Wealth

Bond-loving billionaires and their toys

Billionaires buy Bond's greatest toys
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Billionaires buy Bond's greatest toys

Any average millionaire can buy the Omega Seamaster 300 worn by Daniel Craig in the new James Bond movie, "Spectre."

But only a multimillionaire or billionaire can afford the original Aston Martin DB5 used in "Goldfinger," valued at a minimum $5 million.

Memorabilia and super toys based on the Bond franchise have become increasingly popular with today's rich, many of whom grew up watching the movies.

While many of the spy's accessories — from his martinis and suits to his watches and sunglasses — are affordable, billionaires have the money to fund much bigger Bond fantasies.

Take Elon Musk. When he was a kid, the billionaire Tesla chief watched "The Spy Who Loved Me," the 1977 flick starring Roger Moore as James Bond. Musk has said he was amazed by the Lotus Espirit sports car that turned into a submarine.

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So when one of the cars used in the film came up for auction in 2013, he bought it for just under $1 million. When Musk discovered that it didn't actually function as a car, he said he would install a Tesla powertrain to make it work as a true submarine car.

But it's the Dezer family, who own and develop real estate in Florida and other states, who have what is believed to be the largest collection of Bond cars in the world.

The Dezers own the Aston Martin V12 Vanquish — aka "The Vanish" — from "Die Another Day," along with the green Jaguar XKR driven by that movie's villain, Zao.

The Aston Martin Vanquish, which was the disappearing car that James Bond drove in “Die Another Day.”
Source: CNBC

They also own the coral Ford Thunderbird driven by Halle Berry's character, Jinx, as well as the 1937 black and yellow Rolls-Royce driven by Oddjob in "Goldfinger."

Their biggest Bond trophy is the Aston Martin DB5, also used in "Goldfinger." The Dezers' car even has the machine guns retracting from the hood, as well as loads of buttons on the dashboard, including the one that triggers the famed ejector seat.

The estimated value of all their Bond-mobiles: Around $35 million.

The 220-foot, $50 million "Spectre" yacht.
Source: Benetti Yachts

Among Bond boat lovers, no one can beat John Staluppi. The Long Island auto tycoon has built and owned 18 yachts named after Bond movies, from "Goldfinger" and "Mooonraker" to "Diamonds Are Forever" and "The World Is Not Enough." The latter of those names is a megayacht/speedboat that's 140 feet tall and can top 70 miles an hour.

Why the Bond boats?

"It's exciting," Staluppi said. "The name is exciting. Watching a 'James Bond' movie, you never know what's going to happen next. And our boats always do the same."

Staluppi is currently building "Spectre" with Benetti Yachts. The 220-foot yacht is expected to cost more than $50 million when it's done. But unlike the movie, it won't be released until 2017.