20 Most Expensive Pets for $20 Million Saturday...

To celebrate the upcoming $20 Million Saturday Superdraw on 9 May 2020, we continue the tradition of brining you Top 20 lists of most amazing, most interesting and most WOW reads. This time, we thought we’d put together a list of top 20 most expensive pets in the world.

Any proud pet owner will argue that their furry, feathered or scaly friend is priceless, yet there are certainly some pets that cost far more than others. We’re talking thousands — sometimes millions — more. From exotic birds to hybrid cat breeds, prized heifers to uniquely patterned pythons, these costly animal companions have broken records for how much people have paid for them (You could be next with your winnings from Saturday Superdraw!)

So here goes… the most expensive pets in the world:

#20 English Bulldog – $5,000

Meet one of the most expensive dog breeds in the world – The English Bulldog. Not only are they super expensive to buy, but they also cost a pretty penny to care for. Because of decades of cross-breeding, Bulldogs cannot breed naturally. Artificial insemination and a caesarian section are always required for the breeding process, making it extremely costly. Still, they remain one of the most sought after dog breeds in the world.

#19 Chinese Crested dog – $5,000

They are tiny, hairless, and worth more money than they weigh. The Chinese Crested dogs have very soft skin and fluffy hair around their paws and muzzles. The most famous Chinese Crested dog named Sam, won the World’s Ugliest Dog Competition from 2003-2005 – very ironic, considering the high demand for this breed.

#18 Toucan – $10,000

There are forty different species of this majestic bird, found throughout Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Southern Mexico. They are extremely popular because of their large and very colourful bills. These magnificent creatures have very vibrant and brightly coloured feathers: black with yellow, crimson, and white patches. Buying one of these beauties would set you back a whooping $10,000!

#17 De Brazza’s Monkey – $10,000

The De Brazza monkeys, also commonly referred to as swamp monkeys, originate from the wetlands of Central Africa and have an average lifespan of 22 years. They are very hard to locate because of their superior and innate hiding abilities. What makes the most expensive monkey on the pet market, is that due to its rarity it is illegal to keep it as a pet in most countries, particularly in Europe and North America. Second, only to chimpanzees at $50,000 (which are actually apes), these are 2nd most expensive primate and world’s most expensive monkeys.

#16 Mini Pomeranian – $13,000

The world’s smallest Pomeranian dog can come with a not-so-small price tag! On average these cuties cost between $1000-$3000, but superior pedigree puppies can burn a hole in your wallet equal to $10,000! In fact, Paris Hilton paid $13,000 for her puppy dubbed Mr Amazing, he weighs less than 400 grams!

#15 Rhesus Macaque – up to $14,000

Monkeys are not known to be widely popular pets, but there are many people who wish to own a primate pal. Rhesus Macaques have been often used as subjects for medical testing, but they can be purchased from private breeders by an exotic pet enthusiast (who had a deep enough pocket, that is!). The world’s most known pet Rhesus Macaque made his debut in 2013 when he showed up lost at a Canadian IKEA with a shearling sweater.

#14 Black Palm Cockatoo – $16,000

The Black Palm Cockatoo has several sub-species, with Goliath being the most popular. These are large parrots of up to 60cm tall with black or smoky grey feathers, red spot on their heads and large crests. They are native to rainforests of New Guinea and Cape York Peninsula in Queensland, Australia. They are extremely hard to keep due to their specialised diet and difficult to breed in captivity, with high chick mortality.

#13 Striped Ball Python – up to $20,000

Ball pythons are extremely popular pets and are inexpensive going at around $50-$200, but there are rare specimens with a thick yellow stripe down the middle that are extremely expensive. As far as Python enthusiasts know, there is only one breeder who sells this uniquely marked serpent.

#12 Savannah Cat – up to $20,000

Very social, faithful and intelligent compared to typical cats, the Savannah cat is a crossbreed between a domestic cat and the wild Serval. While striking and elegant, this cat is more reminiscent of a dog in behaviour. The Savannah Cat combines loyalty, good nature and an impressive ability to learn tricks. There are several pedigrees of these cats, cheapest standing at $2,500 and the most expensive – between $15,000-$20,000.

#11 Hyacinth Macaw – up to $40,000

Hyacinth or Blue Macaw is the world’s largest flying parrot, native to eastern and central South America. The Hyacinth Macaw has a very powerful beak that can easily crack seeds, nuts and even coconuts. They are the most expensive bird on the pet market with prices around $3000-$5000 per bird, and record standing at $40,000 for an anonymouse purchase in Singapore in 2016. Enthusiasts argue that Blue Macaws present good value for money as they live up to 60 years. The popular animated film ‘Rio’ has boosted the sales of this blue feathered friend with children everywhere beg their wealthy parents for ‘Blue’ or ‘Jewel’ of their very own. Sadly this popularity caused over 100,000 of these rare birds to be taken out of the wild for illegal trade.

#10 Lavender Albino Ball Python – up to $40,000

Lavender Albino Ball Pythons have a price tag that’s almost as impressive as their unique colour. This creature’s unique pattern of yellow spots on a lavender background is a product of a recessive genetic mutation, making it extremely rare. Some duller-coloured specimen are around $1000-$3,000, but the brighter the colour – the higher they cost. The rarest ball python – called a sunset ball morph – fetched a whopping $40,000! This Python once held the title of the most expensive pet in the world for over 10 years and is still a collectors’ item today.

