I Tried Living Like a Billionaire for a Week (on a $100 Budget)

Let’s be honest: most of us have daydreamed about what it’d be like to be a billionaire. To wake up in silk pajamas, sip coffee made by a private chef, and send emails to assistants about yacht upgrades. I can’t afford that life — not even close — but I had an idea:

What if I tried to live like a billionaire for a week... on a $100 budget?

No gimmicks. No sponsors. Just me, some creative thinking, and a wallet that screamed “overdraft.”

Here’s how it went.

🥐 Day 1: Gourmet Breakfast (Sort Of)

Billionaires don’t eat cereal. So I Googled “luxury billionaire breakfasts” — and immediately got discouraged. Truffle omelettes? Imported French pastries? Caviar toast? My entire week’s budget would be gone in one meal.

Instead, I headed to the fanciest bakery downtown and bought a single $6 almond croissant. I plated it with some fruit from home, used my nicest plate, played classical music in the background — and pretended I was in a Michelin-starred brunch cafe.

Did I feel rich? A little. Was I hungry afterward? Yes. But that’s beside the point.

🧖‍♂️ Day 2: Spa Day (Without the Spa)

Rich people love self-care. Massages, facials, steam rooms. I settled for a $5 cucumber face mask, a hot towel from the microwave, and a YouTube guided meditation called “Manifest Wealth Energy.” I lay on my bed, surrounded by candles, pretending I was at a Bali resort.

I even poured cucumber water into a wine glass. It tasted like grass. But hey — ambiance is free.

🚗 Day 3: Chauffeur Life

I couldn’t afford a limo, but I could book a discounted Uber ride with a promo code I found online. I asked the driver to call me “Mr. Taylor” and tipped him $2 like I was on Succession.

Later that day, I used public transport with noise-canceling headphones and a podcast about luxury real estate. Honestly, I felt way more important than I should have.

🍽️ Day 4: Fine Dining — on Coupons

I searched for “gourmet restaurants with lunch deals” and found a place offering a $12 three-course lunch. That’s basically billionaire math: three courses for under $15? That’s what Warren Buffet would call value investing.

I dressed in my best shirt, used cologne I’d been saving for a wedding, and dined alone like a startup mogul having a “me day.”

The waiter didn’t know I was pretending to be rich. But I did — and somehow, that made the food taste better.

📚 Day 5: Learn Like a Billionaire

Wealthy people never stop learning — from Harvard courses to elite masterclasses. I found a free online lecture on “Negotiation Tactics from Billionaire CEOs” and took notes while sipping (store-brand) green tea like it was served by a private assistant.

That night, I even rewatched interviews with Elon Musk and Oprah to get in the mindset. Would they approve of my fake-it-til-you-make-it routine? Probably not. But I was committed.

🛍️ Day 6: “Designer” Shopping

I visited a high-end store, not to buy — just to feel the experience. I touched cashmere sweaters I couldn’t afford and nodded thoughtfully at price tags like they weren’t horrifying.

Then I hit up a thrift store with a $10 budget. I scored a second-hand blazer that looked surprisingly expensive. I wore it that evening while cooking boxed pasta by candlelight. Billionaire energy? Check.

🏠 Day 7: Private Villa — In My Living Room

For my final day, I transformed my apartment into a luxury Airbnb. I cleaned like I was expecting royal guests, arranged towels like a hotel spa, and turned on a fireplace YouTube video.

I even created a fake room service menu and served myself coffee with a napkin folded like a swan.

💸 The Final Bill

Here’s how I spent the $100:

Bakery breakfast: $6

Face mask & candles: $10

Uber ride (with promo): $8

Fine dining lunch: $12

Thrift store blazer: $10

Groceries for pasta night: $15

Misc. decor + snacks: $15

Tips, drinks, extras: $14

Total: $90 — plus $10 left for next week’s billionaire dreams.

🎯 What I Learned

Living like a billionaire isn’t about money. It’s about experience and perception. By slowing down, upgrading little moments, and treating myself like I mattered, I felt wealthier than I ever had.

The world tells us money is the key to a better life. But sometimes, all it takes is a good croissant and a bit of imagination.