What do the wealthy do for recreation? They enjoy healthy activities, physical fitness, and sports outdoors. Investing Magazine surveyed 200 rich and famous people on their interests and hobbies. According to the survey, these are the sports that rich and famous people like to do:
- Outdoors – horses, hiking, bird hunting, fly fishing,
- Fitness – gymnastics, weight training, pilates, yoga, cycling, climbing, martial arts, dancing, swimming
- Sports – golf, tennis, boating, sailing, sail racing, paddling, rowing, skiing, equestrian, sky diving, scuba diving, fencing, surfing, flying planes, auto racing, horse racing, baseball, basketball, volleyball, soccer, croquet, skeet shooting, archery
Wealth X did a survey of people with assets of $5 million or more of “Sports Millionaires Love.”. Watching professional sports were high on the list (basketball, horse racing, baseball, football, soccer, auto racings). In the area of individual participation golf was number one with 18.6%, skiing was number two with 10.9%, third tennis at 7.1%, cycling at 5.4%, and swimming at 3.5%.
The Outdoor Foundation reports that 160.7 million people above age 6 participate in outdoor recreation. Their ranking of the top activities are: running-jogging 63.8 million, hiking 57.8 m, fishing 54.7 m, biking 52.7 m, and camping-backpacking 47.9 m.
Equestrian
There are many equestrian (horse riding sport) events and shows in the U.S. and around the world every year. They showcase different horse breeds and riding disciplines. There are 2 million horse owners in the U.S. Equestrian is an Olympic sport. The FEI World Equestrian Games are held every four years in different cities. Other major shows are held in Lexington-KY, London, Paris, Toronto, and Aachen-Germany.
English style riding – traditional, such as dressage, eventing, show jumping, endurance, cross country, driving, pleasure classes, equitation, show hunter.
Western style riding – showmanship, riding, reining, cutting, halter, and more. Rodeo events include: bronc riding, bull riding, barrel racing, roping, steer wrestling, carriage driving, and more.
Skiing
There are 22.4 million skiers in the U.S. who frequent ski resorts in mountain regions of New England, northern Midwest, and western Rocky Mountain states. Skiing is the second most popular sport of the wealthy. Skiing is an Olympic sport. The FIS World Cup and the FIS World Championships are held in different locations.
There is nothing quite like it with its thrilling adrenaline rush. No matter the level of skiing from beginner to advanced, it’s addictive and exhilarating. “Skiing is the best way to have wings,“ Oprah Winfrey. It’s like flying, similar to hang gliding, ski diving, and wing suits. It gives you freedom, it’s otherworldly, like scuba diving, backpacking, dancing, and mountain climbing. “A pair of skis are the ultimate transportation to freedom,” Warren Miller, ski film director.
Polo
Polo is a sport with two teams of riders on horseback using mallets to hit a ball through an opposing team’s goal. Polo has been called “the sport of kings” and has become a spectator sport for equestrians and high society. The U.S. Polo Association has 4,500 individual players in 250 polo clubs in the U.S. Polo is an Olympic sport. The Federation of International Polo holds World Polo Championship games in different nations.
Sailing 
Sailing is an ’other-worldly’ experience. The thrill and adrenaline rush are intoxicating. It challenges and heightens the mind and body, and inspires the spirit. There are 3.7 million involved with sailing in the U.S. Sailing is an Olympic sport. The classic big offshore sail regattas are the America’s Cup, Newport to Bermuda, Fastnet, and Sydney to Hobart.
Sailing races, called regattas, have been around since ancient times. The oldest yacht clubs were formed in England in 1775, Ireland 1777, Australia 1837, New Zealand 1840, U.S. in 1845, and Canada 1856.
A race sails on a determined course or for long distance on open waters. Sailing regattas are sponsored by yacht clubs and corporations. It is an expensive sport due to the cost of a boat or yacht, crews, travel, events, promotion, and prize money.
Golf
Golf is ranked as one of the best activities to stimulate the brain. It takes patience, skill, and concentration. Golf is not a rich person’s game, there are over 25 million active golfers in the U.S. Golf, though, is the number one favorite sport of the wealthy. Golf private country club memberships are 5 million. Golf is an Olympic sport. Golf’s major championships are the British Open, U.S. Open, Masters, and the PGA.
Golf is a sport in which players use various clubs to hit a ball into a series of holes on a course in as few strokes as possible. Courses typically have either 9 or 18 holes. Golf originated in Scotland in 1502 and was introduced in the U.S. in 1888.
