10 of the most expensive celebrity red carpet jewels ever, ranked – from Madonna’s Harry Winston diamonds and Lady Gaga’s US$30 million Tiffany & Co necklace, to Beyoncé’s Lorraine Schwartz jewellery

American model and fashion icon Gigi Hadid stole the spotlight at the 2021 Met Gala with her white Prada dress and Jacob & Co jewels.

The highlight was a necklace made of multiple round diamonds in collet-style platinum setting centred with a 54-carat diamond drop, worth US$12 million, according to the jeweller. She also paired it with stud earrings totalling 10 carats.

9. Beyoncé’s Lorraine Schwartz necklace (US$12 million) – Grammys 2017

The Halo singer definitely shone at the 2017 Grammys, thanks to her glittering Peter Dundas red sequinned gown. But the eye-catching piece on her neck was even more dazzling. The Lorraine Schwartz necklace features 400 carats of round diamonds, worth US$12 million, per Elle. She also wore matching Lorraine Schwartz rings.

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8. Beyoncé’s Lorraine Schwartz jewels (US$13.1 million) – MTV Music Awards 2016

A year earlier, Beyoncé rocked the 2016 MTV Music Awards with another Lorraine Schwartz set, also according to Elle. She flashed a 12-carat pink diamond ring worth US$9 million on her right hand, and three other rings valued at US$2.3 million on her left hand.

She also wore Colombian emerald, pink diamond and paraiba earrings with a price tag of US$1.8 million. In total, her jewellery was worth about US$13.1 million.

7. Charlize Theron’s Harry Winston necklace and earrings (US$15.8 million) – Oscars 2014

The 2014 Oscars presented a big stage for showcasing jewellery. One of the most sparkling pieces adorned Charlize Theron. The Mad Max star opted for a US$90,000 classy black Christian Dior haute couture gown and Harry Winston jewels: a 31-carat necklace with an emerald-cut centre stone and diamond stud earrings worth US$15.8 million, per Vanity Fair.

At the 2013 Oscars, Theron went for Dior and Harry Winston as well. They also had a lavish price tag – US$100,000 for the white gown and US$4.5 million for the emerald-cut diamond ear studs and bracelet, per Daily Telegraph.

6. Cate Blanchett’s Chopard earrings, bracelet and ring (US$18 million) – Oscars 2014

Not only did Cate Blanchett take home the best actress award for Blue Jasmine at the 2014 Oscars, she also dazzled in her extravagant look for the big night. Beyond her US$100,000 Armani Privé gown, she donned a Chopard ensemble of earrings with 62 opals, a diamond bracelet and ring, estimated to cost US$18 million, according to Hollywood Reporter.

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5. Madonna’s Harry Winston jewels (US$20 million) – Oscars 1991

One of the most historic Oscars moment was in 1991 when Queen of Pop Madonna arrived with the King of Pop Michael Jackson as her date. She channelled Marilyn Monroe in her shimmering white strapless dress. Madonna added brilliance to the look with Harry Winston jewellery, including a diamond necklace and earrings. The ensemble was worth around US$20 million, Time reports.

4. Gloria Stuart’s Harry Winston Heart of the Ocean (US$20 million) – Oscars 1998

Nominated for best supporting actress for her role as the older Rose in Titanic, Gloria Stuart wore a Harry Winston necklace inspired by the fictional Heart of the Ocean blue diamond in the movie to the 1998 Oscars. The necklace featured a brilliant 15-carat blue diamond as the heart-shaped centre of the pedant, surrounded by white diamonds. Its estimated price was about US$20 million, per Elle.

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3. Beyoncé’s Tiffany & Co. Historic 1939 World’s Fair necklace (US$30 million) – Oscars after-party 2022

Hosting the Oscars after-party last year with husband Jay-Z, Beyoncé flaunted the new version of the historic 1939 World’s Fair necklace, People reported. The original piece by Tiffany & Co. featured 429 diamonds while the reimagined version has 578 diamonds set around the 80-carat Empire Diamond which, interestingly, can also be worn as a diamond-encrusted ring. The necklace costs up to US$30 million, according to experts.

2. Lady Gaga’s Tiffany & Co. Tiffany necklace (US$30 million) – Oscars 2019

Another Tiffany & Co. masterpiece was worn by Lady Gaga at the 2019 Academy Awards, when she made history as the first person to have won an Oscar, Grammy, BAFTA and Golden Globe within a single year for her hit film A Star is Born. She wore a necklace of 16 cushion-cut diamonds and 46 round brilliant diamonds, including the 128.5 carat yellow stone at the centre, per Allure.

She teamed the necklace, estimated to be worth US$30 million, with an elegant black gown by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, just like legendary actress Audrey Hepburn, the last person to wear the stunning gem, in 1961 during a promotion for her iconic film Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

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1. Carrie Underwood’s Jonathan Arndt necklace (US$31 million) – Grammys 2013

The Johnathon Arndt necklace draped around country superstar Carrie Underwood’s neck ranks as the most expensive jewellery item that we’ve spotted on the red carpet. Underwood wore a black strapless gown by Roberto Cavalli and joked about the necklace, saying “It’s worth more than me”, according to Yahoo! News.

With its 381-carat array of oval, pear, marquise and round brilliant white diamonds, the necklace is worth US$31 million.