9 Exclusive NFT Collections Owned by Millionaire Investors

NFT collections have evolved from digital curiosities to billion-dollar status symbols that wealthy elites now covet. The global NFT market cap stands at $66.64 billion, which shows how these digital assets have become essential to millionaires' investment portfolios worldwide.

Wealthy investors gravitate toward certain collections more than others. Bored Ape Yacht Club leads with over $4 billion in total sales. CryptoPunks follows closely with trading volume above $3.89 billion. Pudgy Penguins has reached more than $1.1 billion in sales and maintains a floor price of $20.43K. The NodeMonkes collection made headlines when a single NFT sold for 17 BTC, worth over $1 million.

These premium NFT collections mean more than just digital art - they serve as exclusive clubs where owners showcase their membership through ownership. From celebrities' favorite Bored Apes to the pioneering CryptoPunks, this piece explores nine exclusive NFT collections that have won millionaire investors' attention and investment worldwide.

Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC)

The Bored Ape Yacht Club has become the life-blood of elite NFT collections since Yuga Labs created it in April 2021. What started as 10,000 unique cartoon ape NFTs on the Ethereum blockchain grew faster into a cultural phenomenon worth billions.

Bored Ape Yacht Club exclusivity and millionaire appeal

BAYC isn't just digital art — it works as an exclusive membership token to a private online club. This two-in-one feature draws much attention from wealthy investors and celebrities. Members get access to a private Discord server, exclusive in-person events, and better yet, intellectual property rights to use their images commercially.

Yuga Labs raised an impressive $450 million in seed funding in March 2022, pushing the company's value to $4 billion. Venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz led this investment, which made BAYC one of the most valuable NFT projects ever.

Members boost their status through community events and the social prestige of ownership. People now call it a digital status symbol, like in the case of luxury watches or limited-edition sneakers.

Bored Ape Yacht Club floor price and NFT values

The original mint price was just 0.08 ETH (around $190) in April 2021, and buyers snapped up the entire collection within 12 hours. The floor price — the lowest price for any NFT in the collection — has seen wild swings:

• Peak floor price: 128 ETH (approximately $354,000) in May 2022
• Current floor price: 13.58 ETH (approximately $24,040) as of recent data

Some sales reached mind-boggling amounts. BAYC #8817 sold for $3.4 million at Sotheby's Metaverse auction in October 2021. The collection's total market value sits at approximately $240.38 million.

All but one of these top NFT traders made millions from BAYC investments. Jimmy McNelis (j1mmy) tops the list with 3,030 ETH in profits. Franklin (@franklinisbored) and Pranksy follow with 2,616 ETH and 2,265 ETH respectively.

Bored Ape Yacht Club notable celebrity owners

The collection's prestige has pulled in an impressive list of celebrity owners who showcase their apes as social media profile pictures. These high-profile adoptions helped BAYC gain mainstream popularity:

Sports Figures:

• NBA stars: Stephen Curry (#7990), Shaquille O'Neal, LaMelo Ball
• Football: Tom Brady (#3667), Von Miller, Neymar (#5269, #6633)
• Tennis: Serena Williams (#5797)

Entertainment & Business:

• Musicians: Justin Bieber (#3001), Eminem (#9055), Snoop Dogg, Madonna (#4988)
• TV Personalities: Jimmy Fallon (#599), Paris Hilton (#1294)
• Business leaders: Mark Cuban (#1597), Alexis Ohanian

Celebrity involvement goes beyond simple ownership. Steve Aoki owns multiple apes, and producer Timbaland launched Ape-In Productions to create virtual music groups with Bored Ape avatars.

BAYC has grown way beyond the reach and influence of typical NFT projects to become a cultural icon. With over $1 billion in sales since its launch, it stands as the ultimate blue-chip NFT collection for millionaire investors.

CryptoPunks

CryptoPunks came to life in 2017. It laid the groundwork for today's NFT ecosystem and showed the way for digital art ownership. Larva Labs studio founders Matt Hall and John Watkinson created 10,000 unique 24×24 pixel art characters. These digital collectibles started as free items and grew into multi-million dollar assets that elite investors now chase.

