20 hobbies of the rich only they can afford

Hobbies give us a break from the day-to-day grind. Whether you enjoy crafting projects or adventurous activities, finding an enjoyable pastime doesn't have to break the bank. Unless, of course, you're filthy rich.

Just like us regular folk, rich people engage in fun, exhilarating activities to take their minds off work. But given their bankroll, they have their pick of activities that the average person can't afford to pursue on a regular basis — or at all. Here's a look at 20 hobbies of the rich.

1. Yachting

You don't need to take a cruise with people you don't know if you can afford to sail in a yacht. If you know how to sail and you enjoy the open water, spending time on a yacht might be the perfect end to a stressful week.

Unfortunately, yachting is a hobby only the rich can afford. A yacht can cost $1 million and up to buy, and renting one can set you back as much as $5,000 per day.

SEE MORE: 15 Favorite Hobbies of Successful People, Like Mark Cuban and Warren Buffett

2. Polo

Polo — a team sport played on horseback — is favored by the royals. So it's no surprise that it's also an expensive hobby.

It can cost upwards of $7,500 a year for club fees. Plus, there's the cost of buying a horse, which can start between $15,000 and $35,000. Equipment like a helmet, boots and saddles can cost several hundred dollars or more, and stabling and feeding the horse can cost $1,200 or more per month.

3. Race Car Driving

If you have an adventurous side and a love of cars, high-performance race car driving can offer extreme fun as you drive at high speeds around a track. But don't get too excited.

A NASCAR racing experience, for example, can cost up to $900 for two eight-minute driving sessions. And if you want to buy your own race car, it can cost $1 million or more.

4. Big-Game Hunting

Hunting in itself isn't necessarily expensive. But if you want to hunt big game, be prepared to empty your wallet. Big-game hunting expeditions aren't for the cheapskate.

It can cost tens of thousands of dollars for the thrill of hunting lions, elephants and other big-game animals. Some hunting expeditions can cost up to $70,000, according to USA Today.

5. Ballroom Dancing

Taking a ballroom dancing class here or there probably isn't going to break the bank. But if you turn ballroom dancing into a serious hobby and start competing, the cost of competition fees, lessons, transportation and other expenses can run more than $10,000 per year. In fact, one woman reportedly spent $30,000 a year to compete, and another said she spent $100,000 a year to compete, according to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

6. Collecting Exotic Animals

For some millionaires, it isn't enough to own a domestic dog or cat. They would rather collect exotic animals. Unfortunately, this hobby comes with a hefty price tag.

Buying a cheetah cub can cost, on average, between $15,000 and $25,000. A tiger cub can cost $3,200, and a grown tiger can cost $50,000. A lion cub can cost $1,500 to $15,000.

For people who want to own big cats like these, it can cost over $94,000 to set up in the first year, with annual care costing over $8,000, according to BigCatRescue.org.

7. Collecting Antiques

You don't have to be rich to collect antiques, and you might discover some nice finds at estate sales or garage sales. But for rich people with plenty of money to blow, antique collecting can be an expensive hobby. For example, someone collecting handmade rugs might pay as much as $257,000 for a 150-year-old Persian silk rug.

8. Horse Racing

Going to a horse racing track and placing a bet doesn't have to cost a lot of money. But if you want to breed, train and race your own horses in competitions, that can cost big money.

The average cost for a two-year-old horse in 2015 was $65,591, according to The Jockey Club, an organization for horse racing and breeding. The expense of this hobby increases once you add the price of food, grooming and housing.

Training bills alone at a mid- to high-level racetrack can run between $30,000 and $50,000 a year, according to NBC New York. The entry fee for the Kentucky Derby in 2016 was $25,000.

9. Mountain Climbing

Anyone can hike a mountain for exercise or the thrill. However, you'll need to open your wallet if you want to reach the top of the world's most famous summits. Hiking a mountain may necessitate paying for a guide, food, base camp and oxygen.

Prices vary, but it can cost a single climber between $11,000 in license fees alone to reach the top of Mount Everest. Even a low-budget expedition can cost $25,000, according to MountEverest.net.

