - Islands for Sale and Rent](https://www.privateislandsonline.com/)** > > Browse hundreds of islands available for sale and rent worldwide. Private Islands Online is the most comprehensive guide to buying, selling and renting private islands. Explore the possibilities... ---
**Author:** ![cuberdon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/45deac/32.png) [@cuberdon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cuberdon)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2008, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-exclusive-product-service-in-the-world/478663/43 "2008-12-27T21:03:20Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > John Travolta owns a 707 that he parks at his house. He lives right next to a runway. He is qualified to fly a 747 as well but he does not own one. I think there are some arabs who own 767s for their personal use. The BF mentioned to my parents that one of the more obscenely wealthy Arab sheiks bought himself an A380 as an upgrade for his 747. ---
**Author:** ![ntcrawler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/34f0e0/32.png) [@ntcrawler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ntcrawler)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-exclusive-product-service-in-the-world/478663/44 "2008-12-28T04:20:29Z")
> [@Alex\_Dubinsky](#): > > I think someone must be pulling someone’s leg re the Rattlesnake Club on wikipedia. If you go their website, then Services \> Lodging/Dockage, you can see on the sidebar on the right, The prices are reasonable, but the exclusivity of Rattlesnake Island is for real. I talked to the folks and authorities while visiting Put-In-Bay and they assure me that membership is required to gain access to that Island (obviously employeers that run the place are exempt). The services you see are all for the benefit of the members, not the general public. It’s really not that much different from those snooty country clubs, except here it’s a self-contained island. ---
**Author:** ![ntcrawler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/34f0e0/32.png) [@ntcrawler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ntcrawler)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-exclusive-product-service-in-the-world/478663/45 "2008-12-28T04:33:21Z")
Part of the exclusivity also has to do with making other people jealous because they want it, but can’t have it. But you get to have it therefore you’re better. If none of them want it, then it makes it feel that much less special, doesn’t it? Case in point: I could never get VIP passes to the Pussycat Dolls. But do I really care? Does it make my life less complete? Do I feel inferior or left out? hell no! ---
**Author:** ![ntcrawler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/34f0e0/32.png) [@ntcrawler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ntcrawler)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-exclusive-product-service-in-the-world/478663/46 "2008-12-28T04:35:46Z")
Part of the exclusivity also has to do with making other people jealous because they want it, but can’t have it. But you get to have it therefore you’re better. If none of them want it, then it makes it feel that much less special, doesn’t it? Case in point: I could never get VIP passes to the Pussycat Dolls. But do I really care? Does it make my life less complete? Do I feel inferior or left out? hell no! ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Ed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Just\_Ed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Ed)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-exclusive-product-service-in-the-world/478663/47 "2008-12-28T09:08:09Z")
What about the [American Express Black](http://www.snopes.com/business/bank/blackcard.asp) [(Centurion)](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centurion_Card) Card? From the wiki: > [@](#): > > Urban legends of a special, black-colored card offering dignitaries and celebrities unlimited spending power and after-hours access to high-end stores had circulated since the 1980s. . . . Although the rumors were false, American Express decided to capitalize on them in October 1999 by launching the Centurion Card, available to selected holders of its Platinum Card. ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-exclusive-product-service-in-the-world/478663/48 "2008-12-28T09:23:34Z")
> [@Just\_Ed](#): > > What about the [American Express Black](http://www.snopes.com/business/bank/blackcard.asp) [(Centurion)](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centurion_Card) Card? > > From the wiki: Nah, from what I gather it’s pretty much just “make a certain annual income and ask for it.” I think being reasonably famous also qualifies (I have no doubts Barack Obama could get one without anyone over there blinking and he’s certainly not top 10 in annual income). ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Ed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Just\_Ed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Ed)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-exclusive-product-service-in-the-world/478663/49 "2008-12-28T10:24:39Z")
Aw hell. So I guess I should drop my plan to paint my card black and bluff my way . . . somewhere exclusive. Damn their “membership fee”! :o ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-exclusive-product-service-in-the-world/478663/50 "2008-12-28T11:13:22Z")
> [@Jragon](#): > > Nah, from what I gather it’s pretty much just “make a certain annual income and ask for it.” I think being reasonably famous also qualifies (I have no doubts Barack Obama could get one without anyone over there blinking and he’s certainly not top 10 in annual income). I’ve found them to be surprisingly common here, often being used by people who seem fairly unremarkable in all other respects except that they’ve obviously (by virtue of having a Titanium AmEx Centurion card) got a lot of money. As for the OP, I’d say it’s probably something reasonably mundane but also unique, like bottle of Bourbon from the Master Distiller at somewhere like Maker’s Mark or Woodford Reserve’s personal cask- that’s not something you’re likely to be able to simply throw money at to get, but if you are friends with (or part of the family of) the right people, it could probably be arranged. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-exclusive-product-service-in-the-world/478663/51 "2008-12-28T14:51:50Z")
