Lionel Messi is an Argentinian professional footballer and captain of Inter Miami and the Argentina national team. He is considered to be one of the greatest football players of all time. He has also played for Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain. Due to his extensive career and accompanying wealth, his net worth is thought to be around $500 million. Therefore, it is no surprise that he and his family have the ultimate luxury of having a private jet. What jet does he have? Let’s find out.
No stranger to private jets
Of course, having his own private jet allows him to travel wherever he wants with the ultimate flexibility. With the time saved, using smaller private airports allows him to spend more time with the family. It also allows him his privacy while traveling. Messi and his family have a Gulfstream V aircraft with registration LV-IRQ, which was built in 2004.
Messi bought the aircraft in 2018, and it is thought that he paid around $15 million. He is no stranger to the private jet world, as previously he had an Embraer Legacy 650, worth $35 million. The aircraft is registered in Argentina. In general, the Gulfstream V is known for its reliability, high performance, and range, making it a perfect choice for Messi.
The finer details
The Gulfstream V has a top speed of Mach 0.885 and a range of 7480 miles, so it can easily fly 4410 miles from Miami to Buenos Aires or any city in North America to Europe. The aircraft has 14 large, comfortable leather seats that can be converted into seven lie-flat beds. After he purchased the aircraft, Central Jets refurbished it with upgrades to the interior and exterior.
City pairs that the Gulfstream GV can fly include:
Tokyo to Los Angeles
Auckland to San Francisco
Denver to Beijing
Miami to Paris
Personalized features on the exterior include the number 10 on the tail, which was his player number shown on his jersey. Also, the names of his wife, Antonella, and their three children, Thiago, Mateo, and Ciro, are engraved on the aircraft steps. This detail reflects the importance of family in Messi’s life and adds a personal dimension to his travel experience. The exterior details make the aircraft instantly recognizable at any airport.
The aircraft is normally based out of San Fernando Airport (SADF), close to Buenos Aires. Flyzar, a private charter operator, operates it. It is thought that he also leases the aircraft out when he and his family are not using it, which is a good way to recoup some of the operating costs and the initial purchase.
In the cabin
The aircraft cabin is separated into three zones with club seating suitable for dining, eating, and entertaining. Two enclosed lavatories have vanity units, and one has a wardrobe and shower. There is a full-size galley for meal and drink preparation by themselves or a flight attendant. There is a convection oven, microwave, sink, coffee maker, and chiller cabinet. A walk-in baggage compartment is at the rear of the aircraft.
The aircraft also has a crew rest area and there is Wi-Fi throughout. A divan at the rear of the aircraft can be turned into a bed. This can be made into a private ensuite area by the use of a pocket door for privacy. The galley can also be separated from the cabin by a pocket door. The signature large oval windows allow for natural light in the cabin and offer panoramic views. The air system is 100% fresh air. There are also satellite phones. There is an entertainment system with surround sound and large monitors, as well.
In the cockpit
The original Gulfstream V was fitted with the Honeywell SPZ-8500 avionics suite, which had six displays. Later, this was replaced by the smaller and lighter PlaneView package, a unique version of the Honeywell Primus Epic avionics suite, especially for Gulfstream. It also includes Gulfstream’s Enhanced Vision System (EVS), which improves visibility in adverse conditions and increases the pilots’ situational awareness.
Photo: MS_Digital | Shutterstock
Aircraft specifications
(Data from Gulfstream)
General characteristics
Crew: 2
Capacity: 15–19
Length: 96.4 ft (29.4 m)
Wingspan: 93.45 ft (28.48 m)
Height: 26.85 ft (8.18 m)
Wing area: 1,137 sq ft (105.6 m2)
Aspect ratio: 7.68
Empty weight: 46,200 lb (20,956 kg), Basic Operating Weight with 4 crew: 46,800 pounds (21,228 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 90,500 lb (41,050 kg)
Maximum Landing Weight: 75,300 pounds (34,200 kg)
Maximum Zero Fuel Weight: 54,500 pounds (24,700 kg)
Maximum Fuel Load: 41,300 pounds (18,700 kg)
Maximum Payload: 8,300 pounds (3,800 kg)
Payload w/ Max Fuel: 3,400 pounds (1,500 kg)
Cabin Length: 43.92 feet (13.39 m)
Cabin floor Width: 5.25 feet (1.60 m)
Cabin Height: 6.17 feet (1.88 m)
Powerplant: 2 × Rolls-Royce BR710-A1-10 turbofan, 14,750 lbf (65.6 kN) thrust each
Performance
Maximum speed: Mach 0.88
Range: 7,500 mi (12,000 km, 6,500 nmi) long-range cruise with 4 crew, 8 passengers
Endurance: 14hr 28 min
Service ceiling: 51,000 ft (16,000 m)
Cruise speed: Mach 0.83 (882 km/h)
Normal cruise range: 5,500 nautical miles (10,186 km), with 5 crew, 12 passengers
Takeoff MTOW, ISA, SL: 6,100 feet (1,900 m)
Climb rate: 4,188 feet per minute (21.28 m/s)
Ceiling: 51,000 feet (16,000 m)
Aircraft facts and figures
The Gulfstream V was introduced in 1997 and was developed from the popular Gulfstream IV, and it featured several upgrades. It was a competitor to the Bombardier Global Express that was introduced in the early 90s. It first flew in November 1995 and received Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification in April 1997. Deliveries of the aircraft started in June 1997. It was Gulfstream’s first ultra-long-range aircraft. In total, 193 of the aircraft were manufactured and the Gulfstream GV was later developed into the Gulfstream G550.