CryptoPunks historical significance in nft collections

The digital ownership revolution began with CryptoPunks in June 2017. The London punk scenes and cyberpunk movement inspired these pixelated characters. They became the spark for the ERC-721 standard that NFT platforms now commonly use. Larva Labs kept 1,000 "Dev punks" and gave away 9,000 CryptoPunks to anyone with an Ethereum wallet. This collection's place in history stands unmatched. The media coverage created a frenzy. People claimed all free punks within 24 hours, showing how the lack of supply could create real demand. The art world took notice. Christie's, Sotheby's, and Art|Basel Miami featured CryptoPunks in their prestigious venues.

Yuga Labs, who created Bored Ape Yacht Club, bought all CryptoPunks intellectual property in March 2022. Owners got full commercial rights, which made the collection even more prestigious. The deal brought the two most influential NFT projects under one roof.

CryptoPunks most expensive nft sales

The value of CryptoPunks depends heavily on their rarity. The collection has mostly human characters. It also includes 88 Zombies, 24 Apes, and just 9 rare Aliens. Alien variants command the highest prices due to their scarcity.

Top CryptoPunk sales include:

• CryptoPunk #5822 (Alien): 8,000 ETH (USD 23.70M) - February 2022
• CryptoPunk #7804 (Alien): 4,850 ETH (USD 16.42M) - March 2024
• CryptoPunk #3100 (Alien): 4,500 ETH (USD 16.03M) - March 2024
• CryptoPunk #635: 4,000 ETH (USD 12.41M) - April 2024
• CryptoPunk #5577: 2,500 ETH (USD 7.70M) - February 2022 Record sales need careful review. CryptoPunk #9998 reportedly sold for 124,457 ETH (USD 532M) in October 2021. This sale was later canceled after discovery of self-dealing through flash loans.

The market goes up and down, but CryptoPunks keep a solid floor price around 42.5 ETH (about USD 68,000). Recent months show a median sale price of USD 80,700. The collection's market value sits at roughly USD 2.03 billion.

CryptoPunks millionaire investors

Wealthy collectors and celebrities love CryptoPunks. Gary Vaynerchuk leads the pack with over 60 CryptoPunks. He bought Punk #2140 for 1,600 ETH (more than USD 3M). The star-studded owner list includes Heidi Klum, Marshmello, Jordan Belfort, Mark Cuban, Jay-Z, Steve Aoki, and Snoop Dogg.

Big institutions jumped in too. Visa bought CryptoPunk #7610 in August 2021. They called it a "historic commerce artifact".

The collection rules high-end NFT trading. It makes up 70.6% of profits among the top 15 NFT traders. SethS tops the list with 49,216 ETH (USD 90.46M) in CryptoPunk profits. Other big traders like Punks OTC and Mr.703 follow close behind.

Some investors face losses. One sold CryptoPunk #3100 for USD 6M in April 2024, losing USD 10M from the purchase price. Yet CryptoPunks remain the ultimate blue-chip NFT investment for the wealthy.

Pudgy Penguins

Pudgy Penguins has made its mark in the premium NFT market with its distinctive cartoon penguin avatars that attract wealthy collectors and mainstream attention. The collection consists of 8,888 uniquely generated penguin NFTs on Ethereum with more than 150 hand-drawn traits across mouths, faces, eyes, skins, and backgrounds. The collection sold out in just 19 minutes at 0.3 ETH when it launched in July 2021, showing instant market enthusiasm.

Pudgy Penguins charm and popularity among millionaires

Wealthy investors love this collection because it perfectly balances exclusive ownership with broad cultural recognition. Pudgy Penguins has surpassed the typical NFT audience by building a strong social media presence. The collection now has 696K followers on Instagram and 67K followers with 1.7 million likes on TikTok. This widespread visibility improves the collection's prestige and investment potential.

Pudgy Penguins gives real advantages beyond digital ownership. Members of the community, known as "Pengus" or "The Huddle," can join exclusive events, meetups, and get commercial licensing rights for their penguins. These community features create a unique bond that sets the collection apart from its rivals.

