The first modern refrigerators didn’t become part of the standard North American home until the 1920s, and even then, they were far too pricey for low-income households. Nowadays, it’s hard to imagine life without a household refrigerator, and some retail for only a few hundred dollars. Still, the best and most capable fridges cost far more.
The most expensive refrigerator of all time is the Hestan Side-by-Side Column Refrigerator & Wine Cooler Set. This appliance can keep your priciest wines at the ideal temperature while offering plenty of space for frozen and refrigerated goodies. It also comes in several eye-catching shades!
Whether you’ve been searching for a high-end fridge to make your kitchen more luxurious or you’re simply curious about the priciest refrigerators available, this ranking is here to help.
Here are the top 10 most expensive refrigerators of all time:
10. Smeg Sicily Is My Love Refrigerator – $10,000
Smeg is a high-end Italian tech brand responsible for producing some of the most unique household items, including this Sicilian-inspired refrigerator. Though it’s one of the most affordable options presented in this ranking, costing a mere $10,000, it’s undoubtedly one of the most colorful fridges ever created.
This retro-style fridge is one of the few appliances created in collaboration between Smeg and Dolce & Gabbana, and it exudes classic Italian luxury. Though internal storage is on the smaller side (topping out at nine cubic feet), the bright patterns, handpainted fruits, and folk-art-inspired designs are larger than life!
Why It’s Expensive
This is a Dolce & Gabbana fridge featuring high-quality Smeg craftsmanship. It’s the product of two top Italian brands, naturally making it pricier than the average retro-style refrigerator.
But you’ll soon discover that this Italian-made fridge isn’t the most expensive kitchen collaboration released by Smeg and Dolce & Gabbana.
9. 1991 Joel Otterson California Candied Apple Refrigerator – $19,500
This eye-catching copper fridge is the only non-functional option included in this ranking, but that doesn’t make it a bad buy. After all, this is a vintage piece created more than 30 years ago by renowned Californian artist Joel Otterson.
Otterson is beloved for his mixed-media artwork, many of which feature colorful shards of glass, found components (like household dishware), and unique structural elements. This piece is no exception, with a candelabra-like antler of pipes adorning its top.
Though this unique refrigerator sparkles brightly like the world’s most expensive birthstones, it’s a mixed media piece primarily made of shimmering green copper. But to make this otherworldly, one-of-a-kind art piece yours, you’ll need to spend $19,500.
Why It’s Expensive
This refrigerator might not be able to keep your drinks and fresh ingredients cool, but it’s sure to look stunning in a personal gallery.
Likewise, those interested in amassing American artists’ sculptural pieces can’t deny this candy-apple-green fridge’s magical whimsy. In short, this fridge could be a valuable addition to any collection of work, hence its comparatively high price.
8. The True 48 – $19,999
Do you loathe having to prop your fridge door open to see what groceries you need to restock? If so, you may want to choose a fridge with a transparent glass door.
The True 48 is one of the best glass door refrigerators but is also comparatively pricey. Still, after spending $19,999 on this fridge, you’ll enjoy quite a few perks.
Firstly, you’ll be able to see into your fridge without letting cool air out! In addition, each zone of this fridge has customizable cooling temperatures, which is another significant plus.
Even better, this fridge-freezer comes in more than ten stainless steel finishes. You can even select gold-colored handles and hardware for a truly opulent look!
Why It’s Expensive
This fridge offers a superior level of convenience and elegance. Not only is the glass door lit by bright internal LEDs, but the interior offers maximum temperature control. These top-notch features easily make this fridge pricier than most.
7. Sub-Zero 48-Inch PRO – $20,390
Sub-Zero is one of the top brands when it comes to luxury-quality refrigerators. But those looking to enjoy the best possible Sub-Zero fridge may want to zero in on the Sub-Zero 48-inch Pro model.
Though this might not be the most expansive kitchen fridge-freezer available, it’s a professional-grade option that would look just as much at home in a restaurant kitchen as in a modern home.
Besides, it’s wonderfully advanced, with an air purification system to rid your internal compartments of rot-inducing ethylene gases, customizable LED brightness, and magnetic door seals to keep cool air trapped inside.
