NAFA member, David G. Mayer of Shackelford, McKinley & Norton, LLP, shares his latest blog post on how the ultra-wealthy buy private jets.
Buying a private jet, or a fraction of one, is a viable option.
The act of buying a private jet is a momentous activity typically reserved for aircraft operators, corporations, or ultra-high-net-worth individuals. However, for the latter, they may have more options at their disposal than the others do when it comes to making the purchase.
Ultra-high Net Worth
Starting with investable assets of at least $30 million, the ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) individual, company, or family represents the top 1% (or higher) level of wealth globally. They likely have a significant capacity to buy a private jet, and are a much larger group of purchasers than billionaires.
UHNW individuals often have friends who are captains of industry, philanthropic leaders, and celebrities who, like them, have access to—or own—private aircraft. While not universal, those with UHNW may have access to investment opportunities that are not available to the general public. As investors, UHNW individuals tend to diversify their holdings in cross-border stock and bond markets, luxury real estate (ranches, island escapes, and ski homes), private equity, commodities, private credit, art, and other collectibles, as well as cryptocurrencies and alternative investments.
Notably, on June 17, 2025, BlackRock released its 2025 Global Family Office Survey, which revealed that current geopolitical uncertainty is the most important issue for 84% of family offices and is a critical factor in their capital allocation decisions. Although I see aspirational purchasers who do not ultimately buy jets, these events do not often dissuade UHNW from buying or financing jets.
This article was originally published by AINsight on September 12, 2025.