Beware Of Peacock: 5 Stars with Expensive Exotic Pets
Pets aren't cheap – but the pets that celebrities have can cost a fortune. These stars have gone beyond an instagram-worthy kitten or puppy and into the world of exotic animals. Some are the perfect pet owners, spoiling their animals with custom enclosures and lavish lifestyles – others got in over their heads.
5 Ice-T – Baby Sharks and Living Coral Aquariums
In the 90s, Ice-T had a custom $250,000 recording studio built, and people are still talking about the inhabitants of the 8 foot long 3 foot high tank he included – baby sharks.
Now, he has more peaceful aquatics: a living coral aquarium. While there's no way to know for sure how much Ice-T's setup cost, it's worth noting that a single common type of coral can cost around $50 – and he has a massive, custom setup.
The coral tank also features a variety of fish, including what appears to be a yellow tang – which can cost anywhere from $300-$550.
"I've always tried to have a spa-like environment in my house," Ice-T said of the stunning aquarium in his living room, " You know you spend money, you go on vacations to have that tranquility, so I try to make it in my house."
4 Chris Brown – A Capuchin Monkey
Capuchin monkeys are highly intelligent animals. In the wild they live fully in the trees. They have communities of anywhere from six to forty members, with complex social structures based on grooming and vocalization.
While it might seem obvious that this isn't an animal that it would be possible to keep alone in a household, humans have been trying for hundreds of years. From Victorian street performers to unprepared parents, people can't seem to leave these complex creatures in the trees.
Chris Brown was no exception. Brown gave a capuchin monkey named Fiji to his daughter Royalty in early 2018. In 2019, an LA judge ordered him to give up all rights to the monkey, pay $35,000 to the facility that was now responsible for caring for it, and make no attempts to purchase any other prohibited species.
3 Slash – Pythons and other reptiles
The Guns N' Roses guitarist has the number one thing it takes to be an ideal exotic animal owner – he's also an enthusiast. Slash's interest in reptiles goes beyond the "cool factor" that having an expensive exotic animal may give him, he's also an expert on their care, and is willing to spend top dollar to ensure that they're healthy and happy.
"Most of my snakes... are off in separate rooms where it's very quiet for them," Slash told Phillip Samuelson in an interview for REPTILES Magazine. The rockstar's home is outfitted with custom cages, actually built into the walls of the building itself. His beloved pythons are housed in an enclosure the size of a room, complete with running water.
The animals themselves, although they would be expensive to buy, are mostly rescues according to Slash: "Actually, most of my snakes are orphans. People call me up and say, 'We've got this snake. Do you want it?'"
2 Mike Tyson – Tigers
With all the Tiger King drama of 2020, it should come as no surprise that some celebrities have owned tigers.
Tyson told the story of how he got the cubs on the Fat Joe Show. In the early 90s, when Tyson was in prison, he had a friend who imported cars and was considering trading vehicles for animals. Tyson asked his friend to order him a pair, and when he was released, two cubs were waiting for him.
"You know what I learned? I was foolish. There's no way you're going to domesticate these cats 100%. There's no way that's going to happen," Tyson lamented.
Chaos followed the cats. Once, when a trespasser jumped the fence on Tyson's property, one of the tigers attacked. Tyson gave her $250,000 to help cover the cost of her injuries.
"I loved them, I used to sleep with them," he said. "I'm just happy I educated myself, I know it was late...I shouldn't have had them in my house. I was wrong."
Since then, Tyson has moved on to less exotic, but safer pets – including a poodle named Mars.
1 Martha Stewart – Peacocks
Martha Stewart, who has a farm in the Northeast, has sixteen peacocks (and peahens) living in a coop with a large fully enclosed lawn by her stables.
"Ivisit these beautiful birds every day. I love calling out to them and waiting for their energetic responses," Stewart wrote on her blog, "My peacocks are doing exceptionally well and remain active, curious, and very, very vocal."
Like all good owners of exotic animals, Stewart knows a lot about her birds. She takes great care to make sure that they are not just healthy, but thriving.
Sources: Orlando Sentinel, reefbuilders, Martha Stewart
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