Summary Celebrities like Elon Musk favor the Gulfstream G550 for business travel due to its luxury, range, and performance.
Rupert Murdoch uses his G550 for transcontinental trips; common destinations include New York, London, LA, Sydney, and the Mediterranean.
Larry Ellison, Dwayne Johnson, and other celebrities enjoy the G550’s comfort, long-range, and luxurious business and personal travel amenities.
The Gulfstream G550 is a popular choice among celebrities due to its range, speed, and luxurious amenities. Several notable individuals have operated the type over the years – let’s check out ten of the most high-profile owners.
Celebrities who own and operate the G550
Here are ten celebrities who have owned or operated a Gulfstream G550, along with details on how and where they use their aircraft.
1. Elon Musk
Elon Musk, the founder of Tesla and SpaceX, owns a Gulfstream G550. Musk uses his jet extensively for business travel, covering over 240,000 kilometers a year, equivalent to flying around the earth more than six times.
His G550, purchased in 2020, can accommodate 17 passengers and be arranged into a sleeping configuration, making it ideal for his demanding travel schedule. Celebrities like Elon Musk choose the Gulfstream G550 for its combination of luxury, range, and performance, making it perfect for their demanding travel needs.
2. Rupert Murdoch
Media mogul Rupert Murdoch, founder and chairman of News Corp and Fox Corporation, owns a Gulfstream G550, which he uses for business and personal travel. The aircraft accommodates up to 18 people and is versatile enough to land at many smaller airports while capable of long-haul flights of up to 6,750 NM without refueling.
Photo: Roberto Chiartano | Shutterstock
Murdoch’s G550 is ideal for his frequent transcontinental trips – his travel patterns often include the following destinations:
New York City, USA: As the headquarters of News Corporation, Murdoch frequently travels to New York for business meetings and corporate events.
London, UK: Murdoch resides in Mayfair, London, and often travels there for business and personal reasons.
Los Angeles, USA: With significant media holdings in Hollywood, Murdoch makes regular trips to Los Angeles.
Sydney, Australia: Murdoch, originally from Australia, travels to Sydney to visit family and oversee business operations in the region.
Mediterranean Destinations: Murdoch also enjoys vacationing there, often visiting locations like the South of France and Italy.
3. Larry Ellison
Larry Ellison, co-founder of Oracle Corporation, owns several private jets and is known to fly a Gulfstream G550. He often uses it for international travel, including frequent trips between Malibu and Japan. The G550’s long-range and luxurious amenities make it a perfect fit for Ellison’s busy travel schedule.
Larry Ellison owns a Hawaiian air carrier, Lanai Air, a small, private airline with a fleet of seven aircraft. Lanai Air provides luxury travel services between Honolulu and Lanai, catering primarily to guests of Ellison’s resorts on the island. Ellison owned Island Air prior to its ceasing operations in 2017.
Gulfstream G550 Performance
Specification G550 Maximum Range 6,750 NM Maximum Speed 488 knots (562 mph) High-Speed Cruise 580 knots (668 mph) Average Cruise Speed 476 knots (548 mph) Economy Cruise Speed 459 knots (528 mph) Service Ceiling 51,000 ft Takeoff Distance 5,910 ft Landing Distance 2,770 ft
4. Dwayne