Top 15 Most Expensive Domain Names
Reading Time: 4 minutes What are some of the most expensive domain names in the world? Considering that all domain names are just unique identifiers of websites, why are some domain names more expensive than others? Well, before listing the top 15 most expensive domains of all time, here is a brief look at why some domain names are more expensive than others.
Why Premium Domains Are So Costly
Premium domain names take up ordinary, short phrases, which people typically use to look for information in different niches. Because of their simplicity and relevance in the respective niches, these domain names enjoy very large search volumes, which makes them profitable. Those using such domain names don’t need to market their websites too much because the premium domains are keywords in themselves. This explains why buying such domains can bring businesses millions of dollars back.
Over the years, there have been ridiculous amounts paid for premium domains, and some are yet to be bought. We have researched and put together the following list of some of the most expensive domain names in the world.
Top 15 Most Expensive Domain Names
15. Business.com
Money is a major attraction point on the internet. And it is, therefore, not surprising that business.com found a home very quickly despite its $7.5 million price tag in 1999. Today, the website attracts millions of people looking to get information about business from professionals.
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14. We.com
Thanks to its simplicity and relevance in Chinese, we.com was sold for $8 million in 2015. The domain belongs to a Chinese investment company.
13. Fb.com
To many, Facebook is simply FB. When looking to hop onto the most popular social media site, most people used to type fb.com in the search engine. This came to Facebook’s attention in 2010 and they purchased the domain for a whopping $8.5 million.
12. Porno.com
The blue movies’ world has a large following. Millions don’t know the names of the porn sites and simply use porno.com to try and get access to the videos. Due to the increased attention that the domain name was getting, it was purchased for $8.8 million back in 2007. Today, the site redirects you to other porn websites. Perhaps, one day someone eager to use the brand name for their business will buy it at a way more impressive price.
11. Shoes.com
The brilliant man, who had been wise enough to purchase this domain name early on, raked in $9 million in 2017. Originally, the domain name had been owned by IAC before Walmart snapped it up in late 2016. The domain name now belongs to the e-commerce giant’s footwear products.
10. Fund.com
A lot of people go online in search of funding for their business initiatives, charities et al. The increasing number of people, who use fund.com to look for finances, has seen the value of the domain appreciate every year. It was bought for $9.9 million in 2008, and its value is believed to have appreciated since then.
9. Hotels.com
When David Roche paid $11 million for hotels.com back at the turn of the new millennium in 2001, it looked like an unwise investment. Fast forward to today and hotels.com is arguably the largest hotel booking platform attracting millions of visitors on a daily basis. The company was sold for a whopping $1.1 billion, and the domain must have played a huge role in that.
8. Sex.com
Sex sells a lot online, and the sale of the sex.com domain in 2010 for over $13 million proves this. The domain name is owned by a porn company offering sex videos, photos, and other media to their international audience.
7. Insure.com
Quite a good number of people go online searching for the best insurance for their assets and other aspects of life. This is how insure.com got its massive traffic flow. In 2009, the domain was sold for $16 million and this domain is now used by an insurance news company.
6. Internet.com
Quin Street acquired this domain name for $18 Million in 2009. It uses the domain name to run a website, which offers free information on all things internet.
5. Privatejet.com
This domain currently belongs to Nations Luxury Transportation, LLC and it was purchased for $30 million in 2012. As the name suggests, the domain targets rich customers looking for private jet charter flights and related services.
4. Vacationrentals.com
“Vacation rentals” is one of the most used keywords by prospective holidaymakers. This explains why the domain is so highly valued. If you are in search of great getaway holiday deals, then you can use the $35 million domain name. It was purchased by HomeAway in 2007 to offer excellent deals and holiday goodies.
3. Insurance.com
Just like insure.com, this domain’s value is pegged to the universal quest for insurance services that businesses and individuals have. This domain belongs to Quin Street and they purchased it for a whopping $35.6 million in 2010.
2. Carinsurance.com
Auto insurance is a very lucrative market. Quin Street was thinking about all those vehicle owners logging on the internet in search of the best comprehensive insurance covers when they dished out $49.7 million for the domain in 2010.
1. Cars.com
At the top of the pecking order is cars.com, which is priced at a whopping $872 million. The site lists cars and other automotive and it receives millions of visits every single day which justifies its price. Blimey!
There you have it, the list of the most expensive domains in the world. If you see a short, ordinary .com domain, which has not been snapped up yet, purchase it today. Later, it might change the fortunes of your family for good.
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