Mingling, networking, expanding your social circle and eating and drinking the finest foods and drinks in town – these are the benefits of being part of a private members’ club. With lockdown and closed offices over the last year, many of these clubs experienced a boom in popularity, as people were looking for private places to work and spend some time outside their homes. Soho House is only one of these modern-day clubs whose membership became a new kind of status symbol for the young and trendy.
This recent trend made Leader Doors curious, and they looked into the most expensive and exclusive clubs in the world – how much does it cost to join, how long is the waitlist and which celebrities and royals are members?
Here is the cold, hard breakdown of what you need to shell out to join the most sought after and exclusive members’ clubs in this world.
1. Yellowstone Club, Montana, USA
Fees: £290,000 joining fee, £30,000 yearly
How to become a member: You need to own a property in the area around the Yellowstone Club’s grounds, which cost between £1.5m – £18m
Rumoured members: Bill Gates, Justin Timberlake, Jessica Biel, Eric Schmidt (Google), Gisele Bundchen, Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner
Wait time: Unknown – memberships are limited to 864 households
Perks: What else would you need besides the chance to bump into JT? Maybe 15 ski lifts and around 60 ski trails, a private golf course and a youth centre with a movie theatre and other indoor entertainment facilities
Yellowstone Club, Montana
2. The Tanglin Club, Singapore
Fees: £72,000 joining fee, £912 yearly
How to become a member: You need to be recommended by two 3+ year members to become a member of The Tanglin Club
Rumoured members: Unknown
Wait time: 10-15 years
Perks: A salon, gym, outdoor pool, squash and a tennis court and six different restaurants and bars
The Tanglin Club, Singapore
3. The American Club, Hong Kong
Fees: £46,000 joining fee, £2,800 annually
How to become a member: You need to be American and must be proposed and seconded by an existing member at The American Club
Rumoured members: Unknown
Wait time: 1-2 years
Perks: Restaurants serving American food, a gym, spa, pool, tennis and squash court, kids play area and American events, such as Thanksgiving festivities
The American Club, Hong Kong
4. The Core, NY and Milan
Fees: £36,000 joining fee, £11,000 annually
How to become a member: You need to be referred by a member or partner of The Core Club
Rumoured members: Jay-Z, The Clintons, Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, Tory Burch
Wait time: Unknown
Perks: A gym, library, beauty salon and spa, exclusive events and an art collection
The Core, New York City
5. Carnegie Club, Skibo Castle, Scotland
Fees: £30,000 joining fee, £9,500 yearly
How to join: Unknown
Rumoured members: Various Russian oligarchs, Madonna and Guy Ritchie (who got married there)
Wait time: Unknown, but memberships are highly limited
Perks: The Carnegie Club includes a horse stable, a pool, tennis court, clay-pigeon shooting area, falconry, archery, a spa, library, drawing room, golf course and a dance hall with live music
Favourite Private Members Clubs of Royals and Celebrities
London hosts even more than one private members’ club frequented by royals and British politicians alike. White’s is London’s oldest gentlemen’s club, and its probably most famous members are none other than Prince William and his father the Prince of Wales.
The British royals seem to love their London private clubs. Prince William and Prince Harry are rumoured to have been members of The Turf Club; Prince Charles and William apparently also have frequented Brooks’s; and the Prince of Wales is also said to have been a member of the legendary Annabel’s during his heydays.
For the rich and famous of Los Angeles, the San Vicente Bungalows club is the place to be. The club opened its doors to celebrities and VIPs in 2018, and with a yearly fee of £3,000, it is one of the more affordable clubs – if you manage to get accepted. But if you make it, a drink with John, Mayer, Tracee Ellis Ross, Eddie Redmayne, Michelle Obama, George Clooney or Leonardo Dicaprio could be your new Friday night ritual.
One establishment not to leave out is Club 33. Founded by no other than the legendary Walt Disney, Club 33 started in the Walt Disney theme park in Anaheim. The club now has two other houses in Shanghai and Tokyo, all located within the Disneyland premises. Club 33 is extremely exclusive, expensive and sought after. To become a member, a joining fee of £27,000 and a yearly fee of £7,000 are due. Its members include actors Tom Hanks and John Stamos, as well as Kim Kardashian-West and Kanye West.
San Vicente Bungalows Club
Which city has the most clubs?
Of all the 42 clubs that made it onto the list, 14 of them are located in the same city. And with its history and tradition, it might not come as a surprise that London has the highest number of exclusive and expensive clubs, with most of them located in the Soho area.
Being home to six clubs from the list, New York City is taking second place. Los Angeles can boast four of the top establishments, and Hong Kong has a moderate two clubs.
Alternative clubs
Luckily, you do not have to have millions in your bank account anymore to enjoy the perks and benefits of private clubs. From a female, business-focused club to an Amsterdam club that only costs £42 a year – these are the best alternatives shaking up the scene.
Soho House, Hong Kong
Soho House
Soho House became a worldwide phenomenon in recent years. Its 28 clubs across the world are bringing together people with a creative mindset. Its prices start at £1,300 per year, and they offer a discount for people under 27.
The Allbright, L.A. & London
The club was founded in 2017 by two women whose aim is to empower and support other women and help them achieve their goals. Currently, the Allbright has a club in London and one in Los Angeles. The club membership costs £1,500 a year and gives access to networking events, parties and other social events.
Home House, London
Home to legendary members’ parties and an underground nightclub for late-night revellers, Home House is the place to see and be seen in London. If the late night antics aren’t your thing, there’s also a world-class restaurant, weekly jazz in the drawing rooms, and numerous creative events throughout the year. Membership prices start from £890 per year and go up to £2,950, with a £299 joining fee.
A’dam&co, Amsterdam
Located in Amsterdam, A’dam&co prides itself to be inclusive and supportive of creatives from music, arts, and design and leveraging true friendship. On top of that, it is super affordable. The membership costs only £42 a year with a £15 joining fee.
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Louise Walker is AGLAIA’s Editor in charge of all content creation and management. She splits her time between London and Miami, and can always be found at a swanky hotel bar sipping on a Negroni. Contact her for any questions or if you would like to become an AGLAIA Contributor: hello@aglaiamagazine.com
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