Just looked into something that puts wealth inequality into perspective - the actual net worth you need to casually own a private jet.

Turns out the average net worth of private jet owners is sitting around $190 million according to recent data. For people doing fractional ownership, it's a bit lower at $140 million, but still... we're talking serious money. Most millionaires don't even come close to being able to afford this.

The typical owner is usually a guy over 50 working in banking, finance or real estate, based in North America. Though apparently the industry's starting to see younger first-time buyers now.

Here's where it gets interesting - buying one is just the beginning. A used jet runs anywhere from $3 million to $75 million. But the real cost is what comes after. You're looking at $1 million+ annually just for maintenance, fuel and labor. Then there's hangar fees - depending on your airport, that's $81,000 to $160,000 per year. A simple flat tire? $1,000 to $2,000. Regular inspections run several thousand dollars each.

Insurance alone is brutal - between $10,000 and $500,000 yearly depending on the aircraft. And fuel costs add up fast. If you're flying 500 hours a year, expect around $17,500 just for fuel.

New aircraft prices are eye-watering. An Embraer Phenom 100 averages $4.5 million, while the really high-end stuff like Airbus Corporate Jets and Boeing Business Jets hover around $440 million. You could save money buying used, but you'll probably lose those savings to higher maintenance costs, upgrades, and warranty renewals.

So yeah - if you're not sitting on at least $140-190 million in net worth, a private jet probably isn't happening. It's one of those wealth flex items that honestly makes you wonder if the cost-benefit even makes sense.