A private audience with the Queen of England, the Pope, or some other head of state would be pretty exclusive. A service or a product? ---
**Author:** ![Chief\_Pedant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@Chief\_Pedant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chief_Pedant)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-exclusive-product-service-in-the-world/478663/52 "2008-12-28T15:22:45Z")
If the question is about affordability, it’s been addressed in other threads, and the short answer is there is no upper limit, really. How would you put a price tag on how much it would cost to privately develop a spaceship for your family’s vacation to Mars–even though it is theoretically feasible? For things which are ordinarily available on the marketplace, it’s still hard to put an upper limit if you include real estate, and if you don’t include that, I can’t think of many ordinary individual items more expensive than a really big cruise ship made to your specifications. Base price of RCL’s next big cruise ship is about a billion dollars, but of course a wealthy person would want to add upgrades. If it’s about exclusivity for any given service, Ms Hook has as much a lock as anyone (assuming she is not open to indecent, but lucrative, proposals). Exclusivity is purely a function of the service’s provider, and there are many things not for sale at any price. If it’s about needing to be connected as well as wealthy, I’d suggest the answer is weapons systems of various types. ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-exclusive-product-service-in-the-world/478663/53 "2008-12-28T22:41:04Z")
> [@ntcrawler](#): > > The Aston Martin One-77: > > Think the Bugatti Veyron is exclusive? Try to get your hands on this one. only 77 to be made. How’s about a [Lamborghini Reventon](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamborghini_Revent%C3%B3n), only 20 to be made. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-exclusive-product-service-in-the-world/478663/54 "2008-12-28T22:56:47Z")
Visiting [Lambay Island](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lambay_Island)must be fairly exclusive. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-exclusive-product-service-in-the-world/478663/55 "2008-12-28T23:16:01Z")
Maybe it’s because I saw a documentary recently on A&E, but being able to afford a high-end escort (two hour dinners start at $5000) must be up there. It’s not just a matter of money, I don’t think, but being able to appreciate an educated, traveled woman for conversation and companionship and not just sex. One woman, based in Paris, is routinely flown to England, Italy, and the US for long weekends with her clients. If a man just wanted sex, there’s a lot cheaper ways to get it. And no, I don’t condone prostitution. But from what I can gather, high end escorts are upper echelon and rather exclusive. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-exclusive-product-service-in-the-world/478663/56 "2008-12-29T00:13:31Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > …but being able to appreciate an educated, traveled woman for conversation and companionship and not just sex… I’ll appreciate an educated, traveled women for a lot less than $2500/hour… 🙂 What? ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-exclusive-product-service-in-the-world/478663/57 "2008-12-29T08:48:40Z")
> [@Glazer](#): > > The U.S. Senate is not a product nor a service. I was going to make some comment about an appointment to the Senate seat from Illinois, but I guess that’s been taken off the market. > [@](#): > > But a massage at the senate ladies spa,now that’s exclusive. Sharing the hot tub with Hillary? Well, if that what rocks your boat… Seriously, I thought certain 19th century vintages of Château Mouton Rothschild and/or Château Lafite Rothschild were considered the ultimate in snobbish exclusivity. But times have changed and perhaps something has displaced them. ---
**Author:** ![yelimS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/54ee81/32.png) [@yelimS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yelimS)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-exclusive-product-service-in-the-world/478663/58 "2008-12-29T14:46:41Z")
> [@Freejooky](#): > > [Private Submarines.](http://www.ussubs.com/submarines/phoenix_1000.php3) now THAT’s cool, but how about your own private railroad? couldn’t find anything with a quick google, but I’d take my hat of for any fellow with his own, private railroad going at least a hundred kilometres. you’d probably have to get a ton of permits as well as spending a wazillion or two, so it should be exclusive enough. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-exclusive-product-service-in-the-world/478663/59 "2008-12-29T15:51:51Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > That is a good example in a few ways. John Travolta is dedicated to aviation and pilots his own actual airliner. Not only is that ridiculously expensive, it also takes some serious skills and responsibility to be allowed to do it at all especially for decades. I have always heard is a very good and serious pilot which he must be to keep up his license. There aren’t very many people that have the means and dedication to keep up an Air Transport Pilot certificate on their own to fly a personal airliner. He’s put that 707 down safely in emergency conditions, IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-exclusive-product-service-in-the-world/478663/60 "2008-12-29T15:56:04Z")
> [@LouiseE](#): > > The BF mentioned to my parents that one of the more obscenely wealthy Arab sheiks bought himself an A380 as an upgrade for his 747. Dunno about that, but Sultan Qaboos bin Said of Oman has _three_ 747s… and three 330+ foot yachts (one is over 500 feet). > [@](#): > > He’s put that 707 down safely in emergency conditions, IIRC. And yet, ironically, [neglected to put a fence around his runway](http://www.wftv.com/news/15146845/detail.html). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-exclusive-product-service-in-the-world/478663.md?page=2)