Some of these things sound like they came straight out of a cartoon. Their prices range from $55 million (SAR 206 million) to an unbelievable SAR 234 trillion per gram. Here's a look at some of the most valuable materials, objects, and scientific creations ever known.
Carbon-14
Carbon-14 is valued at approximately $3 million (SAR 12 million) per gram. This radioactive isotope forms when cosmic rays interact with Earth's atmosphere.
An interesting fact is that all living organisms—including trees, animals, and humans—absorb Carbon-14 while they are alive. After death, the Carbon-14 gradually decays.
Because scientists know its decay rate, they can determine the age of ancient objects, fossils, and even dinosaur remains. Since Carbon-14 is naturally produced and extremely rare, a single gram is estimated to be worth millions of dollars.
Red Diamond
Red diamonds are worth around $6 million (SAR 22 million) per gram.
Unlike blue diamonds, which get their color from boron, or yellow diamonds, which contain nitrogen impurities, a red diamond owes its color to changes in its crystal structure. Massive geological pressure deep underground distorts the arrangement of carbon atoms, producing its unique red appearance.
Bennu Asteroid Samples
Samples collected from the asteroid Bennu are estimated at $9 million (SAR 33 million) per gram.
NASA launched the OSIRIS-REx mission in 2016 to collect material directly from the asteroid. After traveling millions of kilometers, the spacecraft returned in 2023 carrying only 121 grams of samples.
The estimated price per gram comes from dividing the total mission cost by the amount of material returned.
Californium-252
Californium-252 is a synthetic element worth approximately $27 million (SAR 100 million) per gram.
Just one gram emits about 2.5 trillion neutrons every second. These neutrons are useful for industrial inspections, nuclear reactors, and scientific research. Producing even tiny amounts is extremely difficult, making it incredibly valuable.
Falcon Supernova iPhone 6
This luxury smartphone has been reported to cost around $48 million (SAR 182 million).
According to reports, it is covered in gold, features a rare pink diamond, and includes advanced security protection against hackers. Whether every claim is accurate remains uncertain, but it is often listed among the world's most expensive phones.
Hallucination Watch
Valued at approximately $55 million (SAR 206 million), this watch is covered with rare pink, blue, and yellow diamonds set in platinum.
Ironically, despite its incredible value, it uses a standard quartz movement powered by a battery.
Ferrari 250 GTO
One Ferrari 250 GTO sold for approximately $70 million (SAR 260 million).
Only 36 units were produced between 1962 and 1964. The particular car that reached this record price also had an impressive racing history, increasing its value even further.
The Cullinan Diamond
The Cullinan Diamond was valued at roughly $400 million (SAR 1.5 billion).
Discovered in South Africa in 1905, it originally weighed 621 grams before being cut into several pieces. The two largest pieces are now part of the British Crown Jewels.
Hubble Space Telescope
The Hubble Space Telescope cost approximately $2 billion (SAR 8 billion).
After its launch in 1990, a tiny flaw in one of its mirrors caused blurry images. Astronauts repaired it in 1993, allowing Hubble to capture some of the most famous images of the universe.
Actinium-225
Actinium-225 has an estimated value of $29 billion (SAR 108 billion) per gram.
Scientists believe it could revolutionize cancer treatment. When attached to molecules that target tumors, it releases alpha particles capable of destroying cancer cells while minimizing damage to healthy tissue.
Because of its short half-life, it must be produced and used very quickly. Medical doses are far smaller than one gram, making the listed value largely theoretical.
International Space Station
The International Space Station cost approximately $150 billion (SAR 560 billion), making it the most expensive structure ever built.
It serves as a laboratory where astronauts conduct experiments, observe Earth, and study life in space. Its enormous cost includes solar panels, life-support systems, communications, scientific equipment, and decades of maintenance.
The U.S. Interstate Highway System
The American Interstate Highway System is estimated to have cost around $500 billion (SAR 2 trillion).
Rather than being a single object, it is one of the largest infrastructure projects ever completed, connecting states across the country.
F-35 Lightning II Program
The complete F-35 program is estimated at approximately $2 trillion (SAR 7.5 trillion).
This includes research, development, testing, manufacturing, software, pilot training, spare parts, upgrades, infrastructure, and long-term maintenance.
Antimatter
Antimatter is considered the most expensive substance known, with an estimated value of $62 trillion (SAR 234 trillion) per gram.
Every particle of ordinary matter has an opposite counterpart. When matter and antimatter meet, both are converted into pure energy.
Storing antimatter is incredibly difficult because it cannot touch ordinary matter. Scientists keep it suspended using powerful magnetic fields.
Producing even tiny amounts requires particle accelerators that smash particles together at nearly the speed of light. At today's production rate, creating a single gram would take billions of years, making antimatter the most expensive substance humanity has ever studied.
