Christmas Shopping for Billionaires: A Luxury Wanderings Guide

Christmas for billionaires is a season defined not by rush or routine, but by ritual. It’s the quiet moment when the world’s most discerning collectors, aesthetes, and travellers turn their gaze towards the things that endure – craftsmanship, heritage, and beauty in its rarest forms.

Across the great capitals of luxury, Christmas shopping for billionaires unfolds as a seamless choreography of private appointments, bespoke commissions, and exquisite indulgences that blur the line between gifting and art. From Parisian couture salons to Napa’s candlelit cellars, each purchase carries a story of provenance and precision.

This guide journeys through that rarefied landscape – the ateliers, galleries, and experiences where the season’s most coveted treasures are found, and where celebration itself becomes a form of curation.

1. Couture, Jewellery, and Horology: The Art of Personal Luxury

I. Paris
Under the golden glow of Avenue Montaigne, Paris celebrates the craftsmanship that defines true luxury. Private cars pull discreetly to the doors of Chanel’s maison or Dior’s couture salons, where fittings take place by appointment and champagne service is as seamless as the stitching.

A stroll to Place Vendôme reveals the city’s most exclusive treasures – high-jewellery ateliers like Chaumet and Cartier, where rare stones are unveiled in hushed salons scented with roses. Guests staying at Cheval Blanc Paris often move between boutique and spa with effortless grace, concluding the day at Arpège or Le Cinq, where artistry extends from gown to gastronomy.

II. London
London’s festive season thrives on heritage and elegance. Along Bond Street, jewellers such as Boodles and Asprey prepare private viewings of one-of-a-kind pieces, while Savile Row tailors complete their final bespoke commissions before the New Year.

Shoppers retreat to Claridge’s or The Connaught, where concierges coordinate appointments and personal shoppers deliver selections directly to suites. Between fittings, guests enjoy seasonal menus at Hélène Darroze or a quiet martini by the fire – the city’s version of luxury wrapped in understatement.

III. Geneva
In Geneva, horology becomes a language of legacy. On Rue du Rhône, maisons like Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet unveil timepieces destined to mark generations, often personalised with engraved dials or bespoke mechanisms. Collectors discuss their commissions over lunch at Izumi or late-night tastings at La Réserve Genève’s cellar. The city’s calm, framed by snow-capped Alps and the shimmer of the lake, mirrors the quiet precision of the craftsmanship it celebrates.

2. Bespoke Gifts and Exceptional Christmas Décor

I. London
At Harrods’ Penthouse Suites, Christmas shopping takes the shape of a private art form. Designers and craftsmen present everything from crystal baubles trimmed with gold to custom gift trunks lined in leather and velvet. Across town, Fortnum & Mason curates its legendary hampers – laden with truffles, caviar, and rare teas – for global delivery. Guests staying at The Ritz or The Lanesborough often commission personal florists to decorate their suites, the scent of pine and clove mingling with the quiet hum of the city at dusk.

II. Paris
In Paris, even decorations possess couture pedigree. Lalique and Baccarat showcase hand-blown crystal ornaments that double as works of art, while Dior Maison and Hermès release limited-edition tableware collections inspired by winter gardens and haute couture archives. At Le Bristol, the lobby gleams with festive garlands as guests finalise bespoke orders before retreating upstairs for chocolat chaud or a glass of Krug by the fire – Parisian indulgence distilled to its essence.

III. New York
Across the Atlantic, Bergdorf Goodman’s holiday windows set the tone for Manhattan’s most extravagant season. Inside, private salons host exclusive showings of Tiffany & Co. ornaments and hand-cut crystal from Baccarat’s Fifth Avenue boutique. Collectors book suites at Aman New York or The Mark, where personal stylists and concierge teams coordinate purchases across the city. Dinners at Eleven Madison Park or The Grill turn shopping days into evenings of celebration, framed by the lights of Central Park.