Entrepreneur Luca Netz's acquisition for 750 ETH (about $2.5 million) in 2022 changed everything. The new leadership took Pudgy Penguins beyond digital assets into physical merchandise. The "Pudgy Toys" line became a huge success, reaching over 1,100 Walmart stores across the USA and generating more than $10 million in sales through major retailers like Walmart, Target, Amazon, and Walgreens. This success in the physical world has strengthened the collection's credibility with wealthy investors.

Pudgy Penguins nft values and market trends

Pudgy Penguins has shown remarkable value growth over time. The collection became the world's second most-valued NFT collection in late 2024, with its floor price going above $100,000 — higher than Bitcoin's value at that time. The price jumped an impressive 76% in just seven days.

The collection's overall market metrics remain impressive:

• Current floor price: 11.54 ETH (about $20,420)
• Total market capitalization: 102.56K ETH ($181.45 million)
• 24-hour trading volume: 750.47 ETH ($1.33 million), up 23.66%

Pudgy Penguin #6873 holds the record as the most expensive in the collection. It sold for 225 ETH ($775,000) in September 2021 and later resold for 400 ETH ($650,000) in August 2022. These big sales show how much serious investors value the collection.

The $PENGU token launch on Solana blockchain has energized the market even more. NFT sales shot up 221% over seven days after the announcement. The token distribution plan saves 23.5% of the 88 billion PENGU tokens for Pudgy Penguins NFT owners, giving wealthy investors more reasons to keep or increase their holdings.

The collection keeps outperforming many competitors despite some market ups and downs — including a 52% drop in NFT sales after the PENGU token airdrop. Pudgy Penguins recorded $72 million in sales volume during Q1 2025, up 13% from Q1 2024, proving its position as a top NFT collection for millionaire investors.

Azuki

Azuki stands out among elite NFT collections that fascinate millionaire investors with its unique anime-inspired aesthetic. The collection of 10,000 uniquely generated avatars launched in January 2022. It sold out in just three minutes of its original release and generated over $29 million in primary sales. The quick adoption showed immediate market excitement for Azuki's artistic direction.

Azuki anime-style appeal to wealthy collectors

The anime-style artwork created a unique niche that struck a chord with Asian investors. Zzzagabond, one of the project's founders, noticed that many high-value buyers were "Asians who, for the first time, see art that really resonates with them". Azuki gives members access to "The Garden," a corner of the internet where artists can work together.

The collection became prominent through its strong community culture and stood apart from mainstream Western NFT projects. Azuki's popularity soared throughout 2022 as it captured "the rebellious culture of skateboarders" that connected well with crypto enthusiasts. The project expanded beyond digital assets by launching an Azuki clothing line, adding value for wealthy collectors.

Azuki top nft collections ranking

Azuki quickly became a market leader in the competitive NFT world. The collection generated over $300 million in transactions just one month after release. It temporarily surpassed well-known collections like Bored Ape Yacht Club and CryptoPunks. Azuki now holds the fifth position in all-time sales.

Azuki's impressive market statistics include:

• Total market capitalization: 26.24K ETH (approximately $46.45 million)
• 24-hour trading volume: 39.10 ETH ($69,210), reflecting a +13.15% daily change
• Total number of unique owners: 4,269

Azuki floor price and nft values

Azuki's floor price history shows substantial value growth since its original mint price of 1 ETH. The collection managed to keep considerable value during market downturns despite typical NFT market price swings.

The current floor price is 2.62 ETH (approximately $4,640), giving early investors significant returns. Some individual Azukis have sold for extraordinary prices. Azuki #9605 tops the list at 420.7 ETH (about $1.42 million) in March 2022.

Rare traits make certain Azukis valuable. Azuki #9605 ranks 2^nd in rarity among all 10,000 pieces. It features uncommon attributes like "Spirit fluffy" hair (present in only 0.15% of the collection) and "Golden headphones" (0.35%). Other notable sales include Azuki #7257 (288.69 ETH), Azuki #3602 (275 ETH), and Azuki #5172 (245 ETH).

