Christmas is about the birth of Jesus, in primis, but also about family, about time spent together, about demonstrating love and affection, and last but by no means least about giving. The positive messages which have now become synonymous with the religious calendar’s main event, Christmas, are what have allowed this festivity to be recognized and celebrated amongst non Christians too. Gift giving and generosity is preached by all faiths and cultures, and here is a global gift guide for the very rich, and very generous.

 Fortress of Miolans, St-Pierre Albigny, Savoy, France

For some of us, the prospect of owning a piece of architectural history is something of a dream. Well, if you have 4 million Euros spare, (that’s not counting what it would cost to renovate this baby) the Fortress at Miolans is what you need. Set in the Savoy region, overlooking the hamlet of Miolans, this medieval castle dates back to the 4^th century AD. The “Fortress of the Alps” has numerous dungeons which were in use up to the French Revolution. One of its most notorious residents was the Marquis de Sade, who was imprisoned here for a time. The castle has been in the same family for six generations but they are ready to part with it. Unfortunately not all areas of the castle can be restored to their original habitable state, but with a lot of TLC and investment this can make for an egregious escape from the hustle and bustle for a history loving multi millionaire.

Raffaello Sanzio, Raphael, The Head of a Young Apostle

Renaissance art lovers pay attention: a Raphael cartoon is going up for sale. British auction house Sotheby’s have bagged The Head of a Young Apostle cartoon for their Old Masters & British Paintings evening sale on December 5^th at 7pm in London. This painting has resided at Chatsworth House, possibly Britain’s finest stately home, and residence of the Dukes of Devonshire for centuries. This cartoon, is considered the best remaining auxiliary study for Raphael’s last work, the Transfiguration, which remains in the Vatican. At an estimate of 10-15 million Pounds, its not peanuts, but owning a piece of art history of this magnitude, is well, priceless.

Brunello di Montalcino Vineyard

What better gift to get a wine lover than his very own vineyard? Few decent sized plots of land growing good grapes or reputable labels go on sale often, but here is an almost once in a lifetime opportunity. An estate of 130 hectares of land of which Vineyards amounting for 27 hectares with the rights to produce one of the most famous Brunello di Montalcino. What does this mean in figures we can relate to? Well in total each year the land will yield 171,360 bottles of the best Brunello di Montalcino. The price is upon request, and it’s sure to be a substantial amount, but for a lifetime supply of exquisite red, I could part with a substantial portion of my fortune, wouldn’t you?

 Your very own Football Team

The ultimate gift for the sports fan, their very own football team, or baseball, or American football or basketball teams for that matter. It’s a little known fact that sports teams go on sale much more often than we think. Granted, premier league, Serie A and NFL teams might switch hands with less frequency, but secondary teams tend to be up for new ownership often. The prices do vary however, and in the football team listings at the moment there appears to be a Serie B team from Genoa with a lot of history, and a German league team up for sale. Both are highly valued and well, the offer price is undisclosed, but swapping from virtual Championship Manager on your computer to having your own team to manage is a childhood dream of many.

ICON A5 aircraft

Taking flight and being free like a bird is an age-old dream. With the revolutionary ICON Aircraft, Icarus’ story is no longer a warning tale. With the FAA’s dramatic 2004 regulation changes that created the Light Sport Aircraft category, the possibilities for aviation have been redefined. ICON set out to reinvent flying by focusing on the consumer experience. The A5 plane delivers an exciting and safe flying experience in a bold design that communicates beauty, performance, and most importantly, fun. Lightweight and compact enough to be trailed by your car, the A5 is almost like a personal set of wings, just open them up and fly towards the sun. And for the reasonable sum of $139,000, it’s a small price to pay for freedom.

 Virgin Galactic Space Flight

What does every child want to be when they grow up? An astronaut? This Christmas make a childhood dream come true with a Virgin Galactic Space flight. Richard Branson has thought up many a ventures, and arguably this one is his most “out of this world” endeavour. Increasingly successful, and extremely safe, Virgin Galactic gives any fledgling astronauts the chance to be launched into space for the experience of a lifetime! Watch earth from the stillness of space, contemplate the wonder that is the world we live in and take spectacular holiday photos your guests will never tire of looking through and jump onto the North Star for a trip into space. The price for a ticket has dropped dramatically, and at $200,000 its positively cheap.

 Narara Island, Fiji, South Pacific 

What would you take with you on a desert island? Your house keys. Yes, it is now possible to acquire your very own island for that privacy and peace and quiet we all chase when on holiday. Owning your very own island is not as extravagant as it may seem, as at the end of the day it makes perfect sense. With many on sale, from off the coast of Canada to the Caribbean, privately owned islands are the new country estates.  Why not opt to for a little further afoot and bag yourself your own little piece of Heaven on Earth with Narara Island in Fiji. Part of a six island archipelago, Narara is as yet undeveloped but ripe for ownership. Three lovely white sandy beaches and lagoons make this 112 acres island a true paradise. The weather is stationary between 25 and 27 degrees Celsius all year round, with little rain and only a 20 minute scenic private helicopter ride away from Nadi International Airport. Price on application, but can you really put a price on paradise?