3. Fine Wine, Gourmet Food, and Rare Spirits

I. Bordeaux
In Bordeaux, the festive ritual begins in the cellar. Château Lafite Rothschild and Château Margaux welcome guests to candlelit tastings, selecting vintages for future release. Sommeliers guide private tours through ancient vineyards, where clients reserve barrels that will not be seen again for years. At Les Sources de Caudalie, guests unwind beside the fire, glass in hand, the evening drifting easily between dinner and dream.

II. Napa Valley
In California’s Napa Valley, Christmas unfolds in sunlight and scent. At Harlan Estate, Screaming Eagle, and Opus One, winemakers host intimate barrel tastings, blending wines with their guests before arranging bespoke cases for international delivery. At Meadowood, seasonal menus pair truffles and vintage cabernets beneath soft candlelight, while private chauffeurs ferry guests between vineyards and hillside spas – indulgence that feels quietly Californian in its ease.

III. Scotland
For those who favour amber over ruby, Scotland remains the spiritual home of festive spirit. The Macallan and The Dalmore craft engraved decanters and bespoke casks for their most discerning patrons, each bottle an heirloom in liquid form. Guests retreat to Gleneagles or The Fife Arms, where crackling fires and candlelit dinners transform each tasting into ceremony. The Highlands outside glow with frost – a perfect match for the warmth of whisky shared among friends.

4. Art, Antiques, and Collectibles: Acquiring Legacy

I. London
December in London brings a quieter kind of theatre. At Christie’s and Sotheby’s, private collectors attend winter previews by candlelight, viewing art destined for silent acquisition. On Albemarle Street, galleries host end-of-year exhibitions where masterpieces change hands without ever reaching public display. Guests at The Connaught or Claridge’s often entertain curators over dinner, the talk as precise as the brushstrokes they discuss.

II. Paris
In Paris, the Left Bank hums with artistry. Within Saint-Germain-des-Prés, antique dealers and ateliers offer gilt-framed treasures and Louis XVI furnishings alongside newly commissioned objets from contemporary sculptors. A stay at Le Meurice or Hôtel Lutetia provides proximity and polish – mornings spent browsing, afternoons in conversation over Burgundy and foie gras, evenings wrapped in the glow of craftsmanship rediscovered.

III. New York
New York closes the art year with spectacle and secrecy. At Gagosian, Pace, and David Zwirner, end-of-season viewings become private salons for collectors travelling in from Aspen or Geneva. Aman New York’s suites, often adorned with curated installations, double as meeting spaces where art and lifestyle merge effortlessly. The city outside glitters, but within these quiet rooms, transactions unfold like shared confidences – refined, discreet, and deeply personal.

5. Home, Interiors, and Furniture Commissions

I. Milan
Milan’s design scene remains the heart of European craftsmanship. Within Nilufar Gallery and Boffi De Padova, billionaires commission entire interiors, from sculptural furniture to bespoke cabinetry. Over espresso at the Bulgari Hotel Milano, designers and clients exchange sketches, fabrics, and ideas that will later define mountain chalets or Riviera villas. The city’s precision, even at Christmas, feels effortlessly stylish.

II. Paris
In Paris, design ateliers blur the line between art and domestic life. Pierre Yovanovitch and India Mahdavi welcome private clients into studios filled with prototypes, while artisans from the Faubourg Saint-Antoine prepare hand-carved pieces destined for international residences. Guests staying at Hôtel de Crillon or Le Royal Monceau often combine meetings with gallery visits, their stays becoming both inspiration and indulgence.

III. Los Angeles
Across the Atlantic, Los Angeles offers a modern counterpoint. At Galerie Half and JH Interior Design, collectors browse mid-century pieces and commissions that blend Californian warmth with European sensibility. The Peninsula Beverly Hills becomes the preferred base – a place to meet designers, unwind with champagne at sunset, and plan the next interior masterpiece against a backdrop of palm trees and festive lights.

