It may not come as a surprise that some of the world's most powerful leaders, business tycoons, and monarchs travel by private jets and extravagant aircrafts. However, some have entire fleets at their disposal which, for some, cost up to $1 billion (£786 million).

Air Charter Service, which specialises in charters and private jets for heads of state and high profile individuals, has put together an analysis of the aircrafts owned and used by 13 of the most influential leaders in the world.

Using research from its 20 global offices, the study reveals the fleets heads of state travel with, their estimated value, as well as facts about their interiors and security features.

While some of the world's most powerful certainly opt for the height of luxury, the study shows that not all of the fleets are quite so ostentatious.

From the $1.5 billion (£1.2 billion) fleet of the Qatari royal family to the more modest choices of the General Secretary of China's Communist Party and Xi Jinping, scroll down for a look at the air travel habits of the most powerful leaders, monarchs, and billionaires in the world. The list is ranked in ascending order by estimated cost of their fleet or most expensive aircraft.

10. Queen Elizabeth II — £78.6 million.

The Queen of England, members of the Royal family and Great Britain’s government rely upon the 32nd squadron of the United Kingdom to get around.

These include two AW109 helicopters for travelling distances under 1,000 kilometres, six BAE-125 airplanes with a flight range up to 3,000 kilometres, as well as four mid-sized reactive BAE-146 airplanes. Queen Elizabeth II also has a personal helicopter, Sikorsky S-76 Spirit, as part of the Royal Household.

The total cost of the 32nd squadron fleet of the United Kingdom is estimated to be around $100 million (£78.6 million).

Until recently, the Royal Family leased ordinary Boeing 747s or Boeing 777s from British Airways or Virgin Atlantic for travelling long distances. Currently, the royal family can be transported by Royal Air Force airplanes and helicopters for important events.

9. Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah — £170 million.

The Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, has a private jet — an Airbus A340-212— nicknamed the "Flying Palace." It cost the prince £80 million, and an additional £95 millon to modernise.

Its makeover included the addition of a luxurious cabin decorated with precious metals, gems, and valuable wood, as well as the instalment of the additional fuel tanks, increasing the non-stop flight range of his personal air force to 15,000 kilometres.

The rise in traffic from private jets and helicopters traveling to the Hamptons is causing residents grief.

The introduction of new ride-sharing helicopter companies, most notably BLADE, has made air travel there more convenient. But that means noise many residents aren't happy about, The Wall Street Journal reported.

The service, which has been called "Uber for helicopters" costs as little as $695 for a one-way seat to the Hamptons and takes just 40 minutes to travel from Midtown Manhattan to the end of Long Island. 

East Hampton, which has its own airport that serves small charter planes, private jets, and helicopters, is one of the worst spots for noise pollution. 

More than 26,000 aircraft-related noise complaints were registered in 2016, up from about 24,000 the previous year, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing city data. 

Kathleen Cunningham, a full-time East Hamptons resident, lives three miles away from the airport.

“Helicopters have made it unbearable with ride-sharing,” she told Business Insider,

“It completely changes your ability to function, sometimes it’s so loud you can’t think. If there are multiple flights, you are in a state of hyper-alert; it’s like you’re being attacked," she said. 

It’s not just East Hampton, other Long Island towns are also suffering. Nearby Westhampton has shown its solidarity by posting a link to a noise complaint registry (Air Noise Report) on the town website to allow its residents to make complaints. So far, there have been 10,283 complaints in 2017.

According to Cunningham, the summer months are the worst. “You end up welcoming a rainy day," she said. 

Cunningham is one of many residents who has been advocating against the noise pollution and supporting the town in its legal action to bring back curfews on when these flights can occur. 

These curfews, which previously prevented flights from being scheduled during nighttime hours and limited the amount of trips that a specific aircraft could take, were removed after air-charter operators sued the town and the case was taken to court.

The case is now sitting with the US Supreme Court and East Hampton residents are expecting to hear whether it will be heard this month. 

"I don't expect they will," said Cunningham, "but I am hopeful."

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The INSIDER Summary

• Surf Air is a private jet service that just launched in Europe. 
• Members can fly unlimited trips within the continent for a montly fee.
• The company is adding destinations like Cannes, Zurich and Milan to its roster. 
• The service first launched in California and has become popular for making traveling less stressful.

Frequent flying is about to be taken to a new level with the European launch of Surf Air, a subscription service that lets members fly unlimited trips on a private jet for a monthly fee.

