
When it comes to luxury watches, not just anyone can get their hands on the cream of the crop. It takes money, patience, effort, and sometimes even a little bit of star status to amass a collection of upscale timepieces to rival the best of them. With that in mind, it comes as no surprise that celebrities from athletes to actors to musicians boast some of the world’s most incredible watch collections.
That said, not every celebrity watch collection is created equal – so which stars have garnered a timepiece motherlode that truly stands out? Today, we are diving into the question on many horological enthusiasts’ minds: Which celebrities have the best watch collections?
Rihanna
The Barbadian singer, songwriter, and businesswoman is celebrated across the globe as one of the most successful recording artists of the 21st century. In addition to her music, she is known for her makeup line and fashion line. And what pairs well with any great outfit? A luxury watch!
Rihanna’s diverse collection of luxury watches includes a classic Rolex Day-Date 36, a number of different Rolex Datejust 36 models, and at least one Patek Philippe Nautilus. In addition to these classic Rolex numbers, she also has a rather unusual Rolex in her watch box: the Rolex Cellini King Midas. This 1964 watch was actually designed by Gerald Genta (yes, the same hallowed name who brought us the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and the Patek Philippe Nautilus, sporty stainless steel watches that would change the meaning of luxury forever).
The Rolex Cellini King Midas has a very unusual design, especially considering the classic and timeless look of most other Rolex watches. It features an asymmetric bracelet with a square face and brushed finish. The model has experienced a resurgence in popularity after Rihanna was photographed wearing it, yet another piece of evidence that many consider her an iconic fashionista of our modern era. Rihanna’s watch collection is definitely hard to beat.


Drake
You’ve probably heard Canadian rapper (and former Degrassi star) Drake rapping about “ice on his wrist” – and he’s not exaggerating. Drake is the proud owner of an incredible watch collection that is tough to match. The estimated value of his collection exceeds $9 million, so it’s no surprise that there are some hard-to-find pieces in there.
One of Drake’s most iconic watches is his Paul Newman Rolex Daytona, arguably one of the most coveted Rolex models in the world. He has also purchased a 40th anniversary edition Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711 and a bright and unusual Jacob & Co. Astronomia Casino, which features a fully functional, wrist-sized roulette table along with the Astronomia line’s unique vertical movement.
Of course, Drake also owns some iced-out watches that fit right in with his legendary rap and hip hop career. He has been photographed numerous times wearing his limited run white gold Rolex Sky-Dweller, which is completely iced out in countless pave diamonds. While many diamond-studded watches are so decorated aftermarket, Drake’s Sky-Dweller is a unique factory-set timepiece with a meteorite dial that is one of only three such watches made by the brand. Talk about a hard-to-find watch!


LeBron James
A legend on and off the basketball court, LeBron James has a net worth of $1.2 billion – and that includes his estimated $8 million watch collection. Do the math on that, and you’ll discover that LeBron James’ watches are just under 1% of his total net worth! That fun fact aside, the Lakers power forward truly has an enviable collection of timepieces.
James owns a variety of stunning pieces from brands like Rolex, Audemars Piguet, Patek Philippe, and Richard Mille. One of his most coveted watches? The Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711 “Tiffany” edition. The brand released this timepiece in December 2021 to commemorate their longlasting partnership with Tiffany & Co. jewelers. There were just 170 pieces made with the striking Tiffany blue dial, and these were initially priced at a somewhat reasonable $52,000. However, not just anyone could get their hands on a Patek Philippe x Tiffany & Co. watch.
Only celebrities and well-known watch collectors were given access to the initial sale of this limited run, and the Tiffany watches were snatched up almost immediately. Other celebrities who own the Patek Philippe Nautilus “Tiffany” include Leonardo DiCaprio, James Harden, Mark Wahlberg, Corey Gamble, Tommy Hilfiger, and Ed Sheeran. In 2022, the first of these watches was auctioned off and was sold for a whopping $6.5 million. That’s a 125X return on investment – although it does not look like LeBron is looking to sell his Patek Philippe 5711 anytime soon. He recently wore it as a spectator at Super Bowl LVI.


Jay-Z
Also known as Shawn Carter, the American rapper and producer hails from New York City. He is often considered one of the greatest rappers of all time, and he is also famed for helping discover many of today’s most popular music artists and supporting their fledgling careers. In addition to his professional accomplishments, Jay-Z is considered a style icon. He shares three children with his wife, global pop sensation Beyoncé.
Jay-Z’s watch collection is the stuff of legends. His timepieces include a one-of-a-kind Rolex Datejust Perpetual Calendar and a platinum Rolex Day-Date. In 2012, Beyoncé gifted Jay-Z one of the most expensive pieces in his collection: a diamond-studded Hublot Big Bang that is estimated to be worth $5 million. Jay-Z also owns a couple of bespoke Richard Mille watches created exclusively for him. The RM 56-01 Tourbillon in green sapphire and blue sapphire are two such timepieces.
But those examples are far from the extent of Jay-Z’s enviable hoard. He also owns a rose gold Rolex Daytona, an openworked Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, and even a Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime, considered one of the luxury watch world’s most coveted pieces. All in all, if you are looking for a celebrity to inspire your collection, Jay-Z is one to watch.


John Mayer
It’s safe to say that the American singer-songwriter and guitarist has a veritable wonderland of watches in his vaults. And yes, we really do mean vaults! In an interview with The New York Times, Mayer shared that he keeps his watches safe under lock and key. The value of his collection is estimated to be in the tens of millions of dollars!
His watch collection is incredibly diverse in scope. While Mayer has an admitted soft spot for IWC watches, some of his most valuable pieces are from other top Swiss brands. He owns an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak “Music” edition as well as a Rainbow Rolex Daytona, a celebrity staple that Ed Sheeran and Patrick Mahomes are also often photographed wearing. Mayer also loves classic staples, such as the “Cookie Monster” edition of the Rolex Submariner line.
But his first-ever wristwatch continues to hold a special place in his heart. As he recounted in the same New York Times interview, Mayer went on a bit of a spending spree after receiving his first big check in the music industry. As part of his shopping, he purchased a Rolex Explorer II. He still owns (and wears) that watch today!


Ellen DeGeneres
The gifted comedienne and LGBTQ+ icon is also the owner of an incredible watch collection. While Ellen owns a range of different timepieces, her collection clearly favors two brands in particular: Patek Philippe and Rolex. It’s hard to find fault with the impeccable taste that Ellen displays in her watch collection. She has numerous Patek Philippe Nautilus watches in a range of dial colors and bracelet materials, but her Rolex collection is even more far-reaching.
Like Drake, Ellen is the proud owner of a Paul Newman Rolex Daytona, one of the hardest to find pieces on the entire Rolex market. Additionally, she is often spotted wearing her Rolex Submariner, which boasts a black bezel, green dial, and 18K yellow gold construction. Her favorite Rolex, however, seems to be the iconic Rolex GMT-Master II “Pepsi” edition. While Ellen has not confirmed nor denied this figure, many believe the value of her watch collection exceeds $5 million.


Start Your Watch Collection at Avi & Co.
Looking to kickstart a watch collection to rival your favorite celebrity’s? Look no further than Avi & Co., where you will find top-tier timepieces from heritage brands like Rolex, Audemars Piguet, Patek Philippe, and Richard Mille. Our experienced team will help you find the watch you have been dreaming of.
We have three convenient locations in Miami, New York City, and Aspen – so wherever you’re located, there is an Avi & Co. boutique near you. Schedule an appointment with us today!







