After getting backlash over carbon footprints, Taylor Swift has reportedly sold one of her private jets for $40 million. The pop star, known for her hits and high-profile relationships, made headlines again as she parted ways with her Dassault Falcon 900LX, according to the Daily Mail.
The buyer of Swift’s private jet is reported to be Missouri-based car insurance company Car Shield. Swift had originally purchased the jet for the same $40 million price tag in 2011. However, the market value of the aircraft has significantly decreased over time, now estimated at around $7 million for a second-hand sale, Fox News reported.
The sale of the smaller private jet leaves Swift with her larger Dassault Falcon 7X, which holds an estimated value of $54 million when new. This remaining jet has been Swift’s primary mode of transportation during the international leg of her Eras Tour.
The 34-year-old singer-songwriter has faced criticism for her frequent use of private air travel, particularly as she travels worldwide for tour shows and appearances in support of her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, at NFL games.
In 2022, Swift topped a list compiled by sustainability marketing agency Yard as one of the worst celebrity private jet CO2 emission offenders.
The controversy surrounding Swift’s private jet emissions took another turn when her legal team sent a cease-and-desist letter to Jack Sweeney, a junior at the University of Central Florida. Sweeney gained attention for tracking the flight paths of planes and helicopters owned by celebrities, billionaires, politicians, and other public figures using publicly available data provided by the Federal Aviation Administration.
According to Vice, one of Swift’s planes recently flew 37 minutes between New Jersey and Baltimore — a short flight that produced roughly three tons of CO2.
Swift’s attorneys accused Sweeney of endangering her personal safety by sharing real-time location information, citing concerns about stalkers and privacy violations. The letter also accused Sweeney of harassment and intentional privacy violations, prompting a response from the university student.
In response to the legal threat, Sweeney defended his actions, emphasizing transparency and public access to information. He maintained that his intention was not to cause harm but to provide transparency regarding private jet travel by high-profile individuals like Swift.
“I think it’s important to note that nowhere do I intend for harm. I actually think Swift has some good songs,” Sweeney told Daily Mail. “I believe in transparency and public information.”
Swift isn’t the only celeb to be called out over their private jets and CO2 emissions. In 2022, Sweeney’s data caused Drake and Travis Scott, among others, to be called out over unnecessary flights.