The service first launched in California, where members could fly as many trips as they wanted between destinations like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Lake Tahoe for a flat monthly fee of $1,950, in addition to a one-time new member fee.

Since the flights are often not run out of commercial airports and are within one country, users could book on a smartphone app and simply show up 15 minutes before takeoff. Surf Air conducts security screenings of all of its members, so they don’t have to go through security at the airport.

Surf Air just made its debut in Europe, scheduled to take its maiden voyage Monday from London to Ibiza, Spain. The company plans to quickly add destinations such as Cannes, Zurich, Geneva and Milan, Reuters reported.

The subscription package is marketed toward business passengers, as the 1,950 pound per month (approximately $2,230) cuts down on wait times at airports. While the price tag may seem steep, last minute flights between short haul destinations in Europe can run well over $400 roundtrip, even on discount airlines.

Surf Air in Europe currently has one jet and plans to add at least a dozen Pilatus aircraft in the next three to five years, according to the same Reuters report.

The jets are equipped with reclining seats, work tables, and USB ports. Passengers can help themselves to unlimited drinks and food onboard, as there is no flight crew, the Independent reported.

"Our model is the future of air travel," European CEO Simon Talling-Smith, told the Independent. "It's flying without the bad bits.”

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On Monday, Bombardier confirmed that the first examples of its next generation Global 7000 private jet are undergoing final assembly at its factory near Toronto, Canada. 

Thus far, the Montreal-based airplane maker says its three Global 7000 test planes have conducted over 500 hours worth of flight testing.

"The Global 7000 aircraft’s flight validation program is making steady headway because of the aircraft’s reliable and mature configuration while in parallel, solid progress of the testing on structural and systems rigs is supporting certification activities as per plan," Bombardier Vice President of product development and chief engineer, François Caza, said in a statement. 

With two more test planes under construction, Bombardier says it's confident the Global 7000 will be able to complete its testing and certification program in time to enter service in the second half of 2018. 

The long-delayed Global 7000, a victim of Bombardier's recent financial troubles, is expected to be one of the most capable and expensive private jets in the air with a price tag of $72.8 million. 

Here's a closer look at the new Bombardier Global 7000:

SEE ALSO: Airline CEO predicts a future where 'we will pay you to fly'

The Global 7000 is the latest development of Bombardier's current flagship Global 5000 and...

... Global 6000 jets.

The Global 7000 first flew on November 4, 2016. Here, the final two Global 7000 test planes are under assembly. Once completed, they will join their three sister planes at Bombardier's flight test center in Wichita, Kansas.

A spokeswoman for Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price said the reason he had chartered nearly 25 private flights since May was to make "sure he is connected with the real American people."

"This is Secretary Price, getting outside of DC, making sure he is connected with the real American people," Charmaine Yoest, his assistant secretary for public affairs, told The Washington Post. "Wasting four hours in an airport and having the secretary cancel his event is not a good use of taxpayer money."

Price has come under fire for his frequent chartered flights, which can cost taxpayers more than $25,000 each. Politico reported earlier this week that he opted for private travel over commercial flights 24 times since early May, including five such flights last week.

One was from Washington, DC, to Philadelphia, just a 135-mile trip. Price's trips also included flights to New Hampshire and a resort in Maine.

Before joining President Donald Trump's administration, Price served as a Republican congressman from Georgia. As a member of Congress, he railed against what he called frivolous government spending, including similar private travel by fellow members.

Price began chartering planes after experiencing a delayed commercial flight early in his tenure as health and human services secretary, The Post reported Friday. Price, The Post said, citing an aide, was forced to wait for hours in an airport, causing him to miss a scheduled public appearance his office had coordinated.

Some top Democrats in Congress have called for an investigation into Price's travel.

On Thursday, 16 Democratic senators signed a letter to the Office of Management and Budget asking its director, Mick Mulvaney, to provide information on policies that govern when cabinet officials can charter planes and for an explanation as to what the OMB was doing to ensure that the travel complied with existing rules and regulations.

"Taxpayers appear to be footing the bill for extraordinary travel expenses using government resources and providing Cabinet officials with private aircraft at a cost of tens of thousands of dollars where commercial flights are readily available," the senators wrote. "These incidents give us concern that there is a culture of wasteful spending on travel in the Trump Administration ... It is our duty to provide oversight and ensure that taxpayer money is spent responsibly, without waste, fraud, or abuse."