10. Hot Air Ballooning

A hot air balloon ride offers an amazing glimpse of the landscape below. A 90-minute weekend ride can cost about $300 per person, depending on the location.

If you want to make air ballooning a full hobby, it can cost serious cash. You'll have to spend about $2,750 on flight school to learn how to operate the balloon, and another $20,000 to $60,000 for the actual balloon.

11. Golfing

Rich golfers seek the best courses, and some don't mind coughing up the dough for the privilege to join a golf club. Membership to some of the most exclusive golf clubs in the world will cost a pretty penny.

For example, the joining fee for Trump National in Los Angeles is $193,000. Joining the Liberty National Golf Club in New Jersey, which has views of the New York City skyline, costs about $374,000.

12. Skydiving

The average Joe might be able to afford the occasional skydiving experience, which involves jumping from an aircraft with a parachute. A single tandem dive can cost about $250.

However, making skydiving a regular hobby can require a big investment. Skydiving gear costs $5,000 to $9,000 to buy, which can include "the main and reserve canopies, altimeter, goggles and helmet," according to CostHelper.com, a cost resource website.

13. Scuba Diving

Scuba diving is another expensive hobby that only the rich can afford on a regular basis. The price of a scuba diving certification and equipment is about $500 each, which isn't too bad. However, underwater diving becomes expensive once you add the ongoing cost of transportation and lodging at the best scuba locations in the world, such as the Great Barrier Reef, Kimbe Bay in Papua, New Guinea, and Ras Mohammed National Park in Egypt.

14. Collecting Art

High-end art collection is among the most expensive hobbies. Some of the most expensive artworks in the world include Pablo Picasso's masterpiece, "Les Femmes d'Alger," which sold for $179 million, and "When Will You Marry?" by Paul Gauguin, which sold for $300 million. It might be no surprise that the wealthy own some of the greatest masterpieces ever painted.

15. High-Stakes Poker

For wealthy people with millions to blow, a game of poker is all about high stakes. High-stakes poker games are played by some of the world's richest, with some games requiring a $1 million buy-in.

16. World Travel

Just about anyone can afford a vacation or getaway. But not everyone can afford to travel and explore the world in style. Add in the cost of high-end accommodations, first-class travel, excursions and food, and a round-trip excursion around the world might cost as little as $10,000 or as much as $1 million.

17. Winemaking

Winemaking is another expensive hobby of the rich, according to Jim Wang, founder of personal finance website WalletHacks. "I have a business acquaintance who is very wealthy, and one of his hobbies is winemaking," he said.

"We're not talking about going to a winery, mixing their vintages and calling it your own blend — that's actually quite fun and affordable — with your own label," he said. "My friend bought land, hired a staff, and it was a couple years until he was actually able to bottle anything."

There are many hobbyists who make wine on a more affordable scale. On the other end of the scale, for example, if you want to start a winery in Napa, it can cost you about $100,000 per acre, according to Forbes.

18. Collecting Vintage Cars

Vintage car collection is an expensive hobby for the super rich. Jay Leno and Jerry Seinfeld are both known for their expensive car collections. The price of a vintage collectible varies. But to give an idea of what someone could pay, a 1954 Mercedes Formula One race car can cost about $29.6 million.

19. Flying Planes

If you have dreams of piloting your own plane, you'll need the resources to pursue them. Flight school can cost $5,000, and a used six-seat Cessna Citation CJ3 can cost as much as $2.5 million. Then, it can cost $100 to $200, on the low end, per flight hour to operate the plane.

20. Cigarette Boat Racing

People with a competitive side and a need for speed might enjoy racing cigarette boats. Unfortunately, this isn't a cheap hobby to participate in. One boat can cost between $500,000 and $1 million, and owners might spend up to $25,000 a year on maintenance, fuel, slip fees and transportation.

SEE ALSO: 15 Things Wealthy People Do Every Day

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 20 Hobbies of the Rich Only They Can Afford

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