Crypto is often framed as an “investment,” but the strangest moments happen when it’s used as a payment method – especially when famous people turn it into a headline. That doesn’t mean crypto is “better money”; it usually just means the buyer and seller agreed to use crypto as the settlement rail. And if you want to dive even deeper, this recent round-up on FinancialContent collects some of the most eye-watering real-world Bitcoin purchases (from property to private jets).
If you’re new to how Bitcoin spending works online (including entertainment categories where legal), a neutral explainer like LuckyHat can help with the basics, alongside its Bitcoin payments overview for casinos.
Now, onto the celebrity purchases that are objectively a bit weird.
1) Eminem buying a cartoon ape for 123.45 ETH (about $450k at the time)
The “wait, that’s it?” hall-of-fame purchase has to be Eminem buying a Bored Ape Yacht Club NFT for 123.45 ETH, reported at roughly $452k–$462k around the purchase.
What he actually bought: a blockchain-tracked digital collectible (think: a scarce profile picture with ownership history). It’s weird because the object is basically a JPEG – yet the provenance (and the status flex) was the point.
2) Neymar Jr. dropping ~160 ETH on a “bubblegum pink” ape
In January 2022, Neymar Jr. entered the BAYC club too. Reporting based on OpenSea transaction history said he paid 159.99 ETH for one ape, putting the fiat value at $480k+ at the time.
It’s weird in the most 2020s way: a global sports superstar buying a digital avatar as both collectible and online identity.
3) Justin Bieber paying $1.3m for a “normal-looking” ape
Probably the most meme-able celebrity crypto buy: Justin Bieber reportedly purchased BAYC #3001 for 500 ETH, valued around $1,301,550 at the time.
What makes it especially weird (and very internet): later commentary pointed out that the ape wasn’t particularly rare, and coverage has since tracked how dramatically values can swing.
4) Madonna buying a $570k monkey via a concierge service
Madonna’s BAYC entry was widely reported: she acquired Ape #4988 for 180 ETH, roughly $570k at the time, and reports noted the purchase was handled via MoonPay.
It’s a perfect “crypto celebrity era” snapshot: not only is the purchase a digital collectible, it’s also executed like luxury shopping, through a concierge.
5) Jay-Z spending ~55 ETH on a pixel punk
Not all the weird celebrity crypto purchases are monkeys. Jay-Z bought CryptoPunk #6095 for 55 ETH, worth about $126k–$127k at the time, according to reporting that referenced the on-chain purchase.
This one is weird because it’s aggressively minimalist (a tiny pixel portrait)… yet it became a cultural status object.
6) Jimmy Fallon turning a late-night chat into an NFT buying moment
This one is less “most expensive,” more “most surreal”: Jimmy Fallon publicly discussed NFTs on his show, and coverage reported he bought a Bored Ape (including reporting around his hype and the surrounding criticism).
The weird part isn’t only the asset – it’s the meta-moment: a mainstream talk show host making a crypto purchase part of the entertainment itself.
So… what’s the takeaway?
Celebrity crypto purchases are often less about utility and more about identity, flex, and story value – a public “look what I’m in on” signal. And because crypto prices move, many of these buys look either genius or absurd depending on the month you check.