And on Friday, Rep. Elijah Cummings of Maryland, the ranking Democrat on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, requested that the committee's chair, Trey Gowdy, a South Carolina Republican, hold an immediate hearing related to Price's travel expenditures.

"Too many Trump Administration officials have an entitled, millionaire mindset when it comes to squandering taxpayer money that does not belong to them just to support their lavish lifestyles," Cummings said in a statement. "This starts at the very top, and the American people are not going to keep footing the bill for the Trump Administration's Champagne wishes and caviar dreams."

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Tom Price's rationale for using private air travel to conduct government business — to stay "connected with real American people"— doesn't quite add up, Politico reported on Friday.

The news outlet pointed to one event Price was scheduled to attend in April: a gathering of health-industry executives and investors at the Ritz Carlton hotel in an affluent coastal suburb of Southern California.

Price was to attend the two-day conference and spend one night at the hotel which, according to Politico's reporting, offered rooms that start at $499 per night.

Price was the only government official on the schedule for that event. He never made it, due to multiple flight delays out of Reagan National Airport near downtown Washington, DC.

Price has been under the microscope in recent days over his preference for traveling on private jets in his official capacity as secretary of the Health and Human Services agency. An earlier report from Politico said Price had taken at least 24 work-related trips on private planes since May. The trips have so far cost US taxpayers $300,000.

The latest revelation also casts doubt on assertions from people close to Price who said private air travel offered the secretary more flexibility to accommodate his busy schedule. An MSNBC/Politico estimate showed other travel options on routes Price has traveled — including a Washington, DC-to-Philadelphia flight Price took recently.

The 135-mile trip would have cost about $92 if Price had traveled by car, $544 on Amtrak, or about $725 on a commercial flight. The private jet Price took instead cost $25,000, according to the joint analysis.

The Health and Human Services agency's inspector general is now investigating Price's travel habits, The Washington Post reported Friday.

SEE ALSO: Secretary Tom Price is chartering private jets for government travel — at a cost of tens of thousands of dollars

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A group of five Democratic members of Congress are calling on Tom Price to resign, following reports of the Health and Human Services secretary's frequent use of costly chartered flights for government business.

"You have routinely made use of expensive private jets for official travel, bypassing cost-effective alternatives and wasting hundreds of thousands of tax dollars," the five representatives wrote in a public letter on Wednesday.

"At a minimum, the American people expect cabinet secretaries to lead with integrity, accept accountability, and use public resources responsibly. In light of your breach of the public trust, we write to urge you to do the right thing and immediately tender your resignation."

The letter was signed by Reps. Ruben Gallego of Arizona, Ted Lieu of California, Jamie Raskin of Maryland, Pramila Jayapal of Washington, and Brenda Lawrence of Michigan.

Politico reported this week that Price opted for private flights over commercial travel 24 times since early May, costing taxpayers more than $400,000. Some of the chartered flights covered distances as small as 135 miles, such as Price's recent trip from Washington, DC, to Philadelphia. In one instance, Price took a $17,760 private flight to Nashville, where he stayed for less than six hours and had lunch with his son, according to Politico.

A spokeswoman for Price defended the secretary's use of chartered flights, telling The Washington Post last week, "This is Secretary Price, getting outside of DC, making sure he is connected with the real American people. Wasting four hours in an airport and having the secretary cancel his event is not a good use of taxpayer money."

The House Oversight Committee on Wednesday launched an investigation into the traveling habits of Price and other government officials, including Treasury Secretary Scott Mnuchin. It was also reported on Wednesday that Steve Pruitt, administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, flew on a private plane to Oklahoma in July, costing taxpayers more than $14,000.

President Donald Trump told reporters on Wednesday he was "not happy" with Price and left the door open to dismissing him.

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In the second half of the 1960s, late Playboy founder Hugh Hefner purchased a customized plane called the "Big Bunny."

A stretch version of a DC-9, it had the capability to go anywhere in the world — and it did, taking Hefner and his celebrity clientele everywhere from Africa to Europe.

Estimated to cost about $5 million, it was outfitted with custom lighting and painted black, which was revolutionary for the time. He called his stewardesses "Jet Bunnies."

Though the famed plane was only used for six years, it certainly left behind a legacy of its own. 

With the help of Playboy Enterprises, we've put together a collection of photos that will take you through the famed jet's history, from its wild disco parties to its luxurious amenities.

Talia Avakian contributed reporting to an earlier version of this article.