The maximum takeoff and landing weights were increased by 15%. The aircraft has a three-zone cabin that is smaller than the Global Express, but its dispatch reliability, low cabin noise, and greater fuel efficiency make it a favorable competitor. The Gulfstream V has more range than the Global Express. This long-range aircraft is capable of flying distances of up to 12,500 kilometers nonstop.
The Gulfstream V is powered by Rolls-Royce BR700-710-A1-10 turbofan engines that provide 15,000 lbs of thrust each. The Gulfstream V has a supercritical wing that adds 12,000 more pounds of fuel compared to the Gulfstream IV. The horizontal tail was larger, and the fuselage was seven feet longer than the Gulfstream IV. Information from Global Air says that the average price of the aircraft now is around $9,750,000 and new the aircraft previously cost $45 million. A similar aircraft can be charted for between $5,200 and $10,000 per flight hour.
Operating costs
Regarding operating costs, Liberty Jet suggests that you would need $1.8 million to 3 $1,000,000 depending on the hours flown. These are comprised of variable operating costs, including fuel maintenance and engine overhaul, and fixed operating costs, such as crew salaries, insurance, and management fees.
Operating costs (200 hours): $1,832,161 ($19.58 cost per mile)
Operating costs (400 hours): $3,013,048 ($16.10 cost per mile)
Besides those aircraft built for private and corporate use, various special-mission Gulfstream V are flown by military and government operators worldwide. The U.S. Air Force flies for VIP transport, and the Israeli Ministry of Defense and Japan Coast Guard operate specially configured Gulfstream G–Vs. The National Center for Atmospheric Research uses a Gulfstream G–V as an airborne laboratory for environmental and atmospheric studies.
Aircraft usage
Professional footballers need to attend sporting events and meet multiple obligations around the world; therefore, a private jet enables them to get there fast. Traveling by private jet also means that Messi can reach ten times more airports than commercial airliners. He also uses the aircraft for leisure travel with his family. He lends the aircraft to friends and family and to his father for business trips. His teammates have also occasionally used the jet.
The jet cannot be tracked now, so privacy, discretion, and confidentiality are guaranteed during his travels. This is probably due to the previous extensive tracking of an aircraft he’d chartered for a big event and also a backlash from the public and his team for his private jet use.
According to L’Équipe, he was reported to have taken 52 trips in three months between June and August 2022. These totaled 368 flight hours, and many were between South America and New York and Miami. There were also some trips from South America to Europe. This high-frequency use indicates the importance of private jet use in Messi’s very demanding schedule.
Read More: How Many Private Jets Does Tom Cruise Own?
As well as his football career, Messi had lucrative Adidas and Pepsi gigs and is one of the highest paid athletes in the world. His wealth has allowed him to have a fleet of luxury cars, including a Ferrari F430 Spider, a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, and Maserati Gran Turismo MC Stradale, a Mini Cooper and three Audis. He is rumored to own a superyacht and also owns seven hotels in Europe, in conjunction with Majestic Hotels, worth a cool $232 million.
Not to be outdone, other famous owners of the Gulfstream V include business entrepreneur and Dallas Mavericks part-owner Mark Cuban, comedic actor Jim Carrey, rappers P. Diddy and Jay-Z, singer Lady Gaga, and multi-billionaire Elon Musk.
Related: Inside The Luxurious World of Tiger Woods’ Private Jet
