Hats are the perfect accessory to spruce up a look when you’re going out, or just to help shield you from natural annoyances like the wind or sun. But for many, hats are worth more than that. Most of us wouldn’t dream of spending more than $20 on a hat.
So what is the most expensive hat in the world, and why would anyone want to spend hundreds of thousands, to millions, of dollars on it? Here are the top 6 most expensive hats and the history behind their creation and value.
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What Makes a Hat Expensive?
What makes anything expensive? Most of the items that we own are fine enough quality to provide us with what we need at the end of the day. But what about the items that are way too expensive? What makes a hat expensive compared to what we purchase? They are usually made with unique or rare materials and have some sort of cultural or historical significance.
When it comes to materials, it’s not about the durability of the material. Baseball caps usually have polyester which is moisture-wicking, durable, and can retain its shape easily. Beanies and winter hats often use wool for insulation, or even silk for a more luxurious choice. But these hats below often have diamonds and crystals, or even platinum to really stand out amongst the market. While not beneficial to actually use, it does create a statement.
As for its significance, each hat listed below has some sort of meaning or story behind it. From caps worn by athletes, to diamond covered hats worn by celebrities, the story behind each hat adds to the value. When it comes to the most expensive hat in the world, it includes both unique materials as well as the artist’s name behind the hat.
Most Expensive Hat on the Market
Before we dive into what is the most expensive hat in the world, let’s see what the most expensive hat is on the market for purchase right now. After looking through a few luxury brands, it seems the iconic brand Borsalino is the winner for having the most expensive hat on the market. Their Alexander Montecristi Panama Extra-Fine cap is worth a staggering $2,650 in total. This exceptional straw woven hat is the most luxurious one that can be purchased with a single hat taking up to 6 months to produce with excellent skill and process.
Taking second place is the luxury brand Louis Vuitton, which has a cap that is just under the most expensive. Their Cosy Mink Fur Bucket Hat sits at a crazy $2,220 and was crafted entirely in plush Neovision fur to help keep your head warm for the winter. It’s adorned with an oversized, distinct Monogram Flower as a signature to compliment this statement piece. So, if you think these prices are outrageous, get ready to explore the hats that costs way more.
Most Expensive Hat in the World
6. Scarce Babe Ruth “Bustin Babes” Hat, $350,000
When thinking of the most expensive hat in the world, you might not imagine a beat-up sports cap, but something luxurious and exquisite. Well when the hat is worn by none other than baseball player George “Babe” Ruth, the value goes up.
Babe Ruth played baseball for 22 seasons, from 1914 to 1935, where he achieved his greatest fame as a slugging outfielder for the New York Yankees. Ruth is regarded as one of the greatest sports heroes in American culture and is considered to be one of the greatest baseball plays of all time.
This hat was worn by Ruth himself during the 1927 season when Babe Ruth and the Yankees completed what is considered the finest season in MLB history. The Yankees ended the regular season with a record of 110-44 and Ruth had 60 home runs for the season. With such a history, of course this cap would be valued at a staggering $350,000.
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5. Lady Gaga’s Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show Hat, $1 Million
From athletes to pop stars, the range of the most expensive hat owners is incredible. Lady Gaga, also known as Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She has several amazing hits, with her breakthrough songs being “Just Dance” and “Poker Face”.
Gaga is one of the world’s best-selling music artists and the only female artist to achieve four singles each selling at least 10 million copies globally. She’s also the wearer of one of the most expensive hats, which she debuted during a Victoria’s Secret fashion show.
During the performance in 2016, she wore five unique looks, but the most enchanting was her black glittery jumpsuit with a matching hat. The hat alone costs $1 million, as it’s a custom headpiece featuring 45,700 Swarovski crystals that speckle the hat and fall in 60 hand-beaded streamers. The piece took over 300 hours to make with a team of 10 craftspeople.
4. Any Warhol’s The Money Hat, $1.2 Million
Considered one of the most important artists of the 20th century, Andy Warhol created one of the most expensive hats in the world. His work explores the relationship between artistic expression, advertising, and celebrity culture that flourished by the 1960s and spans a variety of media, including painting, photography, and film.
Some of his best, most well-known works include Campbell’s Soup Cans (1962) and Marilyn Diptych (1962). One sculpture, The Money Hat, comprises a Halston straw hat and ten dollar bills “knitted” by Warhold with straight pins. One ten-dollar bill is signed by him as well in marker.
The sculpture was created in 1972 and presented to his friend and confidant as a birthday present. Not only is it an exquisite sculpture and hat, but it’s also a signed piece by a famous artist, making the value of $1.2 million worthwhile for many.
3. À la Française Hat of Emperor Napoleon I, $1.43 Million
The most expensive hat in the world isn’t always from an athlete or artist. Several expensive hats actually have a large historical significance behind them. For instance, Napoleon Bonapart has some hats that have sold for shocking amounts in auctions.
Later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, the French military and political leader led a series of successful campaigns across Europe during the Revolutionary Wars and Napoleonic Wars from 1796 to 1815. Napoleon is considered one of the greatest military commanders in history and Napoleonic tactics are still studied at military schools worldwide. Thanks to his legacy, some of his hats that have cropped up have been noticed by collectors.
For instance, the legendary “à la française” hat, worn during his campaign in Pologne in 1807, was sold for a breathtaking $1.43 million. It features a black felt with a red, blue, and white cockade, beneath a black sild double band held together by a button covered with embroidered black silk threads. The beautiful hat is just one of many of the most expensive hats sold in the world.
2. Napoleon’s Bicorn Hat, $2 Million
Speaking of Napoleon’s legendary hats, here’s another one that deserves to be mentioned. Napoleon’s Bicorn hat made it to the Guinness World Record in November of 2023 for being the most expensive hat sold at auction. The hat was last owned by businessman Jean-Louis Noisiez, who died in 2022 and has now been purchased by an anonymous buyer.
According to Osenat, the auction house that the hat was sold through, Napoleon owned 120 hats, yet only about 16 are known to still exist, adding to the value of his accessories. This particular bicorn was used by the military commander in the middle of the Empire, around the 1806-1815 period.
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1. Chapeau d’Amour, $2.7 Million
The most expensive hat in the world was created by Louis Mariette, a famous millinery, or hat maker, who has created some amazing masterpieces. Louis was born in Malawi and grew up in Botswana and Swaziland who enjoys combining incredible colors with textures found in the wildlife.
This shows with the most expensive hat in the world, the Chapeau d’Armor, or the “hat of love”. The hat was inspired by ivy and bluebells but is made out of platinum and diamonds. The self-taught hat maker has brought several pieces that show how he breaks the boundaries of what is usually seen in the business and strives for perfection.
Thanks to his unique eye for beauty, he created a hat worth $2.7 million that has been the most expensive one since he presented it in 2009.
