The richest women in the world won’t carry just any bag onto their private planes, mega yachts, and during shopping sprees. Celebrity women with money to burn can’t carry their lipstick in your run-of-the-mill, everyday tote bag. No, the richest ladies carry their wallets and compacts in some of the most luxurious purses money can buy. The following are the most expensive handbags ever made and sold:
5) Hermès Matte Crocodile Birkin Bag: $120,000
Pictured: Hermès Matte Crocodile Birkin Bag
Named after British singer/actress Jane Birkin, the Birkin bag is the ultimate status symbol among the one percent. With a clasp that boasts 10-carats of white diamonds and a bag made of crocodile skin, this purse is definitely worth $120,000. Cheaper versions of the highly coveted handbag retail for $5,000—that is, if you can get off the wait list to buy your own!
4) Lana Marks Cleopatra Bag: $250,000
Pictured: Lana Marks Cleopatra Bag
Designer Lana Marks produces only one Cleopatra bag each year. Helen Mirren wore the $250,000 silver alligator skin handbag to the 2007 Academy Awards. Her bag featured 1,500 black and white diamonds set in 18-karat gold. Each year, Marks only allows one celebrity to carry her handbag down the red carpet.
3) Chanel “Diamond Forever” Classic Handbag: $261,000
Pictured: Chanel “Diamond Forever” bag
Everyone knows Chanel bags aren’t cheap and this purse is no exception. The “Diamond Forever” bag features 334 diamonds totaling 3.56-carats set in 18-karat white gold. The shoulder straps are also made from white gold because well, why not. There are only 13 of these bags available in the entire world, and five of them are being sold in the USA.
2) Hermès Birkin Ginza Tanaka Bag: $1.9 million
Pictured: Hermès Birkin Ginza Tanaka Bag
Hermès has a second spot on the list of most expensive handbags with this $1.9 million stunner. The bag, designed by Japanese designer Ginza Tanaka features 2,000 diamonds and is made of platinum. For $1.9 million you not only get a purse, but you also get a necklace and bracelet. The strap can be removed from the purse and used as both a bracelet and a necklace. The bag also has an 8-carat pear shaped diamond that can be used as a pendant.
1) Mouwad’s 1001 Nights Diamond Purse: $3.8 million
Pictured: Mouwad’s 1001 Nights Diamond Purse
The heart shaped Mouwad 1001 Nights Diamond purse is certified by Guinness World Records as the most expensive purse in the world. The bag is crafted from 18-karat gold and adorned with 4,517 diamonds (4,356 colorless, 105 yellow and 65 pink) with a total weight of 381.92-carats. 10 artisans spent a total of 8,800 hours building the gorgeous purse.
