How much the US has spent on the $400M Boeing 747 gifted by Qatar since they were given it
Published on Nov 06, 2026 at 8:07 AM (UTC-5)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on Nov 06, 2026 at 8:07 AM (UTC-5)
Edited by
Mason Jones
The Boeing 747 donated by Qatar for the US to use as the new Air Force One has certainly generated a lot of headlines, hasn’t it?
Practically every facet has been examined under a media microscope.
But how much has actually been spent on this plane?
Let’s take a look at the figures.
What happened when Qatar gave a $400m Boeing 747 to the US?
Virtually every aspect of the Boeing 747 gifted to the US by Qatar has been scrutinized.
Its unusual call sign of ‘Vader 01’ and its luxurious interior have generated their fair share of headlines.
When it was reported that the US government wanted this plane ready for service by the summer of 2026, there was a lot of reservations about whether it could be done.
But it was delivered – and that created a whole new plethora of headlines, like the curious case of the ‘fake books’ onboard.
As you might expect, the plane is visually impressive.
But just how much did it cost to get this project over the line?
There’s some conflicting figures going around.
How much did this Boeing 747 end up costing to turn into Air Force One?
As you might imagine, the official figure is considered classified information.
So the best we have to go off is a series of estimates from people in positions of power.
Back in June 2025, Air Force Secretary Troy Meink told the House Armed Services Committee he expected the retrofit to cost ‘less than $400 million’, and said the exact cost and details are classified.
This figure of ‘less than $400 million’ was later reiterated by William Bailey, the Acting Assistant Secretary of the Air Force.
A month later, The Daily Beast reported that $934 million had been transferred by the Pentagon to a classified project.
Around this time, some officials from the Air Force said that some of this money would go toward renovating the donated Boeing 747.
So there, you have a wide berth of estimates, from under $400 million to just shy a billion dollars – and that’s assuming if the $934 million transfer was entirely spent on the plane.
The murky answer seems to be that the figure is somewhere in the middle.
Regardless of costs, this plane will still keep everyone talking for the foreseeable future
Leaving aside the politics of the matter, it’s hard to deny that the plane does command attention.
You’re probably thinking ‘I should hope so! It cost hundreds of millions!’
After less than three months of service, it was grounded for some cosmetic upgrades, alongside some technical and security-related modernizations.
President Trump estimated it would be sent away for ’60 days’, during which time the ‘old’ Air Force One was put back into service.
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Ben joined Supercar Blondie in February 2025 after being published by international organizations including LADbible, The Sun, the New York Post, and the Daily Mail. He covers supercars, rare and collectible vehicles, aviation, luxury assets, and the fascinating people behind them. His reporting has explored everything from seven-figure supercars and historic Ferrari collections to unusual aircraft adventures and extraordinary automotive discoveries from around the world. Ben has also gained first-hand insight into vehicle craftsmanship and customization, including visiting specialist workshops to see bespoke vehicles up close.