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Hefner purchased the plane when he was 43. He had the 119-foot plane custom-made for him after a 1966 trip to London. "I saw the future when I was in London: The sexual revolution was going on and the miniskirt had just arrived ... I decided then and there to get the jet," he said in a piece he wrote for the Wall Street Journal in 2010.

Source: Wall Street Journal

He had spotlights installed on the wing tips so that the iconic rabbit could be seen flying through the air at night. He also asked permission from the federal government to paint it black. "I designed the Big Bunny jet to stand out," he wrote in the WSJ. "Nobody had a black plane at the time. It was like The Ugly Duckling."

Source: Wall Street Journal

Hefner's Jet Bunnies had worked in the Playboy clubs in Chicago and Los Angeles and trained at Continental Airlines' stewardess school. Uniforms that were designed by Walter Holmes — with contributions from Hefner himself — included rabbit ears and tails, black boots, and white aviator scarves.

Most Instagram stars have at least one glamorous shot on a private jet.

And now even ordinary people can fake a lavish lifestyle by hiring a grounded private jet as a backdrop for their Instagram snaps — well, at least in Russia they can.

Moscow-based Private Jet Studio is selling two-hour photo shoots aboard the Gulfstream G650 private jet for 14,000 roubles ($244 or £185) with a personal photographer included, or 11,000 roubles ($191 or £145) without.

If you'd prefer a video of your experience, you can pay 25,000 roubles ($434 or £330) for a two-hour spot.

You can also hire a team of hair and makeup professionals to polish your look beforehand.

The shoots give the effect that you are in the air, but the jet is in fact grounded the entire time.

Guests can quaff champagne while feigning to admire the view from the window.

People have even been taking their dogs onboard.

This video shows the hair and makeup preparations.

It's all pretty glam.

The shots range from the overtly-staged...

...To the slightly more demure.

The idea for private jet shoots has been largely inspired by posts from Instagram stars such Gianluca Vacchi, who's photo below has been liked over 200,000 times.

The images are being used as a tool for building followers and likes on the platform — and they'll cost you less than £200.

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• Bombardier recently showed off its fourth and newest Global 7000 prototype private jet.
• The aircraft is expected to be one of the most capable and expensive private jets in the air with a price tag of $72.8 million.
• The 7000 has a maximum range of more than 8,500 miles. That means it can fly non-stop between Sydney and San Francisco or New York and Dubai or London and Singapore.

Last week, the long-await Bombardier Global 7000 made its air show debut at National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Conference and Exhibition in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Canadian plane maker showed off its fourth and newest Global 7000 prototype, the first with a complete interior. According to Bombardier, flight test vehicle 4 or FTV4 will be used to evaluate the Global 7000's passenger experience including its cabin management and in-flight entertainment systems.

"Our Global 7000 flight test vehicles continue to undergo rigorous testing at our world-class flight test center in Wichita, Kansas," Bombardier vice president of product development, François Caza said in a statement. "Having now flown nearly 900 hours, the aircraft continue to perform extremely well and to exhibit a high level of reliability."

"Areas of the flight envelope and the performance of the systems, including at extreme temperatures, have been tested. The results show a maturity which is in full support of the planned certification activities," Caza added.

Bombardier is currently preparing the fifth and final flight test vehicle at its factory in Toronto, Canada.

The long-delayed Global 7000, a victim of Bombardier's recent financial troubles, is expected to be one of the most capable and expensive private jets in the air with a price tag of $72.8 million.

Here's a closer look at the new Bombardier Global 7000:

SEE ALSO: The most popular private jet in the world just got a high-tech makeover

FOLLOW US: on Facebook for more car and transportation content!

The Global 7000 is the latest development of Bombardier's current flagship Global 5000 and...

... Global 6000 jets.

The Global 7000 first flew on November 4, 2016. Here's a photo of the final two Global 7000 test planes under assembly. Once completed, they joined their three sister planes at Bombardier's flight test center in Wichita, Kansas.

Most of us non-celebrities don't get the chance to fly private whenever we need to get around. 

But there may come a time in the future when you'll be invited — by a business colleague or a friend — to take a flight on a private jet. This could be an intimidating experience for first-timers. 

We chatted with Andrew Collins, president and CEO of on-demand jet membership company Sentient Jet, to get his advice for conquering this milestone with grace. Sentient's Jet Card offers 25 hours of flying time with a membership that ranges from $127,325 to $350,325, depending on the quality of the aircraft.