These high valuations confirm Azuki's position as a premier investment. Affluent collectors seek both artistic appreciation and potential financial returns in this competitive NFT market.

NodeMonkes

NodeMonkes stands apart from Ethereum-based collections by bringing prestigious NFT ownership to the Bitcoin blockchain through the Ordinals protocol. The collection features 10,000 unique 28×28 pixel art pieces that combine odd-looking blocks to create characters ranging from monkeys to rare ducks. Each piece lives permanently on individual satoshis.

NodeMonkes Bitcoin Ordinals prestige

NodeMonkes occupies a special place in the digital world as the first 10,000-count profile picture collection on Ordinals. The anonymous team inscribed these images on the Bitcoin blockchain in February 2023. They waited until December 2023 to launch publicly, which gave the young Ordinals ecosystem time to grow.

This calculated launch timing worked well. The collection's early inscription date between 80-110k adds value since collectors prize older block stamps. NodeMonkes quickly became a powerhouse in the Bitcoin NFT space after launching with an auction that started at 0.21 BTC and decreased by 0.005 BTC every six blocks.

NodeMonkes has grown remarkably prestigious. The collection surpassed Pudgy Penguins to become the third most valuable NFT collection after CryptoPunks and Bored Ape Yacht Club, with a market cap of $567 million. CryptoSlam data shows NodeMonkes led daily NFT sales with over $11 million in volume during peak trading. The collection now leads Bitcoin NFTs with $232.28 million in all-time sales.

NodeMonkes rare sales and millionaire interest

Wealthy investors flocked to the collection, especially after Bored Ape Yacht Club co-founder Wylie Aronow (Gordon Goner) bought an ultra-rare duck NodeMonke in January 2024. This high-profile purchase sparked a "parabolic surge" that saw over 500 monkeys swept from the market.

A defining moment came in March 2024 when NodeMonke #2769 ("Alien Hoodie") sold for 17 BTC, worth $1.08 million at the time. This sale made history as the first million-dollar NodeMonke and the second-highest Ordinals sale ever.

The collection's rarity system shapes its value strongly. Alien NodeMonkes remain the most sought-after pieces. Four inscriptions that referenced CryptoPunk aliens sold for 2 BTC each in January 2024. By March, aliens commanded between 6-10 BTC. The floor price now sits at about 0.82 BTC ($54,400), while rarer pieces list for up to $65 million.

Solana Monkey Business

Solana Monkey Business (SMB) stands as one of the crown jewels in the Solana blockchain ecosystem. Many describe it as the "CryptoPunks of Solana" because of its historical impact and future potential. The project launched in June 2021 and has managed to keep its value strong even when markets turned bearish. This makes it a favorite among millionaire investors.

Solana Monkey Business community-driven exclusivity

MonkeDAO sits at the core of SMB's appeal to wealthy collectors. This community started as a celebration of the Solana Monkey Business collection. The decentralized autonomous organization gives special perks to SMB holders. It now connects 2,730+ unique owners who are "highly active, engaged and influential".

MonkeDAO goes beyond digital assets by bringing people together through global meetups. They've sold out community events at major crypto gatherings across 28 cities worldwide. Their meetup fund has given out about USD 870,000 for 27 Monke Meetups between members since May 2022.

The community reached a milestone when MonkeDAO bought the SMB intellectual property and assets from Solana NFT exchange Hadeswap for USD 2 million. Almost 97% of token-based votes approved this purchase. Members called it their "independence day" as SMB holders got full ownership of their NFT IP rights.

Solana Monkey Business nft collections on Solana

The SMB ecosystem includes three distinct generations of collectibles:

• SMB Gen1: A limited collection of 205 pixel-art monkeys with space-themed designs like Astromonkey and Monkalien
• SMB Gen2: 5,000 monkeys featuring 99 possible traits across 6 layers, making each one unique
• SMB Gen3: The latest addition brings 15,000 "visually stunning pixel art Monke NFTs"

Market numbers show SMB ranks fourth among top Solana NFT collections. The floor price sits at 23.18 SOL (USD 3,399.10). The collection's market cap reaches around USD 16.97 million (115,740 SOL). Recent trading shows 820.15 SOL (USD 120,264) in 24-hour volume.