If you’re looking to spend $20,390 on a stainless steel fridge that can feed a small army and keep all your favorite foods fresh, this might be the ideal fridge for you.
Why It’s Expensive
This fridge is one of the few Wi-Fi-capable options available. It also features an advanced air purification system. These qualities are some of the most significant reasons behind this model’s incredible price.
6. BlueStar 36-Inch French Door Refrigerator – $21,260
The right French Door fridge can make you feel like royalty. This option from BlueStar is no exception.
It features a collective capacity of 22.2 cubic feet. So all your refrigerated and frozen items have a home. In addition, the pull-out drawer freezer is divided into multiple layers, allowing you to store fragile freezable goodies below bags of frozen meals.
Unlike less impressive fridges, this model’s interior is entirely stainless steel. As such, cleaning up interior spills is a breeze. Still, this chef-friendly option costs a whopping $21,260, making it worthy of a professional chef’s salary.
Why It’s Expensive
Stainless steel resists rusts and stains better than other materials, but it’s not always the most affordable metal. This fridge is essentially a gigantic block of stainless steel!
The OLED touchscreen panel is also a luxurious feature contributing to this fridge’s price. But perhaps the most valuable aspect of this model is its energy efficiency.
This fridge-freezer consumes as much energy as a 75-watt lightbulb. This fridge pays for itself when you factor in the potential energy savings.
5. Viking 7 Series VIREFR15 – $25,368
Though the phrase ‘Viking’ is often associated with bands of Nordic warriors and long-ago pillages, it’s also used to describe minimalistic decor and products. In this way, Viking design is similar to Scandanavian style, something which becomes evident when gazing at the Viking 7 Series refrigerator.
The Viking 7 Series VIREFR15 comes with a 30-inch refrigerator and freezer. This refrigerator features BlueZone fresh preservation technology that strips microbes from the air to extend food quality and eliminate odors.
The interior is just as smartly designed as the exterior, with built-in square LED lights and an internal filtered water dispenser. This contemporary fridge also has multiple modes, including an energy-saving vacation mode.
This counter-depth fridge-freezer is priced at $25,368, so it’s almost as expensive as the average wedding! Still, engaged couples may want to add it to their bridal registry. After all, a high-quality appliance like has the potential to last a lifetime.
Why It’s Expensive
This refrigerator was made for homeowners who prefer their kitchen appliances to be both capable and minimalistic. But packing this fridge’s technological features into such an attractive shell isn’t a cheap task, resulting in a comparatively high final price.
4. Hestan 72-Inch Side-by-Side Refrigerator – $29,057
This Hestan Side-by-Side Refrigerator (model number 915955) is an exquisite example of engineering, featuring two powerful compressors that can keep up to 37 cubic feet of groceries refrigerated.
Depending on your preferences, you can choose to have these compressors located high up top and out of sight or down below within each reach for maintenance.
In addition to being impressively powerful and spacious, these twin fridge-freezers are also undeniably stylish. You can order this side-by-side model in a dozen distinct colors, and the hinge side is also customizable to your preferences.
Though this option might not come with a touchscreen like some of the more gimmicky modern fridges, what it lacks in Bluetooth, it more than makes up for spaciousness. But, of course, you should expect nothing less after spending $29,057!
Why It’s Expensive
Home chefs that prefer to have a wealth of refrigerated ingredients on hand will naturally need a spacious fridge, and this option doesn’t disappoint. In fact, spaciousness is the main reason why it’s so costly.
But while this fridge is one of the priciest models available from Hestan, it’s not the most expensive option. But we’ll reveal the costliest Hestan fridge in just a few moments!
3. Meneghini La Cambusa Fridge – $41,500
Have you ever wanted to own a fridge that could do almost anything? If so, you might be interested in taking a closer look at the Meneghini La Cambusa Fridge.
This one-of-a-kind appliance features a steam oven, a built-in microwave, and a dry pantry area. It even provides a space for your favorite coffee maker or espresso machine. If you’re willing to spend a little extra, you can even have an Italian Miele coffee system pre-installed for your convenience!
