Qatar’s $200,000,000 'flying palace' is now a $15,000,000 listing and it’s the quieter sibling of the 747 gifted to the US
Published on Jan 30, 2026 at 2:52 PM (UTC+4)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on Jan 30, 2026 at 2:55 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
The $200 million ‘flying palace‘ that belongs to the Qatar royal family is now for sale for ‘just’ $15 million.
You wouldn’t expect an ultra-luxury Boeing 747-SP to go for such a great price, especially when it has these kinds of amenities.
Touches like a throne and a gold toilet certainly drive up its wow factor.
You could say this is the quieter sibling of the 747 that was gifted to the US.
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What makes the $200 million flying palace so special?
The SP stands for ‘special performance’, and boy does this plane deliver on that.
It was built back in 1979 and was initially used by Pan Am before being sold to United in 1986.
It would be used by the Qatar royal family from 1995 to 2018.
While it was once valued close to $200 million, it’s now going for $15 million over on Controller.com.
That’s essentially the same price as some Cessna jets.
Considering what lies onboard, you’d be thanking your lucky stars if you managed to get your hands on this beauty.
Capable of carrying between 80 and 85 passengers, this plane’s interior has the layout of a palace, rather than the standard rows of seats.
The master bedroom comes with an ensuite shower, several lounges, dining rooms, and conference spaces.
With glossy wood and gold fittings abound, this plane has the look of a regal residence.
This plane has $70 million worth of fittings alone, including a throne and a gold toilet.
Not that we’ve ever personally looked into the price of a golden toilet…
Aviation YouTuber Sam Chui got to board the plane back in 2019 and fly as its only passenger.
“It’s a very unique and rare experience,” he said.
“I was physically trying out lots of different seats, all the zones, examining the plane. It was a very exhilarating experience.”
What bigger flex could you have than saying you flew solo in a flying palace?
And this is a YouTuber who’s had a lot to brag about over the course of his aviation experiences; he flew on the Concorde after all.
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Qatar’s Royal Family owns an incredible fleet of jets
Unless you’ve been living under a very large rock, you’ll have no doubt heard that the Qatari royal family is very rich.
And what better way to spend that wealth than on some decked-out jets?
Perhaps the most newsworthy plane is the $300 million Boeing 747 projected to replace Air Force One as early as this summer.
But that’s not the only high flyer that’s been linked to the Qatar royal family.
Back in the summer of 2023, the Emir sent a private 747 to fly his family from Los Angeles to Italy.
And the luxury didn’t end there, as they went straight from the private plane to lapping up the sun on a $500 million superyacht, which has custom tenders because of the ruler’s height.
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Following stints at LadBible, The Sun, The New York Post, and the Daily Mail, Ben joined the team full-time in February 2025. In his role as Senior Content Writer, his sparkling copy, the ability to sniff out a good story at 100 paces, and a GSOH quickly led to him becoming an integral and invaluable member of the writing staff.