Tennis
Tennis is a racquet sport played on a court with individual or double teams. Players use a racquet to hit a ball over a net. Modern tennis originated in England in the 19th Century. It was introduced in the U.S. in 1874. There are 23.6 million players in the U.S. Tennis is an Olympic sport. Tennis Gram Slam tournaments are the Australian Open, French Open, U.S. Open, and Wimbleton.
Fly fishing
Fly fishing offers the ultimate solitude and relaxation among Nature. Fly fishing is different than other types of fishing. It is an angling technique of casting a line with an artificial fly to attract predator fish. Fly fishing is used in lakes, ponds, seams, and rivers to catch trout, salmon, and bass. There are 7.5 million fly fishing anglers in the U.S. among a total of 54.7 million involved in fishing.
Fencing
Fencing is a competitive sword combat sport involving both men and women. The modern sport originated in London and gained popularity in the late 19th Century. It is an Olympic sport and is played in fencing clubs, colleges, and athletic clubs. Fencing is an Olympic sport.
Croquet
Croquet is a lawn ball game that involves hitting wooden or plastic balls with mallets through hoops, called wickets, on a grass playing court. The U.S. Croquet Association governs U.S. tournaments. The World Croquet Association governs international competitions. There are 200 croquet clubs in the U.S. and 170 in England. Croquet is an Olympic sport.
Mountaineering
Mountaineering is the ancient sport of mountain climbing. Long the domain of the wealthy elite, now it has mass interest. There are 2.8 million active in mountaineering in the U.S., while climbing activity is 7.7 million. A federation of alpine clubs, the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (UIAA), is the International Olympic Committee-recognized world organization for mountaineering and climbing.
Cycling
Cycling is a sport of riding and racing bicycles for recreation, exercise, and racing. There are 52.7 million cyclists in the U.S. Cycling is an Olympic sport. The three major European Grand Tour professional cycling stage races: Giro d’Italia, Tour de France, and Vuelta a España.
Paddling
Paddling is a water sport using a small boat or craft propelled by a hand held paddle on a lake or river. Popular forms of paddling include canoeing, kayaking, rafting, and paddle boarding. It requires balance, core stability, pulling power, speed, endurance, stature and rhythm. It is an Olympic sport. There are 37.9 million paddlers in the U.S.
Upland Bird Hunting
Upland hunting involves game bird hunting of non-aquatic fowl such as pheasant, grouse, quail, and partridge. There are 8.1 million upland bird hunters in the U.S. Upland hunting is a popular sport by men, women, and youth of all economic classes in the U.S. and Canada. It has a reputation for being a luxury sport in some countries. It is also very popular in Wales, Scotland, England, Ireland, Scandinavia, France, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Spain, Italy, and elsewhere.
Game birds are excellent roasted and delicious eating, non-gamey tasting and a little sweeter than chicken or turkey.
Rowing
Rowing, often called crew, is a team sport of racing boats using oars. Rowing oars are attached to the boat using oarlocks. There are several boat classes ranging from one person sculls to shells with eight rowers. Championship racing is conducted on 1.2 mile long calm water courses with lanes marked with buoys.
Modern competitive rowing can be traced to the early 17th century on the River Thames in London, England. It was introduced in America in 1756. Today 155 countries have rowing federations that participate in the sport. Rowing is an Olympic sport.
Squash
Squash is a fast paced racket ball sport played by two or four players in a four-walled court with a small rubber ball. There are about 20 million people who play squash regularly world-wide in over 185 countries. The governing body of squash, the World Squash Federation (WSF), is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Yoga and Pilates
Yoga and pilates are mind-body physical fitness disciplines which improve balance, flexibility, conditioning, stress relief, and relaxation. In the U.S. 36 million people practice yoga and 11.8 million practice pilates.
Archery
Target archery involves using a bow and arrow to shoot at a stationary target on lawns or courts. The World Archery Federation holds championship competitions. Archery is an Olympic sport. There ae 21.6 million people who practice archery in the U.S. The World Archery Federation, composed of 156 national federations, is the governing body recognized by the International Olympic Committee.
Skeet & Trap Shouting
Clay shooting is using a shotgun to hit clay disc targets thrown through the air by a machine. Skeet shooting targets are launched from two machines and trap shooting targets are launched from a single machine. Clay target shooting began in 1875 in England. It is now an Olympic sport. There are 4.7 million clay shooting participants in the U.S
References
Forbes
Investing Magazine
Luxe
National Sporting Goods Association
Outdoor Foundation
Outdoor Life
Sporting Insight
Town and Country
Travel and Leisure
Wealth X