6. Perfume, Beauty, and Wellness Gifts

I. Paris
Perfume in Paris is a language of memory. At Henry Jacques and Maison Francis Kurkdjian, fragrance consultations result in compositions unique to each client – essences presented in crystal flacons engraved with initials and sealed in silk. At Officine Universelle Buly, the gifting is tactile and timeless, with apothecary jars and marble cases that feel more like keepsakes than products. The Dior Spa at Cheval Blanc Paris completes the sensory ritual with treatments that mirror the refinement of scent itself.

II. London
In London, heritage perfumers continue the city’s long romance with individuality. Roja Parfums and Floris Jermyn Street craft bespoke fragrances that evoke personal histories, while Claridge’s Spa offers festive wellness rituals infused with essential oils and candlelight. Between appointments, guests stop by The Connaught Bar or the winter terrace at The Berkeley – moments of calm framed by the fragrance of cedar and spice.

III. Tokyo
Tokyo transforms beauty into quiet ceremony. At Clé de Peau Beauté’s Ginza flagship, skincare becomes a form of craftsmanship, while Shiseido’s Future Solution LX Spa blends ancient rituals with modern precision. At Aman Tokyo, treatments and teas extend the same minimal perfection; the city hums far below, but within those still spaces, time feels perfectly suspended.

7. Rare Cars, Yachts, and Aviation

I. Monaco
In Monaco, luxury moves to the rhythm of the Riviera. Within the Carré d’Or, conversations turn to new yacht deliveries, while Benetti and Feadship host private viewings along Port Hercule. At the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo, guests toast the year’s final acquisitions beneath glittering chandeliers, the Mediterranean just beyond the glass – a fitting reflection of the glamour outside.

II. Maranello and Crewe
Italy’s Maranello and England’s Crewe embody craftsmanship in motion. Ferrari’s Tailor-Made programme welcomes collectors to personalise every stitch and shade of their vehicles, while Bentley’s Mulliner division refines interiors in walnut and silk. After design sessions, guests retreat to Villa La Massa near Florence or The Savoy in London, where festive dinners celebrate mechanical artistry with culinary precision.

III. Dubai
Dubai elevates transportation to spectacle. Within the city’s private lounges, Gulfstream and Dassault representatives unveil bespoke jet interiors upholstered in Hermès leather and designed by international studios. Guests staying at the Bulgari Resort or One&Only One Za’abeel often finalise deliveries between yacht cruises and dinners at Zuma – the season’s celebrations as seamless as the skyline they overlook.

8. Experiences, Retreats, and Beyond-the-Gift Indulgence

I. St. Moritz
High in the Swiss Alps, St. Moritz glitters like a snow globe of privilege. Along Via Serlas, boutiques such as Hermès and Moncler cater to a clientele that arrives by jet, yet the true luxury lies beyond the shopfronts – in heli-skiing, sleigh rides, and champagne enjoyed beside the frozen lake. Evenings at Badrutt’s Palace or Kulm Hotel unfold with old-world poise, where candlelight and conversation linger late into the night.

II. Aspen
Across the Atlantic, Aspen balances mountain chic with laid-back glamour. Prada Aspen and Kemo Sabe outfit guests in velvet jackets and bespoke boots before they retreat to The Little Nell for fireside dinners paired with rare vintages. Days blur between ski slopes and art galleries, each moment wrapped in effortless sophistication.

III. Maldives
For those seeking quiet seclusion, the Maldives becomes the ultimate festive retreat. At Cheval Blanc Randheli or Velaa Private Island, entire villas are reserved for families celebrating in privacy, with personal chefs, spa therapists, and dive guides curating the rhythm of each day. Here, the gift is not an object but a memory – one that endures long after the Christmas lights fade.

For the world’s billionaires, Christmas is less about indulgence and more about curation – a season where craftsmanship, legacy, and beauty converge. Each city offers a different interpretation of luxury: Paris in silk and crystal, London in heritage and hush, Geneva in precision and poise. Whether savouring a bottle yet to be opened or commissioning a piece that will outlast a lifetime, their festive journeys remind us that true luxury lies in the art of choosing well, and in the time taken to appreciate it.