Most Expensive Funerals
Who had the most expensive funeral in modern history? The answer appears to be up for debate, as different sources credit several different people as the victor of this posthumous competition. Top contenders include:
* Michael Jackson – $1 million dollars (2009). Jackson was presented in a polished solid bronze Promethean casket with gold-plated hardware, furnished by the Batesville Casket Company, which cost approximately $45,000.
* Diana, Princess of Wales – $11.8 million dollars (1997). Two thousand people attended the ceremony in Westminster Abbey. In addition, it is estimated that over one billion people watched the event worldwide, making it one of the largest televised events in history.
* Kim Jong Il – $40 million dollars (2011). The funeral committee was comprised of 232 members. The service took place on a freezing day in December and included a three-hour funeral procession.
* Queen Elizabeth II – $204.1 million dollars (2022). An estimated 250,000 members of the public saw the British queen lying in state in London during the mourning period, with many waiting in line in the streets for more than 24 hours.
* Ronald Regan – $400 million dollars (2004). Although the funeral itself was very expensive (including a mahogany casket estimated at $14,000), costs really skyrocketed when former President George W. Bush declared June 11, 2004, a federal day of mourning, thus giving the nation’s federal employees a paid day off and closing the stock market.
What would you expect to pay for your funeral? We guarantee it will be a fraction of the costs above! Contact us today at (435) 986-2085 to begin the pre-planning process and to receive your free copy of our pre-planning guide.
Submitted by Larry L. Hansen, Licensed Funeral Director/Owner.
Serenity Funeral Home is located just off Riverside Dr. at 1316 S. 400 E., Ste. A5. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @SerenityFuneralSTG.