SMB made history as the first collection to hit one million SOL in sales. This achievement kicked off Solana's NFT bull market. MonkeDAO's influence runs deep in the Solana ecosystem. They became "the first DAO on Solana to operate a validator" and remain "the only DAO to launch a stake pool".

These technical achievements and strong community bonds have turned SMB into more than just profile pictures. It's now an exclusive club where millionaire investors find both profit potential and a sense of belonging.

Milady Maker

Milady Maker has turned the conventional investment wisdom on its head and become one of the most rewarding yet controversial NFT investments. The collection features 10,000 generative profile picture NFTs with a neochibi aesthetic. Early investors saw amazing returns — a $1,000 investment from May 2022 would now be worth over $4.6 million, marking a 4,638% increase in floor price value.

Milady Maker controversial rise and millionaire backing

Remilia Collective launched the collection in March 2021 with a modest mint price of 0.05 ETH, and it quickly gained momentum despite controversies. The project hit rough waters when Charlotte Fang, its creator, admitted to running a controversial online persona "Miya" that had links to problematic internet subcultures. A spin-off collection added fuel to the fire by including coded references that many found inappropriate.

Rich investors remained unfazed by these controversies. The market saw major shifts when Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin chose a Milady NFT as his profile picture. The collection's value skyrocketed after Elon Musk tweeted about it in May 2023, causing a massive 5,000% price surge in just one day. Binance recognized this momentum and named Milady their "NFT Project of the Year" at their 2023 Annual Awards.

The celebrity endorsements brought in serious money. DWF Labs invested $5 million in the Milady ecosystem. This capital boost gave the project more resources to develop and expand its market presence.

Milady Maker floor price and nft values

The current floor price for Milady Maker stands at 3.40 ETH ($6,020). The collection's total market cap reaches 33.93K ETH ($60.05 million), with a 24-hour trading volume of 103.52 ETH ($183,240) showing a +39.59% daily increase.

Some notable Milady NFT sales include:

• Milady 5059 sold for 4.77 ETH ($8,532)
• Milady 635 reached 3.39 ETH ($6,099)
• Milady 9073 changed hands for 3.58 ETH ($6,488)

The collection's appeal goes beyond its controversial aesthetics. NFT holders get exclusive perks like VRtube access (using NFTs as avatar for calls), private physical raves, merchandise, and a dedicated Minecraft server. Each NFT could reach values between $60,000 to $121,500 if Milady matches other blue-chip collections' market caps. Market swings haven't stopped Milady Maker's growth. Wealthy investors see past the controversies and focus on its strong financial returns and cultural influence.

Mutant Ape Yacht Club (MAYC)

Yuga Labs created Mutant Ape Yacht Club (MAYC) as the second tier of their NFT empire. The collection features 20,000 uniquely generated digital art pieces that provide wealth-building opportunities. The collection sold out in just one hour after its August 2021 launch, generating $96 million in primary sales. This addition to the Bored Ape Yacht Club welcomes both existing BAYC holders and newcomers to this prestigious ecosystem.

Mutant Ape Yacht Club as a gateway for new millionaire investors

Yuga Labs expanded the BAYC community through two distinct minting paths. They sold half through public auction, making them available at a lower price point for newcomers. The other 10,000 came to life when existing BAYC holders "exposed" their apes to special "Mutant Serums" that Yuga Labs airdropped.

These serums burn after use and come in three rarity tiers:

• M1 serums (7,500 total) — Common mutations
• M2 serums (2,492 total) — More distinctive alterations
• M3 serums (only 8 total) — Ultra-rare "Mega Mutant" transformations

The lack of M3 serums led to incredible valuations. Blockchain startup CEO Deepak Thapliyal paid nearly $6 million for a single M3 serum. Early investors doubled their money through these airdrops alone.

