7. Air Force One – $660 million

How much does it cost to keep the president of the United States safe when he travels? When the government purchased Air Force One in the early 1990s the cost was an estimated $330 million, which is around $571 million by today’s standards after inflation. Here’s the catch though: Air Force One is actually two planes.  That’s right, the cost of both of the jets was $660 million of taxpayer money.

But that’s not the end of the money guzzling jet’s expenses. Every time the president takes Air Force One out for a spin it costs $179,750 per hour to operate. As if that airfare cost doesn’t seem out of control as is, the cost of flying Air Force One internationally is astronomical. For example, a quick trip to South America can cost upwards of $10 million.

Although they are obviously more wealthy than the average American family, the Obamas clearly can’t front the cost of traveling in Air Force One themselves. So who pays this aircrafts bills? The American people’s tax dollars of course.