Here's what Collins recommends for your first private flight.

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Don't be late.

"Without long security lines and airport delays, what can be a day-long affair when traveling commercially is often only a couple of hours when flying private," Collins said.

Still, that's no excuse for showing up right at departure time. Collins recommends arriving about 20 to 30 minutes before your flight is set to leave, especially if your host is waiting on you.

Pack light.

"Luggage capacity depends on the jet, but many private jets can have less cargo or baggage space than commercial planes," Collins said. "I typically recommend private jet passengers pack as lightly as possible, especially when you are invited to travel as a guest and might not know what your host is planning to bring."

Don't leave your ID at home.

You won't have to go through traditional airport security, but you will still need to have something to identify yourself, including a passport if you're traveling internationally.

"[Forgetting] this ... is something we see from time-to-time and it can cause a challenge for a first-time flyer or with a guest," Collins said.

And though unlike on commercial flights, you can bring water and other liquids onboard, federal regulations on hazardous materials do still apply. 

• The Senate GOP tax bill contains a tax change for owners of private jets.
• People and companies that own jets would have payments relating to them exempted from an excise tax.

The Republican tax plan contains several small carve-outs for specific industries — from craft-beer tax breaks to changes on how people can sell stocks.

One of those exemptions in the Senate version of the bill, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, would give a break to owners and operators of private jets.

Currently, the federal government imposes an excise tax on every flight an aircraft makes. Under the Republican tax legislation, costs for maintenance and other support activities for privately-operated planes would be exempt from the excise tax. Here's what that exempts, per the Joint Committee on Taxation's description of the provision:

"Applicable services include support activities related to the aircraft itself, such as its storage, maintenance, and fueling, and those related to its operation, such as the hiring and training of pilots and crew, as well as administrative services such as scheduling, flight planning, weather forecasting, obtaining insurance, and establishing and complying with safety standards."

According to a 2016 letter from the JCT, the exemption would lose less than $500,000 in revenue over 10 years.

The change appears to be similar to a bill offered by Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio and cosponsored by GOP Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio. A separate bipartisan bill amending the same part of the tax code was also offered in the House.

According to the lawmakers, the excise tax was designed to be imposed on commercial flights rather than "general aviation" flights, like chartered and private planes, but the IRS has been imposing the tax on private-aircraft management firms. This has been a sore spot for chartered-flight management companies for some time.

The bills, and thus the provision, are designed to clarify the types of flights the excise tax will apply to.

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• People are pointing with anger to a provision in the Senate tax bill passed on Saturday that appears to give private jet owners a tax break.
• The change is actually a technical clarification that prevents operators of private charter flights from being hit with a tax designed for commercial flights.
• Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown earlier this year introduced a bill with similar language to the changes in the GOP tax bill.

As the American public digests the passage of the Republican tax bill in the Senate, one provision of the bill has seen particular derision Saturday morning.

Opponents of the bill, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), are pointing to a provision they say gives a tax break to private jet owners.

"Middle class families all over America finally get the tax relief they've been pleading for regarding their private jets," tweeted Nick Kristof, the New York Times columnist.

"I can't believe this is real, a tax break for private jet owners," Roberto Ferdman, a correspondent at Vice, said in a tweet with more than 15,000 retweets as of Saturday morning.

The change is actually technical one. The language of the bill would exempt "aircraft owners" from taxes on the "maintenance and support of the aircraft owner's aircraft or flights on the aircraft owner's aircraft."

But its purpose is to prevent private air charter companies from getting hit with what's known as the "ticket tax" on flights. The tax was originally designed to apply to commercial flights, while a separate gas tax applied to "general aviation" flights like private charters.

Due to some language confusion in the tax code, however, the IRS began imposing the "ticket tax" on private flights, which has caused a long-running battle between operators of the charter companies and the government. The IRS suspended the assessment of the tax on aircraft management companies in 2013 due to the lack of clarity and the agency dropped a number of audits on these companies in July because it still did not have updated guidance.

The TCJA language is meant to clarify the discrepancy and ensure that the ticket tax is not applied to private flights. According to a letter in 2016 from the Joint Committee on Taxation, the change would lose less than $500,000 in federal revenue over 10 years.

In fact, the language is similar to a bill introduced by Democrat Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio and co-sponsored by Republican Sen. Rob Portman, also from Ohio. Two of the largest private jet operators (which are owned by Warren Buffett) are based in Ohio.

