Jay-Z private jet: The Bombardier Global Express XRS – Beyoncé’s 40 million gift

Beyoncé gave Jay-Z a Bombardier Global Express XRS for Father’s Day in 2012 – purchase price: 40 million dollars. The aircraft is still regarded as one of the most beautiful celebrity private jets in the world and suits a man who is not only a rapper but also a Forbes-approved billionaire: Armand de Brignac, Tidal, D’Ussé – the portfolio explains why Lufthansa Business Class was never an option. Beyoncé had the interior customized: her own bedroom, wine rack, her own cabin signature.

Bombardier Global Express XRS: Specifications

The Global Express XRS is the predecessor of today’s popular Bombardier Global 6000. Bombardier designed the model for ultra-long-haul routes – which is exactly what Jay-Z and Beyoncé need for their global tours.

• Range: 11,390 km (Paris to New York non-stop)
• Maximum cruising speed: 956 km/h (Mach 0.89)
• Capacity: up to 13 passengers in VIP setup
• Cabin height: 1.88 m (can stand upright)
• Engine: Rolls-Royce BR710C4-11

The interior: Beyoncé’s design signature

Beyoncé has left no detail to chance. The jet bears the serial number N450JZ – a reference to Jay-Z’s name and Shawn Carter. The cabin was completely rebuilt by a London interior design studio:

Front area: Seating area for business meetings (Tidal team, in-flight management calls), equipped with satellite internet and direct video conferencing capabilities. Middle area: Dining area for four people with real porcelain – no plastic containers. Rear area: Bedroom with double bed, en-suite bathroom with shower.

The wine rack in the front part of the cabin was specially designed for Armand de Brignac champagne. Marketing and lifestyle as an embedded statement.

Travel like Jay-Z and Beyoncé – what it really costs

The Global Express XRS on charter is between 12,000 and 18,000 euros per flight hour. For a route like Frankfurt to New York (around 8 hours), that would be around 96,000 to 140,000 euros. Drake’s 767 is cheaper per person if many people are traveling – Beyoncé’s jet is more private and discreet.

There are more compact options between Berlin and Paris, Düsseldorf and Ibiza or Munich and London: Midsize jet charter from around 8,000 euros – without membership or minimum volume.

N450JZ has been one of the most photographed private aircraft in the world since 2012. At JFK Airport in New York, at Nice Airport at festival time, in Cannes, Dubai, Los Angeles – the jet is always present when the Carters are in town. And that makes it more than just a means of transportation.

The most spectacular contrast in comparison is Drake’s Air Drake Boeing 767 – a converted cargo jet with a purchase price of 185 million dollars, three bedrooms and a Virgil Abloh interior. For those who want an overview of the entire celebrity jet spectrum: the Gulfstream G650ER as the private jet of the stars – from Kim Kardashian to Oprah Winfrey – shows why this model has become the first choice.