These 11 most expensive funerals in the world have spared no money in their regard. A funeral is, as some would say, a culmination of life. It is a sad and tragic event, an event filled with goodbyes, remembrances, and sometimes regrets. Yet, it is the one true event that commemorates the short time we have in this world. All our achievements, our legacies, the people we’ve met and those who we leave behind all in one place. There are some people in the world whose death was as celebrated as much as their life.
You’ll notice that a lot of these famous figures are from the US, and their funerals were quite high in costs. This is not unusual as the US does boast some of the most expensive places to live in the world. The costs of living in a city are also indicative of the costs of everything in general. You’ll find out more in our list of 12 Most Expensive Cities to Live in the US. You might notice that if you do some research on the names listed here, the costs aren’t really equivalent to one another as there was a different value for money in these different times. Some costs decades ago would be equivalent to a higher amount of money today.
Who do you think is included in this list of expensive funerals? Let’s go ahead and start this list of 11:
11. Michael Jackson
For now, no one has replicated the amount of success the late King of Pop Michael Jackson has made. He has known to have broken records and have made a few of the best-selling albums in the music industry. Intoxication by prescription drugs eventually led to his death. This was unfortunate as he was about to make a comeback concert.
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10. Margaret Thatcher
The prime minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990, Margaret Thatcher was the key political figure of the United Kingdom especially during the Cold War. She passed away in 2013 because of a stroke.
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9. Winston Churchill
Churchill is another prime minister of the United Kingdom, this time from the years 1940-1945 and 1951 to 1955. He was known as one of the key figures during World War II as he inspired the world in the battle against Nazi Germany. This Nobel Prize winner in literature has been the topic of many interesting stories.
8. Princess Diana
The former ex-wife of the Prince of Wales, Princess Diana was the topic of conversation for many years and became one of the public faces of the royal family. This is despite not being pure royalty herself. She was one of the most watched and admired figures of her time and she passed away during a tragic car accident.
7. Pope John Paul II
The death of Pope John Paul II led to the largest gathering of leaders in history. The attendance at his funeral included four kings, five queens, 70 presidents and prime ministers, 14 religious leaders and even regards from the countries of North Korea and Cuba. He was the second longest-serving pope in history and was the one to improve the ties between the Catholic Church and other religions.
6. The Queen Mother
After a long and eventful life, the Queen Mother eventually passed away last 2002. The police and the government were secretive of the costs of her funeral at first. They eventually released the amounts which would be the equivalent of $12.5 million today.
The most expensive funerals are still to come in the continuation of this list of 11 most expensive funerals in the world.
5. John F. Kennedy
One of the most beloved presidents of the United States, John F. Kennedy’s death sent shockwaves all over the world as it was caused by an assassination. There have been many conspiracy theories on the event though none has ever been confirmed. His burial ground is also that of his family’s.
4. Kim Jong-Il
Costs for maintaining the body of the previous supreme leader of North Korea, reach around $2.5 million annually. The government also spent massive amounts of money erecting a statue, changing the names of major intersections and even importing Russian embalmers.
3. Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan was the president of the United States from 1980-1988. He was well remembered for his fight for American Rights and the lowering of taxes to help businesses in America. His death led to increased costs as the stock market went down for a day and federal workers were given the day off.
2. Qin Shi Huang
Qin Shi Huang is the first Chinese emperor of the united China. He was also 13 when he was put in that position. Even at this young age he ordered the construction of a gigantic tomb filled with gold, jade and a lot of the treasures from China. The tomb was only discovered in the 1970s and the most memorable feature of it is the Terra Cotta Army.
1. Alexander the Great
While it’s hard to calculate a conversion for money of the past, many historians agree that Alexander the Great’s funeral was the most expensive of all time. Alexander was one of the greatest leaders and military commanders of all time having never lost a battle. He also conquered most of the known world during his time.
That has been the 11 most expensive funerals in the world. These funerals are great examples of how much death can potentially cost.