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• Private jet charter company Victor is used to catering to its wealthy clients' wild demands.
• A spokesman for Victor told Business Insider that they once decorated a jet with tinsel and stockings and served a full Christmas dinner for a family on a trip to Lapland.
• Bizarre requests come year-round — a businessman once required pickled onion Monster Munch crisps on a flight from Eastern Europe.
• Meanwhile, the company's "Pets on Jets" service has flown five falcons, nine identical pugs, and 10 bunny rabbits for clients all on separate trips. 

Private jet charters are known to cater to their wealthy clients' every need, such as a red carpet arrival, concierge, and plenty of free flowing Champagne. But that's apparently not enough for some super-rich passengers.

Business Insider asked Victor, an on-demand private jet hire service, for the most extravagant requests they've received around the Christmas period, and some were rather fun.

A spokesman for Victor told Business Insider: "One customer requested the Christmas decoration of their jet charter to Lapland, Finland, for the benefit of their children."

Understandably, they wanted the full festive works, including:

1. Christmas canapés, mulled wine, and mince pies.

2. A DJ playing classic Christmas number ones on the way out...

3. ...And a Christmas film — Miracle On 34th Street, naturally — for the way home.

4. Full Christmas decor, including tinsel and stockings with sweets which were hung on the back of seats.

5. Christmas dinner with all the trimmings. "There was roast turkey, stuffing, potatoes, pigs-in-blankets, and brussels sprouts, which we arranged via our in-flight catering contacts," according to Victor.

6. A Christmas doggie bowl. "There was even a Christmas doggie bowl of treats for the family pet and, of course, strategically-placed mistletoe in the cabin’s various doorways," the company added.

And it's not just during the Christmas period that the company gets bizarre requests.

"We’ve allowed the redecoration of a jet cabin for a wedding – complete with balloon arches, buffet tables, cake stands, and DJ booth," the spokesman said.

The jet charter has also had some unusual catering demands. Victor said it works with On Air Dining, an in-flight catering company, to provide "all manner of sky-high fine dining" experiences for clients.

"However, catering requests often extend far beyond this and our team will help facilitate them down to the smallest detail.

"We've previously arranged sushi from Sumosan in London for a party of 80 and separately crabs from Joe’s Crab Shack in Florida for a flight to the Caribbean, and a subsequent 'VIP BBQ.'

He addded: "At short notice we once had to source pickled onion Monster Munch crisps for a major businessman on a flight from Eastern Europe."

Victor also offers a "Pets on Jets" service which allows dogs — and many other species — to fly with their owners.

And they've certainly had some bizarre requests from their animal-mad clients.

"One member once asked to take 10 cases of gourmet dog food on board with them, just so that their pooch had an entire menu of tailored," according to Victor.

"We’ve also flown five falcons on a Dassault Falcon 7X jet, and another customer once flew Victor with nine identical pugs.

"We've also previously flown an 80kg Leonberger dog from London to France, and, separately, 10 small bunny rabbits on a flight from London to central Europe."

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50-year-old multimillionaire entrepreneur Gianluca Vacchi is not your average Instagram star — he's certainly done things his own way.

Having retired from a career in business, the silver-haired, tattooed Italian took social media by a storm last year when a video he posted of himself dancing on holiday with his partner at the time went viral.

He has since gained a huge Instagram following — over 11 million — with whom he shares his outrageously lavish lifestyle aboard private jets, yachts, and fast cars, all the while dressed in brightly-coloured suits and designer shoes.

Business Insider spoke to Vacchi after he'd just touched down in Italy to wish his mother a Merry Christmas.

Scroll down for a sneak peek inside the extravagant world of Gianluca Vacchi.

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This is 50-year-old Gianluca Vacchi, the multimillionaire entrepreneur known to most people because of the lavish lifestyle he shares with his 11 million-strong Instagram following.

Business Insider caught up with Vacchi just after he'd just touched down in Italy to wish his mother a Merry Christmas before he jetted back to Miami to spend Christmas Day and New Year's Eve in the sunshine.

Vacchi shot to social media fame about a year and a half ago when he shared this video of himself dancing to Ricky Martin with his partner at the time Italian model Giorgia Gabriele while on holiday. It went viral.

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The couple posted a series of videos in which they performed synchronised dances during the summer of 2016. They were viewed millions of times.

Vacchi told Business Insider his life so far can be be divided "very clearly" into two parts: the first one being his life "under the working point of view" which lasted until he was 45.