Of course, the base price for this incredibly multi-functional fridge hovers at around $41,500, but true luxury is never cheap.
Why It’s Expensive
There are quite a few reasons why this multi-purpose appliance costs more than $40,000. Firstly, it’s an Italian-made masterpiece of kitchen engineering.
As such, importation fees are part of the price tag. And considering how massive this fridge is, you can guarantee that the labor required to ship this fridge is far more than the labor needed to transport a simple column fridge.
But apart from shipping costs, this fridge is essentially a miniature kitchen. It not only provides plenty of fridge and freezer space for your favorite foods, but it also features a dry pantry, two types of ovens, and (for a little extra dough) a built-in coffee system.
These features make the Meneghini La Cambusa Fridge a one-stop-shop for nearly all your culinary needs, and it also makes it far pricier than other, more standardized refrigerators.
2. The Hero of Two Worlds Refrigerator – $50,000
Though this refrigerator might not be the most technologically innovative or spacious option, it’s one of the most unique (and uniquely luxurious) fridges ever created. But that’s to be expected from a collaboration between Dolce & Gabbana (one of the top Italian luxury brands) and Smeg (a style-savvy Italian tech company).
This fridge exudes Italian charm, featuring a handpainted portrait of the Italian legend Giuseppe Garibaldi. Italy may never have unified into one powerful and influential kingdom without the actions of this notable man!
The exterior is also styled with a wealth of bright colors, many of which can be found in the regional flags of Italy. The simplistic gold-colored pull handle accentuates the 1950s retro design, replete with stylized golden letters spelling out the Smeg brand name.
If you’d like to impart some authentic Italian charm into your kitchen (and appreciate the style of retro appliances), you might want to go ahead and invest $50,000 to bring this fridge home!
Why It’s Expensive
This refrigerator is a collaboration between two world-famous brands; Smeg and Dolce & Gabbana. These brands produce some of the most sought-after luxury-quality goods in the world, and most of their products sell for thousands (sometimes millions) of dollars. So, branding is a significant part of why this fridge is so costly.
However, the labor that went into creating this unique appliance is also a factor when it comes to pricing. After all, it features a handpainted portrait of one of the most crucial figures in Italian history. Creating such a gorgeous image is no small feat, making this fridge much more valuable than portrait-less store-bought options.
1. Hestan Side-by-Side Column Refrigerator & Wine Cooler Set – $56,733
The most expensive refrigerator is the Hestan Side-by-Side Column Refrigerator & Wine Cooler Set.
This massive collection of appliances (two wine coolers and two bottom freezer refrigerators) may be too large for compact kitchens, as it’s 120 inches long. But it’s an ideal choice for spacious homes with plenty of kitchen floor space.
Besides, this magnificent model comes in a wide variety of colors, including neutral options (Stealth Black, Pacific Fog Gray, Froth White) and bright, eye-catching hues (Sol Yellow, Matador Red, Bora Bora Blue). So, no matter your kitchen’s color scheme, there’s an option well-suited to match!
The only catch is the $56,733 price tag, which makes this decadent fridge-freezer-cooler set one of the priciest kitchen appliances ever. You could afford one of the most expensive Lexus cars at this price!
Why It’s Expensive
This fridge is so expensive because it offers an exceptional amount of room for groceries. Both 36-inch bottom freezer fridges feature 18.5 cubic feet of storage space, and the freezers can house up to 3.8 cubic feet of frozen foods—each!
It’s also flanked by two wine coolers, both of which can house up to 75 bottles of wine. These qualities make it an ideal option for homeowners passionate about high-priced wines.
What Is the Most Expensive Refrigerator of All Time?
The most expensive refrigerator of all time might be the Hestan Side-by-Side Column Refrigerator & Wine Cooler Set. It’s priced at $56,733, making it pricier than the average new car!
Still, you’ll undoubtedly get your money’s worth when choosing this Hestan appliance. After all, it comes with two wine coolers and two massive fridge-freezer appliances, all in stunning hues that can match your kitchen decor.
Owning one of the costliest fridges can help you enjoy a more luxurious lifestyle. Check out these related articles for more information on the most expensive lifestyle items!