A growing debate surrounds the frequent use of private jets by prominent figures and their significant contribution to carbon emissions.

Jack Sweeney, a student working on a related project, compiled the list. Using data from official flight tracking sources, he revealed who used their private jets the most in 2024.

According to the data, Eric Schmidt, former CEO of Google, ranked first. The report shows that he covered 612,868 miles on 495 flights with his two Gulfstream G650 jets.

This corresponds to 712,100 gallons of jet fuel consumed over 58 days, 20 hours, and 24 minutes in the air. It also amounts to 7,287 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

Key Findings

According to reports, the top 1% of the global population with access to private jets is responsible for a disproportionate share of aviation-related carbon emissions. A list ranking the most frequent private jet users for 2024 has been compiled, highlighting well-known individuals from business and entertainment sectors.

Top Private Jet Users in 2024:

1. Eric Schmidt – Former Google CEO, who flew 612,868 miles on 495 flights with his two Gulfstream G650 jets. This amounted to 712,100 gallons of jet fuel consumed and 7,287 metric tons of CO₂ emitted.
2. Elon Musk – CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, who maintains that his private jet serves as an “airborne office.”
3. Bill Gates – Co-founder of Microsoft, appearing twice in the top ten due to using two separate jets.
4. Kim Kardashian – Influencer and media personality.
5. Travis Scott – Rapper.
6. Jay-Z – Rapper and entrepreneur.
7. Luke Bryan – Singer.
8. Michael Bloomberg – Business magnate and former mayor of New York City.

Notable Mentions

Taylor Swift, who previously topped similar lists due to extensive touring, now ranks 45th after cutting back on private jet travel following public criticism.

Policy Considerations

Some experts suggest introducing taxes on private jet flights to reduce usage and curb carbon footprints. In response to environmental concerns, authorities in various regions are exploring measures to promote more sustainable travel options.