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Vacchi said he went into the "family businesses" at the age of 25 after finishing his studies in economics. Along with his cousin, he took on some of his family's companies which were in need of deep restructuring and then once he'd turned them around, listed them on the stock exchange.

At 29, he said he decided to become a shareholder instead, and went into private equity, buying and selling companies in different sectors. And at one point had his fingers in pies across 12 or 13 different sectors.

• Private-jet makers like Gulfstream, Bombardier, and Embraer are taking their flagship offerings to new levels of luxury, technology, and performance.
• But some customers have decided to convert commercial airliners from Airbus and Boeing for private use.
• The cost of these aircraft ranges from tens of millions to hundreds of millions of dollars.

When it comes to private jets, there are some that are a cut above the rest.

These days, a select lucky few are taking luxury air travel to new heights with state-of-the-art ultra-long-range executive jets from manufacturers such as Gulfstream and Bombardier. And then there are those bold enough to convert commercial airliners into opulent flying palaces.

It's all very impressive.

So we at Business Insider have assembled what we believe to be a collection of the most luxurious private aircraft in the world. Naturally, this list is fluid and subject to change — after all, Elon Musk might surprise us all one day with a pimped-out SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule mounted atop a Falcon Heavy rocket, or a company like Zunum Aero could give us an electric private jet.

But for now, at least, here are the seven most luxurious private jets in the world, according to Business Insider.

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1. Gulfstream G500: At $44 million, the G500 isn't Gulfstream's most expensive offering, but it is the newest. It's expected to enter service later this year.

The G500 features bespoke cabins with seating tailored to the needs of the customer.

The aircraft also has high-speed internet that's 30 times as fast as that of its current competitors.

• The Trump Administration's 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act updated the US tax code to allow 100% bonus depreciation for items such as aircraft.
• The new policy allows private jet buyers to deduct 100% of the plane's cost immediately.
• This is a change in tax code that is expected to boost demand for private jets.

A recent change in the tax the US tax code is stirring up interest in high-end private jets. As part of the Trump Administration's tax reform package which passed in late 2017, transportation items such as private jets are now subject to 100% bonus depreciation.

According to the National Business Aviation Association, this allows a private jet owner to deduct 100% of its cost immediately.

However, the NBAA is keen to point out that the new policy doesn't entitle private jet buyers to more depreciation, just the ability to access those benefits at a quicker rate. In this case, immediately. 

For some of the world's wealthiest individuals, this deduction accounts for much, if not all, of their millions in tax liability. Which means, for some, the jet could be essentially free.

This is much-welcomed news for an industry on the mend after a couple of tough years.

"Although we are still in a recovering market, this milestone tax reform, complemented by positive economic data and macroeconomic indicators, such as GDP and corporate profits, highly favor new aircraft acquisition,"Embraer Executive Jets CEO Michael Amalfitano said in a statement.

So will this send the world's billionaires scrambling to buy a private jet or two?

It's still too early to tell, an Embraer spokesman told us. Teal Group vice president and aviation industry analyst Richard Aboulafia agrees.

"There's been no historical linkage between bonus depreciation and market strength," Aboulafia said in an interview. "But on the other hand, this is a very generous depreciation offer and the market has been on the cusp of a turnaround for some time."

"Maybe this serves as one of the precipitating factors," he added. 

And then there's General Dynamics, Gulfstream's parent company, which hasn't actually factored in any tax reform driven demand into its projections.

"We will see how tax reform plays out, but it frankly didn’t factor into our projections," General Dynamics chairman and CEO Phebe Novakovic said during the company's fourth-quarter 2017 earnings call. "We based our plan on the demand that we see and what I’ve called now for many, many quarters, a robust pipeline."

However, Gulfstream did report that the company's flagship G650/G650ER just had its best quarter since 2014.

Here's a rough description of how the new bonus depreciation policy will work. 

According to the NBAA, the 100% bonus depreciation applies to factory-new and pre-owned aircraft. However, it must be the taxpayer's first use of the pre-owned aircraft for it to qualify.

Owners of aircraft that enters service between September 28, 2017, and December 31, 2022, will get to deduct 100% of its cost immediately. However, "certain aircraft" and "longer production period property" are eligible for a one-year extension. For everyone else, bonus depreciation rates will decrease by 20% every year starting in 2023 until 2027 when it hits zero.

