Money & investment

Aside from a property, what is the most expensive thing you have bought?

197 answers answered between 2003 and 2026 one of 25 in The Q&A

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The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A

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Read by field Everyone Science and medicine 1 Arts and letters 171 Politics and public life 10 Business and finance 6 Sport 9
Read by age Any age Before thirty 4 In their thirties 35 In their forties 43 In their fifties 42 In their sixties 41 Seventy and beyond 30
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Robert Carlyle Scottish actor
My wedding. It was at Skibo Castle long before Madonna or any of those people went there.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 23 February 2008 source ↗
Julien Macdonald Welsh fashion designer
A very expensive watch. I can’t tell you what it is – I’ll get robbed.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 1 October 2016 source ↗
Melanie Chisholm British pop singer
Holidays. In the Spice Girls, we found ourselves with quite a few quid, so it was lovely to hire a big house in the Caribbean and have friends and family over.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 15 October 2016 source ↗
Nicola Walker British actress
Ten years ago I bought a painting. I lived with it for a year before realising I didn’t like it at all. So it’s on my wall, mocking me daily.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 7 January 2017 source ↗
Shappi Khorsandi Iranian-born British comedian
A walk-on part for my mum in Les Misérables. It was in a charity auction. She always dreamed of being in a West End show.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 18 February 2017 source ↗
Warwick Davis English actor
Our campervan. It’s fully kitted out, sleeps four and lowers down, so we can get in and out easily.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 18 November 2017 source ↗
Chris Hoy British track cyclist, 1994–2013
A road track car, a Porsche GT3. I’ve done the 24-hour race in Le Mans, which was a dream come true.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 10 February 2018 source ↗
Julie Hesmondhalgh English actress and narrator
An old camper van that has cost me more in repairs than my house, my wedding and all the holidays I’ve ever been on.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 17 February 2018 source ↗
Carlos Acosta Cuban ballet dancer
A 1955 Jaguar XK120. It was not in very good condition and, little by little, I brought it back to its former splendour.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 29 September 2018 source ↗
Emilia Fox English actress and presenter
A birthday present I hoped would mean a lot to the person. I had their family history researched and a book made.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 6 October 2018 source ↗
Susan Calman Scottish comedian
A Tiffany watch for my wife. The security guard was following us, so I deliberately bought a really expensive watch to prove we had money. I don’t think I’ve seen her wear it.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 24 November 2018 source ↗
Martin Freeman English actor
I love clothes and accoutrements, so it would be either a suit or a watch. I love Mark Powell in Soho, and Paul Smith.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 19 January 2019 source ↗
Ralf Little English actor, writer, former semi-professional footballer
A watch that begins with an R.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 1 February 2020 source ↗

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