Mutant Ape Yacht Club nft values and perks

MAYC's floor price sits at approximately $4,263.34 with a market cap over $83.3 million. Most Mutants trade between $4,000-7,000, while rare ones fetch premium prices. MAYC #4849 "Mega Demon" leads the collection at 350 ETH. MAYC #1796 "Mega Radioactive" (335 ETH) and MAYC #6957 "Mega Jelly" (250 ETH) follow closely. Several other pieces have sold for more than $500,000.

MAYC owners join an 8-month old, tight-knit community that features celebrities like Snoop Dogg, Lil Baby, Mike Shinoda, and Shaquille O'Neal. Members get exclusive merchandise, Discord access, and early participation in ecosystem developments.

The recent ApeCoin launch brought more benefits to holders. Each MAYC NFT could claim 2,042 tokens (worth about $20,420). Commercial usage rights and future metaverse integration make MAYC attractive to millionaire investors who want both financial opportunities and exclusive community access.

Doodles

Doodles started as an artistic NFT experiment with pastel colors and playful cartoon aesthetics. The project has transformed into a serious investment opportunity. This collection features 10,000 generative profile picture NFTs with unique characters created from 256 traits and 62 hand-drawn custom pieces.

Doodles vibrant art and appeal to high-net-worth individuals

Wealthy investors have shown significant interest in the collection's distinct visual style. Recent surveys show that 71% of high-net-worth individuals invest in digital assets. The investor base includes 54% with wealth between $1-30 million, while 46% hold assets over $30 million.

The project received major backing when Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian's venture capital firm led a funding round, valuing Doodles at $704 million. This investment helped the project expand beyond digital collectibles into entertainment ventures.

The collection's prestige grew with celebrity collectors Steve Aoki, Snoop Dogg, and Gary Vee. Music icon Pharrell Williams joined as an executive, which highlighted the project's mainstream ambitions.

Doodles nft collections growth and popularity

Doodles showed strong market performance through 2024-2025. Sales rose from $22.6 million in Q1 2024 to $32 million in Q1 2025. A recent announcement triggered a 62.5% price surge within 24 hours, contributing to a 196.5% growth over 30 days. Strategic collaborations have increased mainstream visibility:

• McDonald's featured artwork on over 100 million limited-edition holiday cups
• Global brands Adidas and Crocs joined as previous partners

The collection maintains strong market metrics with a floor price of $5,375. Market capitalization ranges between $53.7 million and $228.7 million, depending on the source. A rare "Golden Ape" Doodle made headlines by selling for $1.1 million shortly after launch. The project launched in October 2021 with a mint price of 0.123 ETH. Doodles has now exceeded $500 million in lifetime sales volume, cementing its place among top NFT collections preferred by millionaire investors.

Conclusion

NFT collections have grown from digital curiosities into billion-dollar assets that show status in today's digital age. Blue-chip collections like Bored Ape Yacht Club and CryptoPunks now have floor prices of $24,000 and $68,000. These 2-year old collections have become the digital world's equivalent of luxury watches or rare art. NodeMonkes, a newer player, has quickly gained market share with record sales hitting 17 BTC — that's over $1 million.

Rich investors are drawn to these collections and with good reason too. The benefits go beyond potential profits. Members get exclusive community access, commercial licensing rights, and invites to private events — perks that make these big investments worthwhile. Pudgy Penguins has expanded into physical merchandise, while Doodles partnered with global brands like McDonald's and Adidas. This mix of digital and traditional assets creates a new kind of value.

The investment scene shows diversity through different blockchain ecosystems. Ethereum hosts premium collections like BAYC and CryptoPunks, but Bitcoin Ordinals (NodeMonkes) and Solana (Solana Monkey Business) have created their own appeal to millionaire investors.

Celebrity backing helped speed up adoption. Elon Musk's mention of Milady Maker led to a 5,000% price jump in just one day. Vitalik Buterin's choice of a Milady NFT as his profile picture brought in institutional investors.

These nine collections mark the start of how digital ownership will change wealth display and community building. High valuations, exclusive perks, and growing institutional support show these digital assets now stand firmly next to traditional luxury investments in wealthy portfolios.