The Most Expensive Celebrity Jewelry Ever Worn in Public: From Beyoncé, Elizabeth Taylor, and More
The Most Expensive Celebrity Jewelry Ever Worn in Public: From Beyoncé, Elizabeth Taylor, and More
Kelsey StiegmanSat, May 9, 2026 at 4:30 PM UTC
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Credit: Getty Images / InStyleThe Gist -
Over the years, red carpets have played host to jewelry worth trillions of dollars.
Some of the most expensive jewelry ever worn only became so after its wearer’s death.
Modern celebrities, like Beyoncé and Gigi Hadid, have also worn their fair share of extravagant jewels.
Though more women billionaires exist now than ever before (Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez, and Kim Kardashian, to name a few), some of the most expensive celebrity jewelry ever worn in public hailed from famous historical figures.
Stars like Elizabeth Taylor, Grace Kelly, Princess Diana, and former first lady Jackie Kennedy Onassis owned diamonds that would be considered obscenely lavish, even by today’s standards. These ultra-expensive pieces only grew in value after their ownership. In the years since, these jewels have evolved to become some of the most expensive pieces of jewelry Hollywood has ever seen.
Even so, modern-day celebrities, like Beyoncé, Gigi Hadid, and Margot Robbie, have sported their fair share of seven-figure diamonds. Red carpet events—such as the Grammys, the Met Gala, and various movie premieres—have become a showcase for high-end jewelry. And stars seem hell-bent on outdoing each other, with help from the most trusted luxury jewelry houses.
Brands like Cartier and Lorraine Schwartz trade their multimillion-dollar designs for public visibility that’s likely worth even more. As a result, we, the fans, regularly get to glimpse some of the world’s most coveted jewels at the necks of our favorite stars. Ahead, see the most expensive celebrity jewelry ever worn in public—from past to present.
01 of 08
Grace Kelly’s $38.8M Engagement Ring
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Actress Grace Kelly married Prince Rainier III of Monaco in 1956, and the ring that sat on her finger would go down in history as one of the most extravagant of all time. Kelly’s Cartier emerald-cut engagement ring was made up of 10.48 carats, with the main stone sandwiched between two smaller, baguette-cut side stones. Brides reports the ring was listed for $4.06M in 1956, making it worth an estimated $38.8 million today. It’s believed to be the most expensive celebrity engagement ring in history.
02 of 08
Jackie Kennedy Onassis’s $22M Engagement Ring
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Though Jackie Onassis Kennedy wore a two-stone diamond and emerald ring during her time in the White House, it wouldn’t be her last engagement ring. Five years after her husband, John F. Kennedy Jr., was assassinated in 1963, the former first lady married Aristotle Onassis, who was one of the richest men in the world. He proposed with a ring befitting of his bank account, presenting his would-be bride with a 40.42-carat diamond, dubbed the Lesotho III, from fine jeweler Harry Winston. In 1996, the dazzler sold for $2.58 million at auction. Today, however, it's estimated to be worth around $22 million, according to The Knot.
03 of 08
Gigi Hadid’s $12M Jacob & Co. Necklace
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Though most stars embrace theatrics at the Met Gala, Gigi Hadid’s 2021 outfit was the picture of simplicity. The model chose a nondescript ivory gown with black leather gloves, allowing her jewelry to stand as the hero of Hadid’s look. More than two dozen round-cut diamonds dangled from her neck, with a massive 54-carat center stone. The incredible creation came courtesy of Jacob & Co. and, according to the brand, costs a stunning $12M.
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04 of 08
Beyoncé’s $12M Lorraine Schwartz Necklace
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In 2017, Beyoncé took home the gold, claiming Grammys for Best Urban Contemporary Album for her album Lemonade and Best Music Video for "Formation." But the pop star arrived with some sparkle of her own—400 carats-worth. Beyoncé wore a $12M lariat-style necklace from celebrity jewelry designer Lorraine Schwartz. The dazzling design came encrusted with more than 30 large, round-cut diamonds.
05 of 08
Princess Diana’s $12M Pearl Necklace
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The late Princess Diana is known for her love of pearls. The gemstones have accented many of her most famous outfits, but few are more splendid than what some call her Swan Lake necklace. For a 1997 ballet performance, Princess Diana came dressed in an ice blue, beaded mini dress, styled with an ornate diamond necklace. The piece—which was loaned to the royal by Garrard the Jewellers—featured several large drop pearls and came with a seven-figure price tag.
06 of 08
Elizabeth Taylor’s $11.8M La Peregrina Pearl Necklace
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There’s a reason Taylor Swift wrote an entire pop song inspired by Elizabeth Taylor. The star was famed for her extravagant lifestyle and massive collection of diamonds, including 8 different engagement rings (more on that, ahead). One of her most famous pieces was the fabled La Peregrina necklace. The Cartier design featured dual strands of large pearls and was accented with intricate brooch-style embellishments encrusted with diamonds and rubies. It set the world record for pearls sold at auction, bringing in $11.8M at a Christie’s event. The large pear-shaped pearl at the center once belonged to King Philip II of Spain.
07 of 08
Margot Robbie’s $8.8M Elizabeth Taylor Necklace
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Another notable piece from Taylor’s jewelry collection is the heart-shaped Taj Mahal diamond, which was set in a ruby-accented Cartier necklace with a gold chain. The necklace was a 40th birthday gift from her two-time ex-husband, Richard Burton. The piece sold for $8.81 million in 2011 during the same Christie’s sale. It, likewise, broke records for the most expensive Indian jewels ever sold at auction. Years later, Margot Robbie would wear the lavish creation while promoting her 2026 film Wuthering Heights.
08 of 08
Elizabeth Taylor’s $8.8M Krupp Diamond Ring
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Though Taylor’s jewelry collection is expansive and varied, her most famous piece was easily the 33-carat Krupp diamond. Also gifted to her by Burton, he purchased the Asscher-cut behemoth in 1968 for $307,000. When adjusted for inflation, that’s about $2.9M today. Following Taylor’s death, the sparkler was sold at auction for $8.8M.
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