Luxury travel expert Olivia Ferney charges $100K a year for planning billionaire travel—they’re easier to work with than millionaires, she says

Luxury travel expert Olivia Ferney charges a hefty $100,000 per year to plan the vacations of billionaires and millionaires alike. Despite her young age, Ferney, a Canadian with humble beginnings, has gained significant recognition, even being named one of TIME's top digital influencers of the year. Her TikTok and Instagram account boast over 2 million followers, where she shares glimpses of her client interactions.

According to Ferney, the wealthiest customers are often easier to serve than their millionaire counterparts. While millionaires may desire spending extravagantly on travel, such as a $300,000 to $400,000 yacht, they frequently encounter buyer's remorse and attempt to negotiate refunds. Conversely, billionaires tend to be more open to spending and less likely to demand refunds, making them easier to work with.

Ferney's travel agency, Top Tier Travel, has adapted its approach to cater to this exclusive clientele. In the past, the company earned a modest 8% to 12% commission on trips. However, after gaining attention through her social media presence, Top Tier shifted its focus to a more selective clientele. Now, clients are required to pay an annual fee of $100,000 and spend at least $1 million on travel annually.

Within this exclusive group, spending habits vary greatly. Some clients have inherited wealth spanning multiple generations, while others are entrepreneurs in the cryptocurrency space, frequently reaching out to Ferney for luxury travel opportunities. Ferney emphasizes that each client has unique preferences and desires, and no two trips are ever the same.

The ultrawealthy may be private, but Ferney's social media recreations of client interactions have helped her gain visibility among high-net-worth individuals. Often, it is the children of these families who discover her content and reach out, seeking out rare and exclusive travel experiences. Ferney notes that the children's love for spending money often drives their interest in her services.

Moreover, Ferney believes that catering to younger clients can give her company a competitive edge in the future. As the "Great Wealth Transfer" of $124 trillion from older generations to younger elites unfolds, her ability to understand and serve the purchasing behaviors of these young elites will be crucial. Ferney asserts that her company is already at an advantage by working with a generation that she has been engaging with for years.