The Celebrity Watch Index. Which Celebrities Own the Most Expensive Watches?

Some celebrities are big fans of displaying their wealth right where we can see it, and they continue to wow us on a daily basis with their million-dollar timepieces and diamond-encrusted watches. But who is the biggest celebrity watch fanatic and how much are their prized possessions worth?

In this index, we will reveal the brands and models most loved by celebrities, the stars and watches inspiring the most Google searches, plus the most expensive pieces owned by the rich and famous.

Our in-house experts at Watch Pilot will offer advice on how to bag a piece of the action, sharing affordable ladies' watches alternatives and celebrity favourites. Looking at the jewellery collections of movie stars like Ryan Gosling and boxing champions like Floyd Mayweather, we can also compare and contrast the most extravagant men's watches.

Floyd Mayweather, American boxing promoter and former professional boxer, purchased his £18,866,148 ($24 million) 'Billionaire Tourbillon with White Diamonds’ by Jacob & Co in 2018. It is no secret that Floyd loves his bling, and he took to Instagram shortly after his big purchase to share the moment. The diamond-encrusted timepiece is exceptionally extravagant and is cut with 260 carats of emerald-cut diamonds, which are set in an inverted pyramid style. The entire 18-karat white gold case and bracelet of the watch are set with stones weighing three carats each.

Known for its elaborate diamond and gemstone jewellery, Jacob & Co is a prestigious watchmaker, with cutting-edge and complicated designs and it stands to reason that this brand would accentuate its finest watches with the most luxurious jewels in the world. Other celebrities who are regular fans of Jacob & Co. include 50 Cent, Madonna, Rihanna, Elton John and Mariah Carey.

Watch Pilot’s top pick for an affordable alternative:

• Rado True Square Automatic Open Heart Unisex White Watch

“The Billionaire Tourbillon watch is truly one of a kind, which means there aren’t many pieces on the market that look remotely similar, especially if you’re trying to stay within a reasonable budget. However, we think Rado’s True Square, with its complex Open Heart, captures the essence of the Billionaire’s intricate Tourbillon. Just like Jacob & Co’s exquisite piece, the True Square is distinctive and bold, and while you may not find endless rows of diamonds on it, the ceramic component of the watch certainly adds a touch of luxury to the piece.” - Tim Harrison

Paul Leonard Newman was an American actor, film director, race car driver, philanthropist, and entrepreneur. Newman came to be known as one of the finest actors of his time, starring in movies like Cool Hand Luke and The Hustler. Newman’s own ‘Paul Newman’ Daytona was a gift from his wife, actress Joanne Woodward, and has long been considered the holy grail among watch collectors.

In 2017, Paul Newman became the undisputed king of the watch world when his 1968 Rolex Daytona sold for approximately £16 million ($20 million). More than 400 people from around the world gathered at Phillips’ New York headquarters for the auction.

Watch Pilot’s top pick for an affordable alternative:

• Ball Roadmaster Rescue Chronograph Men's White Watch

“The elegance and sporty attitude of the Roadmaster Rescue Chronograph remind us of Paul Newman’s iconic Daytona watch. While the Daytona’s dial design is certainly more Art Deco-inspired, Ball Roadmaster can definitely be seen as a modern interpretation of this beloved Rolex piece.” - Tim Harrison

William Bradley "Brad" Pitt, American actor and film producer, has the third highest priced watch with an almost £9 million ($11.2 million) price tag. The rare Patek Philippe was purchased by Brad in 2015 and was reportedly the highest price ever paid for a wristwatch at an auction at the time.

It’s not the first time that the actor has shelled out such a huge amount on expensive watches. In 2014, Brad splashed out  £2.5 million on one of the world’s most expensive watches at the time as a wedding gift for Angelina Jolie.

The Patek Philippe model’s name is Reference 5016, which comes in its Calatrava-style case with three highly prized features: the tourbillon, the minute repeater and the perpetual calendar with moon-phase display.

Watch Pilot’s top pick for an affordable alternative:

• Baume & Mercier Clifton Automatic Men's Blue Watch

“With its stunning night blue dial and innovative moonphase complication, the Baume & Mercier Clifton Automatic could almost be a relative of the Patek Philippe 5016A watch. One boasts a sleek stainless steel bracelet, the other a refined navy strap, but ultimately, the two pieces both share the same vision and commitment to exquisite Swiss craftsmanship.” - Tim Harrison

Spanish professional tennis player, Rafael Nadal Parera, is currently ranked the world’s number 136 in singles by the Association of Tennis Professionals. The top tennis player received the most searches out of 28 other celebrity watch lovers, with 108,700 searches for rafael nadal watch in the last year.

Rafael is well known for his style, and his relationship with top luxury watchmaker Richard Mille has proven more than just a partnership. However, after first meeting Richard Millie in 2008, Rafael refused to wear a watch and needed convincing. After, Rafael and Richard developed the lightest tourbillon in the world at the time. The partnership led to the creation of a varied collection, with the latest model being the RM 27-04 Tourbillon.

