What do you give someone who has everything? That is the million-dollar question.
While most of us struggle to find the perfect gift for our loved ones, it can be even more challenging for celebrities who have all the money in the world to buy whatever they want.
However, back in 2010, Katy Perry reportedly found the ideal birthday present for her then-husband Russell Brand – a ticket to space worth around $200,000.
The ticket was for a Virgin Galactic voyage, and Brand was set to undergo three days of training before embarking on the trip.
The company’s representative, Louella Faria, confirmed the news, saying, “It is true. We are very excited to have him onboard. There will be 17-inch diameter windows to look out onto. Passengers will be able to view Earth around 800 miles in any direction from space.”
Unfortunately, Perry and Brand’s marriage only lasted for a little over a year, and the ticket was never used.
However, Perry was thrilled about the prospect of going to space with her husband.
In a 2011 interview with MTV News, she said, “I’m so into extra-terrestrial stuff… It’s very difficult for me to look up into the sky in the middle of the night and not think that our planet is one of… a bajillion. It’s really, really small. And Russell and I are interested in anything extra-terrestrial. I mean, we’re going to space! We’re really excited.”
Perry explained that she bought the ticket because she wanted to give Brand an experience that he hadn’t had before.
She said, “There’s a group of people that work with Richard Branson, and he does the Virgin flights, and for Russell’s birthday, I got him a flight to space. Because I just thought, ‘What else can I give this man? He’s had every experience in the world, but not a trip to space!’”
Despite the fact that their marriage didn’t last, Brand still speaks fondly of Perry.
In an interview with comedian John Bishop, he said, “Katy was obviously very, very occupied and busy. I was occupied and busy but not to the same degree. The marriage didn’t last for a very long time, and I think that is due to the undulating nature of fame, living in those conditions.”
He went on to say that he still has warm feelings for his ex-wife, adding, “I have come away from that experience, and I still feel very warm towards her. When I hear about her or see her, I think, ‘Ah, there’s that person, that person in the world’.”
While Perry’s gift may have gone unused, it’s still an incredible gesture and an excellent example of the lengths to which people will go to show their love and affection for their partners.
It’s also a testament to the power of space travel and the excitement that it generates among people. As Perry said, “There’s a lot of people who are signed up for this experience.” And who knows? Maybe one day, Brand will still get to use that ticket to space.