Aircraft with binding sales agreements signed on or before September 27, 2017, will be subject to 50% bonus depreciation under the previous tax code.

SEE ALSO: The 7 most luxurious private jets in the world

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• Private jets and planes come with luxurious amenities — and high price tags.
• The Republicans' new tax bill included a change that allows rich people to purchase a private jet and write it off in full on their tax return. 
• President Donald Trump has been called "the mascot of private jets."

Buying a private jet comes with a hefty price tag — but the Republicans' new tax bill has made the extravagant purchase more appealing to some.

Private jet buyers can now write off the full amount of their new plane's cost on their tax return, which applies to both new and pre-owned aircraft. That's due to a policy change within the Trump Administration's 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that updated the US tax code to allow 100% bonus depreciation for items such as aircraft. 

For the mega-wealthy of the world, this deduction accounts for much, if not all, of their millions in tax liability — meaning buying a new private jet could practically wipe out their tax bill in the year they buy it. 

The new tax bill also addressed a technical clarification that now prevents operators of private charter flights from being charged with a tax that was originally designed for commercial flights.  

President Trump — who has long owned his own plane— might also be making private jet ownership more appealing. In an interview with The New York Times, Steve Varsano, who owns The Jet Business— an aviation showroom and retailer that sells private corporate aircraft — said: "[Trump] is changing the optics of private aviation. He's the mascot of private jets."

The public may not view private jets quite so positively, however. Health and human services secretary Tom Price resigned in September after a bipartisan outrage for his use of private chartered flights to conduct government business.

The world's richest people already spend $23 billion a year on private aviation, according to data from Wealth-X and Camper and Nicholson featured in a recent report from Coldwell Banker, but it's possible that number will increase. 

"This is a very generous depreciation offer and the market has been on the cusp of a turnaround for some time. Maybe this serves as one of the precipitating factors," Richard Aboulafia, vice president and aviation industry analyst at Teal Group, recently told Business Insider's Benjamin Zhang.

Below, a look at 7 private jets and planes currently on the market. If you're tempted to make a purchase for the tax deduction, make sure to check with an accountant first. 

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The Boeing Business Jet

Asking price: $34,950,000

Passenger occupancy: 18

This Boeing Business Jet can fit up to 18 passengers. The private plane features two, four-seat dining tables, a private bedroom area with a bed, an entertainment center, and three-seater couch.  

The Gulf Stream G550

Asking price: $33,750,000

Passenger occupancy: 19

The interior of the Gulf Stream G550 has enhanced soundproofing for an extra queit ride, an espresso maker on-board, and multiple HD widescreen LCD monitors throughout the cabin. 

Bombardier Global Express XRS

Asking price: $18,950,000

Passenger occupancy: 17

The Bombardier Global Express XRS provides its passengers with an espresso maker, a high temperature oven, open closet space to store toiletries and hang clothes, and various tables throughout the cabin to spread out. 

• NetJets is owned by Warren Buffett.
• It has the largest private jet fleet in the world.
• We went on their newest jet for a short flight from London City Airport.
• The Citation Latitude can reach a maximum speed of 495mph
• Each jet is fitted with free WiFi and entertainment systems.

Business Insider UK flew in the newest plane in Warren Buffett's NetJets fleet — and it's seriously plush ride.

The jet is called the Citation Latitude, it has a good range and could reach Tel Aviv or Istanbul from London. The Citation seats seven passengers and has a maximum speed of 495mph.

NetJets have six types of aeroplane in its fleet, the largest seats 14 and can reach Los Angeles from London.

The company offers joint ownership on each jet and you can also purchase a private jet card which gives you 25 hours of flying time. The price of these jets is available on request. 

Produced by Charlie Floyd

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Wealth often comes along with pretty expensive taste — especially when it comes to food and drink.

In order to determine where the high net worth individuals of the world like to dine, private jet lifestyle publication Elite Traveler surveyed its database of readers— all of whom are owners or users of private jets — on their favourite fine dining destinations across all seven continents.

As of last year, the magazine's readers had a median household income of $2.28 (£1.76) million and net worth of $41 (£32) million— so it's safe to say most of them are millionaires.

6,000 readers voted in order to produce the magazine's seventh annual list of the Top 100 Restaurants in the World.

Scroll down to see the top 25, ranked in ascending order.

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25. Nihonryori RyuGin, Tokyo, Japan.

24. Le Calandre, Padua, Italy.

23. Jean-Georges, New York, USA.