Conor McGregor has sparked debate with his loud and eccentric dress sense and is often seen flashing his collection of expensive jewellery. In 2021, the professional mixed martial artist purchased a £2 million Jacob & C.o Rasputin Tourbillon watch. The one-of-a-kind watch is encrusted with diamonds and is one of the most complicated watch movements to build: a minute repeater that chimes the time with an automation moving feature. It is also one of the most unique watches on the market thanks to a hidden erotic scene which is revealed at the touch of a button. The infamous boxer gained 83,400 annual searches for his watch collection, placing McGregor second in the list for the most notable celebrity watches.

Floyd Mayweather owns the most expensive diamond watch in the world, so it's fitting that he is also among the top searched-for celebrities when it comes to watches. The former boxing champion received 83,400 searches for Floyd Mayweather Watch, placing him third in the ranking.

Floyd’s bold personality extends beyond the ring and he is now an internet sensation and boxing promoter, known for his company ‘The Money Team’ where he flashes his vibrant attire. Mayweather’s striking demeanour is reflected in his large watch collection, whether it is Richard Mille, Rolex, Audemars Piguet and Hublot, Floyd’s luxury purchases are justified by his influential persona, conveying gratitude to own such possessions.

The iconic Piaget Polo has been worn by some of the biggest celebrities, including Rihanna, Ryan Reynolds and Taylor Lautner. In 2016, when Ryan Reynolds was revealed as Piaget’s latest ambassador, the actor flew to New York to attend the launch of the Polo S. Reynolds was joined by a group of fellow ambassadors, including actor Michael B. Jordan, French chef Jean-François Piège, Chinese singer Hu Ge and more.

You can purchase a never-worn Polo S for between £5,905 and £7,000, but prices vary depending on whether you choose a stainless steel bracelet or a leather strap. Well-maintained pre-owned pieces typically cost about £866 or less.

The Polo is Piaget’s most sporty collection and has built a cult following since the 1980s when the solid 18-karat gold model gained popularity. The Polo has an integrated bracelet and deep horizontal fluting and appears like one solid piece. In its time, it was the world’s flattest quartz movement.

The aesthetically pleasing Rolex GMT Master II Ice is the only Rolex watch with diamonds down the side of the bracelet and is also one of the most expensive Rolex watches in general. None other than legendary footballer Christiano Ronaldo has been spotted rocking the lavish timepiece, among his expensive collection of other watches.

The Rolex GMT Master II Ice retails at around £525,300 ($660,000), but its price varies depending on the market price for diamonds at the time of purchase. The model is entirely covered in precious stones and made from white gold, making it an extremely desirable piece for diamond lovers.

The extravagant Rasputin Tourbillon piece by Swiss watchmaker Jacob & Co was flaunted by UFC champion Conor McGregor, and received 970,500 searches in 2022, making it the third most in-demand celebrity watch.

The Rasputin Tourbillion features plenty of diamonds and rubies and hidden erotic scene automation. As the chiming of the watch begins and the swans sing their song, the man in the erotic scene moves his body to perform intercourse. Yet, even without the erotica, the luxury watch would capture the attention of strangers wherever it is seen, and its unique face of diamonds elates a an ostentatious look, perfect for those looking to accentuate their riches.

Crafted with 18ct white gold and set with 514 baguette diamonds, it has a price tag a little north of £2.5 million, making it an admiring and luxurious piece of jewellery.

Most of us could only dream of owning a multi-million dollar timepiece sported by Hollywood superstars and a-listers, though it's possible to scope out some of the luxurious pieces worn by celebrities at an affordable price. Our in-house watch expert Tim Harrison shares his advice:

When considering the best watchmakers in the world, Rolex takes the crown. The British-founded designer oozes class and is a highly desirable and respected watch brand. Yet, with price tags starting at £3,700, it simply isn’t a practical investment for many.

However, there are considerably affordable alternatives out there, like: the Rotary Ultra Slim Ladies White Watch , Jacques Du Manoir NRO.19 Ladies Inspiration Two-Tone Watch , and the Maserati Men's Gold Traguardo Watch.

If you are looking for nothing less than the real deal, there are plenty of re-sale websites where sellers list iconic watches at unmissable prices. With many sellers offering the original box and papers to go with the piece, grabbing an authentic watch for a fraction of the price is a no-brainer for many jewellery lovers.

If second-hand watches aren’t your thing, keep an eye on premium watch sellers like Watch Pilot. You can check out our seasonal sales and sign up to our newsletter. On Black Friday, we offer unbeatable deals on luxury watches.

We began by creating a seed list of the most expensive watches owned by celebrities, using articles from outlets including Tuko and Watch Pro. We were able to take the prices in USD before converting currencies to GBP and Euro using XE. This data is correct as of 12/06/2023.

By taking a list of these celebrities, we gathered search data using Google Keyword Planner for the year 2022, looking at the number of searches for the name of the celebrity and the keyword “watch” to find the most searched celebrity and their watch.

Search data for the watches’ make and model were also gathered for the year 2022, finding the most in-demand watches of the year. The watches were ranked based on their number of annual global searches.