#9 Bengal Cat – up to $40,000

Much like Savannah cats, Bengal cats are a mixed breed of a domestic cat and the wild Asian Leopard Cat. They are known for their brightly coloured coats, and those with brighter patterns sell at a higher price than lighter coloured ones. A regular pet Bengal kitten would cost between $1000-$3000, but quality pedigree cats can cost up to $10,000. The record price for a Bengal cat is over $40,000. They have been around for over 100 years, but it wasn’t until the 1960s that they started becoming popular household pets.

#8 Stag Beetle – up to $90,000

The most expensive insect in the world is also the world’s largest. The member of the Lucanidae family, which includes over 1,200 species, the Stag Beetle features red blood-like curling mandibles and antlers protruding from its black head, and on average measures between 5 and 7.5 cm in length. The record size was around 8 cm, bringing the lucky Japanese breeder $90,000 for his impressive and rare pet. It’s a popular pet in Japan, and smaller-sized beetles can be bought for as little as $10.

#7 White Lion Cubs – $140,000

While it’s sad that these magnificent creatures are regarded as pets, but we have all heard of billionaires who have a passion for big cats… The white lions are an extremely rare breed, found very rarely, in the South African wildlife reserve. Nowadays they are more widely bred in Zoos around the world. There are only around 300 living white lions in the world now, according to Global White Lion Protection Trust. Sadly, they are still treated as a commodity and are often exchanged as luxury gifts between wealthy Arabian businessmen and royalty.

#6 Sir Lancelot Encore – $155,000

Yeah, Labrador puppies are cute, but you wouldn’t expect one to cost thousands of dollars. But a certain little puppy cost Edgar and Nina Otto, a Florida couple, over $150,000 because… he’s a clone! The family’s original dog died of cancer in 2008, so the owners decided to clone him, replicating his predecessor, Sir Lancelot.

#5 Scottish Ram – $445,500

What would you pay for a sheep… ok, for an absolutely perfect sheep? In 2009, a Scottish ram fetched a jaw-dropping £231,000, setting a world record. Baaaargain! Some 20 years earlier in 1989, an Australian ram sold for £205,000. A member of the Texel Sheep Society explained that though for most people it is a ridiculous price for a “pile of lamb chops”, these elite animals are the top of the genetic pile and represent an investment for a sheep breeder.

#4 Holstein Cow – $1,200,000

Another unlikely animal for a pet list, Dairy Cows are commonplace across the world. However, the right cow can still reach a very high price. The Canadian Holstein Cows from Morsan farm are of note. These animals have a unique controlled diet and live in a climate-controlled environment. This supposedly making their milk super healthy and tasty. The world’s most expensive cow from Morsan farm, Miss Missy, was sold in 2009 for a whopping $1.2 million.

#3 Racing Pigeons – $1,400,000

One of the world’s oldest domesticated birds, pigeons were used for carrying messages from ancient Egyptian times up to World War I and the invention of the Telegraph. Today homing pigeons races are a popular sport among the world’s wealthy, especially in China as of recent years. Chinese bird enthusiasts spent millions of dollars on pigeons including Bolt for $400,000 in 2013, Nadine for $500,000 in 2017, New Bliksem $450,000 in 2018. The most expensive racing pigeon named Armando was sold in March 2019 for an astonishing $1,400,000!

#2 Tibetan Mastiff – $1,950,000

The world’s largest dog breed, the Tibetan Mastiff is more than 80cm tall and weighs over 70kg, and comes in many different colours including black, brown, red, grey and even panda-like pattern! These extremely expensive dogs are extremely protective and have been known to kill tigers to safeguard their flock. They are also unique as they don’t have the unpleasant odour common for most other dogs. This luxury breed is popular with the wealthy all across China, where it originated. With a huge surge in popularity over the recent years, the once rare Tibetan Mastiff is now being widely bred. Breeders around the world now offering puppies for a manageable $1000-$5000, with more rare bloodlines costing a lot more than any other rare dog breed. The record price was recorded in March 2019 – a golden-haired Tibetan Mastiff pup was sold for 12 million yuan ($1.95 million)!

#1 Thoroughbred horse – Up to $70 million

Little girls all over the world want a pony of their own, but let’s hope your little princess doesn’t want a racing horse, or it could cost you millions and millions of dollars. These, of course, are more of an investment than a pet, as Thoroughbred racehorses can bring thousands of dollars in prize money. While many racehorses reach sale prices in their millions, the most expensive ever sold was Fugaichi Pegasus, a US-bred and trained stallion, with a successful racing career and earnings of over $1.9 million. Selling for a record $70 million to Coolmore Stud, Ireland in 2000, this horse was the winner of the famous Kentucky Derby in 2000.

Saturday Superdraw

So there we have it, the worlds most expensive pets! Perhaps you could add one of these to your family once you win the Saturday Superdraw! Entries close on Saturday at 7:25pm AEST.

The Saturday Superdraw is an exciting day where the Saturday Lotto celebrates a special draw event. Instead of the regular $4,000,000 jackpot, you could win a share in $20,000,000!