Where the Elite Play – Inside the World’s Most Exclusive Private Clubs

Wealthy people require a playground as much as an 8-year-old kid during the warm summer afternoons. But, luckily for them (and not for the child), they have endless options to decide how to spend their leisure time, as well as their money.

From a mountaintop billionaire playing field in Montana to a moody Parisian lair dreamt up by David Lynch, Funktasy has picked five ultra-exclusive private clubs across the globe. Here, the wealthy, royal and ridiculously well-connected come to wine, dine, ski, dance, network or simply retreat.

Get ready to witness the finest and most luxurious facilities the human race has ever conceived – ones that require a perfectly tailored suit, a multimillionaire bank account and a few acquaintances well-entrenched within the upper ranks of society.

CORE Club NYC – New York City, USA

Located in the heart of Manhattan on the iconic Fifth Avenue, the New York branch of CORE Club is a space where top-tier hospitality and timeless, ambitious design merge to create a unique setting where its members can connect and feel free to relax. All atmospheres and furniture were created by Marijana Radovic and Marco Bonelli from m2atelier, a Milan-based architectural company. 

The exclusive club boasts an outdoor lounge space, breathtaking views of Manhattan, private suites, a gym and wellness and spa services. The club also prioritizes its haute cuisine, with fine dining experiences featuring Italian chef Michele Brogioni and rotating guest chefs, as well as Wine Library tastings with sommelier Heidi Turzyn. 

Becoming a member there can get quite pricey; the cost can reach up to even $100,000 a year. No wonder celebrities like Natalie Portman and Cameron Diaz, or business moguls such as Blackstone CEO Steve Schwarzmann and Starbucks chairman Howard Schultz, were reported as members associated with the NY CORE Club.

Silencio Paris – Paris, France

If there’s a private club in this list with a unique setting and atmosphere, it’s Silencio. Celebs spotted there include Pharrell Williams, Lana Del Rey, A$AP Rocky, Prince and Kendrick Lamar.

Entirely conceived in its design by surrealist film director David Lynch, who was inspired by his movie “Mullhond Drive”, Silencio is a cryptic club located in the center of the French capital. Its secrecy and exclusivity are safeguarded as if it were a matter of life and death for its existence. Without an invitation from existing members or a membership, getting in can almost be impossible. And, if that wasn’t already enough, someone wanting to crash the party would need to exhibit artistic credentials as well. 

Yeah, you heard that right: paying isn’t going to cut it. Being a creative spirit, whether in fashion, music or cinema, is an essential requirement to be granted access to its enigmatic gates.

Paris’ most sought-after private club is divided into four spaces, where gold is the common theme. You can sip a fine cocktail made by the prince of mixology, Rémy Savage, at the bar, or you could entertain yourself by having a nice read in the library’s soft ambiance, inspecting the large collection of art and design books. But if you’re more into films, there’s a cinema as well, made for watching movies in a cozy atmosphere. There’s also the club itself, where you can free yourself on the dancefloor.  

Yellowstone Club – Big Sky, USA

Yellowstone Club took the concept of private clubs to a whole new level. Just think: 15,200 acres that are solely available to its members with its own real estate, private ski slopes and a whole golf course designed by PGA pro Tom Weiskopf. Wouldn’t this be a lucid dream?

Well, it’s actually just Yellowstone Club. 

A beautiful piece of land immersed in the Rocky Mountains, this club is a members-only ski, golf and adventure community. To become part of it, you’d need to purchase one of the enchanting properties within the club’s land and pay an initiation fee, which is estimated to be around $400,000, as well as annual dues of $40,000 or more. 

Real estate options here have prices starting in the millions and include ranches, modern homes and luxury condos, all secluded in this highly gated area.

Celebrities rumoured to be spending their holiday time here are Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Justin Timberlake, Tom Brady, Taylor Swift and boyfriend Travis Kelce.

Monaco Yacht Club – Monte-Carlo, Monaco

The name “Monaco” alone gives off luxury and elite vibes, but what happens if you pair it with “yacht” and “club”? Simple answer: you get one of the most prestigious and exclusive private maritime institutions in the entire world. 

The Monaco Yacht Club is an international hub that brings together over 2,000 members and some of the world’s most illustrious yachts. Membership is invitation-only and requires sponsorship from two already-established members of the club, as well as an application review from a committee chaired by the Prince of Monaco himself, Prince Albert II. The entry fee is estimated to be around $27,000, and annual dues of an unknown amount must be paid to renew the membership.

Its iconic clubhouse stands out in front of the Mediterranean Sea in the most central ward of Monaco, also known as Monte Carlo. Given its shape and design, it resembles a high-end ocean liner, offering all kinds of services within, from chic restaurants and bars to high-fashion shopping boutiques and wellness areas.

The group of notable VIPs hanging around there encompasses names like Robbie Williams, Leonardo DiCaprio and F1 drivers Charles Leclerc and George Russell.

The 5 Hertford Street – London, UK

Nestled behind an unmarked maroon door in the heart of Mayfair, London’s most secret and elite club functions as the core community for royals, politicians, celebrities and creatives. Many influential figures were alleged to be habitual here, such as popstar Harry Styles, Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger, Nigel Farage and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle (pre-“Megxit”). 

When you first step in, the place doesn’t look like anything else ever seen in a private club: chandeliers, prints, roaring fireplaces, portraits – it’s almost as if you were entering a royal palace. The mastermind behind the layout is fashion and interior designer Rifat Ozbek, who went full “Bohemian estate” vibes for this one.

The dress code is very strict, requiring no flip-flops, sandals, T-shirts, shorts or sportswear of any kind and mandatory smart jackets at least until 11 p.m., at which point people are allowed to take them off only to dance. 

The 5 Hertford Street features a variety of services, from cigar and private dining rooms to lounges and a rooftop garden, as well as a downstairs exclusive club, the Loulou’s.

Membership fees are estimated to hover around $2,000 a year. But before you think you have a chance at getting your foot in the door of London’s most prestigious club, I unfortunately have to tell you that, to be granted access, you need two letters of recommendation from existing members.

We’ve delved into the refined sophistication of the 5 Hertford Street, the surreal fusion of the arts in Silencio, the Mediterranean glamour of the Monaco Yacht Club and the dynamic urban luxury of CORE Club NY. 

Sure, These Places Are Not for the Masses…

Yet they still have something irresistible about them. An intoxicating feeling that makes you want to know more and grind your way up to an eight-figure checking account. 

Maybe it’s the Michelin-starred menus, or maybe it’s the myth, mystery or dim possibility of one day sitting on a velvet armchair inside one of these clubs, sipping a martini and smoking a Cuban cigar. Who knows? Until then, keep your dress code tight and your head kept up, because you never know when someone will whisper in your ear, “I can get you in”.