From ancient tombs to modern memorials, several send-offs in history have stood out for their scale, symbolism, and cost. Some of those farewells were about power and legacy. Others were deeply personal acts of remembrance.
Here, we explore some of history’s most extraordinary send-offs, and what they would cost in today’s money.
The Great Pyramids of Giza
Estimated modern cost: £1.2–£3.5 billion
Built over 4,500 years ago for Pharaoh Khufu (also known as Cheops), the Great Pyramid is the only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World still standing. It took around 20 years to complete and involved an estimated 100,000 workers.
The structure is made up of roughly 2.3 million limestone blocks, some weighing over 50 tonnes. There’s no definitive cost record from the time, but if the same project were carried out now, using modern wages, materials, and logistics, estimates suggest it could cost anywhere between £1.2 billion and £3.5 billion.
While its precise function remains debated, the pyramids were designed not just as a tomb, but as a spiritual vessel, helping the Pharaoh journey into the afterlife.
The Taj Mahal
Estimated modern cost: £700 million
One of the most famous monuments to love and loss, the Taj Mahal was commissioned by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in 1632, after the death of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. She died giving birth to their 14th child, and he promised to honour her with a monument like no other.
Construction took over two decades and involved a workforce of 20,000 artisans, builders and stonecutters from across India and Central Asia. The white marble was quarried from over 200 miles away and inlaid with precious stones, including jade, lapis lazuli, and turquoise.
In today’s money, the project would cost upwards of £700 million. Though often viewed as a palace, it’s a mausoleum, and still houses the tombs of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan himself.
Tutankhamun
Estimated modern cost: £500 million+
When Howard Carter unearthed the tomb of the Egyptian boy-king in 1922, it became one of the greatest archaeological finds in history. Though smaller than the pyramids or the tombs of other pharaohs, the burial site was filled with unimaginable wealth.
The solid gold coffin, the ceremonial throne, chariots, jewellery, and thousands of ritual items, all untouched for over 3,000 years, were a glimpse into the scale of Egypt’s funerary customs. Today, just the material value of the gold alone is estimated to exceed £500 million, and that doesn’t include historical worth.
Tutankhamun died at about 18 years old. Ironically, his was considered a modest royal burial, far less extravagant than those of more prominent pharaohs like Ramses II or Seti I.
John D. Rockefeller
Estimated modern cost: £30–£40 million
John D. Rockefeller, the founder of Standard Oil and America’s first billionaire, died in 1937 at the age of 97. Despite his vast fortune, his burial was relatively understated by the standards of his wealth and time.
He was laid to rest in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, near his family estate in Pocantico Hills, New York. The funeral was private, attended by close family and a few dignitaries. But when you factor in the estate upkeep, land, long-term maintenance and foundations set up in his name, the broader cost of this legacy easily climbs to £30–£40 million today.
The Heart of Oaks
Estimated modern cost: Unknown, but priceless
Not every powerful tribute comes with a high price tag. In Gloucestershire, a farmer named Winston Howes created one of the UK’s most moving memorials after his wife Janet died suddenly in 1995. He planted 6,000 oak trees in a six-acre field. At the centre, he left a heart-shaped clearing, only visible from above, pointing towards her childhood home.
There’s no official cost, but the gesture became famous when a hot air balloonist spotted the shape from the sky. It’s a powerful reminder that the most meaningful memorials don’t need marble, gold, or millions of pounds. Sometimes, a tribute rooted in the land is worth more than any monument.
Ronald Reagan
Estimated modern cost: £620–£800 million
Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United States, died in 2004. His state funeral was the most expensive in modern U.S. history. Over a seven-day period, his body was transported from California to Washington, D.C. and back again, lying in state in the Capitol Rotunda.
The funeral involved full military honours, a 21-gun salute, flyovers, and a service at the National Cathedral attended by global leaders and former presidents. Security costs were immense, and federal offices were closed on the day of the funeral.
The total cost, adjusted for today, is estimated to fall between £620 and £800 million, driven largely by logistics, national security, and public ceremony.
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Alexander the Great
Estimated modern cost: £450–£550 million
Alexander the Great died in 323 BCE in Babylon, aged just 32. He was embalmed in honey and placed in a gold sarcophagus, which was then carried over 1,000 miles to Egypt in a chariot described by historians as more like a mobile temple. It took over a year and a military escort to complete the journey.
Some sources suggest that the procession involved engineers, soldiers, roadbuilders and architects, all deployed to ensure the journey of his remains reflected the scope of his conquests. By today’s standards, recreating it would cost at least £450 million, with some historians estimating it could exceed £550 million.
The location of Alexander’s final resting place has been lost to history, a remarkable end for one of the most powerful leaders the world has ever known.
Princess Diana
Estimated modern cost: £5–£9 million
Diana, Princess of Wales, was mourned by millions around the world. Her funeral in 1997 was a national moment of shared grief, filled with floral tributes, global broadcasts, and a deeply emotional procession.
Over 2.5 billion people watched as her cortege passed through the streets of London, while thousands lined the route. The ceremony itself, held at Westminster Abbey, brought together world leaders, celebrities, and ordinary people whose lives she had touched.
The total cost, adjusted for today, is estimated between £5 million and £9 million.
If these grand send-offs feel a little out of reach for your budget, there are plenty of meaningful ways to remember a loved one that don’t require a royal fortune.
For ideas that are heartfelt, personal, and practical, take a look at our free celebration of life guide. It’s full of suggestions to help you create a send-off that truly reflects the life you want to honour.
