Schools for the mega-rich - where the wealthy send their children to study

There is a lot to consider when thinking about where you would like your children to go to school, and there's even more to factor in when you're uber-wealthy and/or famous.

For many of the elite, boarding schools are the way to go, and only the best of the best will do. Join us as we take a look at the most exclusive and most expensive boarding schools in the world, all of which are located in Switzerland.

Collège Alpin International Beau Soleil, in the Swiss Alps near Villars-Sur-Ollon, is the most expensive boarding school in the world. Founded in 1920, the school is on the smaller side, with only 250 students hailing from over 60 different countries. Students may attend from the age of 11 until they are 18 years old. They can choose between the International or the French Baccalaureate. Sports are very important at the school, with students skiing two or three times a week. There are frequent expeditions, and every year, some students climb Kilimanjaro in Africa.
All of this comes at a price; in 2019-2020, tuition and boarding were CHF 150,000 ($161,430).

(Photo: Collège Alpin International Beau Soleil/Facebook)

Alumni of the current most expensive boarding school in the world include Princess Marie of Denmark (pictured); Prince Guillaume, the Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg; and the Hermès family.

The famed Institut Le Rosey is located in Rolle, Switzerland. Tuition alone costs a cool CHF 130,500 ($136,500), but with all the extras, it can go up to a total of CHF 150,500 or $157,000 per school year.
Founded in 1880, Le Rosey uses two different campuses: in the spring and summer, students live at the 14th-century Château du Rosey, and in the cold winter months, the students move to a second campus (pictured) two hours away in the town of Gstaad. The school's high price tag is no surprise considering the facilities and activities offered to students: a private nautical center, an equestrian centre with 30 horses, and of course, what all students need, a spa for the children to relax in.

Not sure if Le Rosey is good enough for your little bundles of joy? Don't worry; if your children attend this school, they will join the ranks of their famous alumni: King Albert II of Belgium, the Shah of Iran, Prince Rainier of Monaco, and King Farouk of Egypt. The school is not only suited to royals; Elizabeth Taylor sent her children with Michael Wilding to the school as well.

Institut Auf Dem Rosenberg started out in 1889 in St Gallen, Switzerland, and has a student population of around 300. It is well known for giving the students the possibility of preparing for many different exams, to enter the Italian, German, Swiss, French, British, and/or US systems. While sports are important in this school, the arts are also highly valued, and one of the biggest events of the year at the school is the Rosenberg Ball. There, professionals train students to master and then showcase their dancing skills.
The average price for tuition and boarding is CHF 140,000 ($150,670).

(Photo: Institut auf Dem Rosenberg/Facebook)

Institut Auf Dem Rosenburg has a stringent policy about not releasing the names of its alumni. However, they have made one exception for Nobel Prize-winning chemist Mario J. Molina (pictured).

(Photo: By http://science.in2pic.com)

Leysin American School, located in Leysin, Switzerland, boasts an impressive student-to-teacher ratio of 8 to 1 with an average class size of 12 students. Founded in 1961, the school focuses on preparing students for university offering grades 7 through 13. They can choose between the International Baccalaureate and the US High School Diploma. Like many other private schools on this list, there is a heavy focus on sports, with activities such as swimming, skiing, rowing, and rugby on offer.
The fantastic student-to-teacher ratio comes at a price. Tuition while not public, is said to be around CHF 99,000 ($108,605) and up to CHF 115,500 ($124,300) with all the bells and whistles.

(Photo: By LAS - Own work)

Leysin American School is known for keeping quiet about the famous students who attend. However, it is known that the Rockefellers (pictured), Vanderbilts, and members of the Saudi royal family were educated there.

Students who attend St George's International School full time with boarding will have tuition fees between CHF 85,010 ($91,490) to CHF 108,390 ($116,65), not including medical insurance fees, pocket money or uniforms. St George's was founded in 1927 and accepts both day students and 100 full-time boarders per school year. Students can begin at the school as young as three years of age; however, boarding isn't offered until year 6. The campus is next to Lake Geneva, nestled among the Alps, and more than 60 different extracurricular activities are offered, including a sailing club.

(Photo: Instagram: @stgeorgesmontreux)

St George's has educated many famous and successful individuals, including Angie Bowie (the first wife of David Bowie), Glenn Close (American actress), Jill Hyem (radio/television writer and former actress), and Christina Onassis (businesswoman, socialite, and heiress to the Onassis fortune.)

Collège du Léman International School was established in 1960 and is a very large school with around 1900 students from 2 to 18 years of age. It accepts day students as well as full-time boarders. The school is located in Versoix, Canton of Geneva, Switzerland. With 101 different nationalities at the school, it is no surprise they offer an extensive language program, and students can choose to study English, French, German, Mandarin, Italian, or Spanish. The school also boasts a partnership with the world-famous Juilliard school. While the school likes to keep tuition fees private, currently, annual tuition with boarding is around CHF 92,500 ($99,550).

(Photo: Instagram @collegeduleman)

Noteworthy Léman alumni include Anna Ovcharova, Swiss, Russian figure skater, Yu Von Goess, also known as Yu Isokawa, DJ and music producer, and Daniel Lozakovich, the Swedish internationally acclaimed violinist.

(Photo: By David W. Carmichael)

The American School in Switzerland (TASIS), established in 1956 and was the first American boarding school in Europe. The school is situated in Montagnola, Lugano, in the Canton of Ticino, and educates around 700 students from across the globe. The school is famed for its arts programs, with 20 different programs dedicated to visual arts, drama, and music. Students also enjoy living in either 17th-century buildings or newer eco-friendly dorms.
The price for boarding at this school is CHF 90,000 ($96,860), not including any additional fees or extracurricular activities.

(Photo: Instagram @tasislugano)

Actor Billy Zane and Laura Wasser, the divorce lawyer to the stars, both attended the school.

Brillantmont International School has been owned by the same family for five generations and was founded in 1882. Located in the centre of Lausanne, with views over Lake Léman and the Swiss Alps, Brillantmont is a small school with just 150 students. It offers preparation for both US and British university entry exams. The school has a strong focus on giving back and does so by participating in TEDx conferences, Habitat for Humanity, and getting students involved in volunteer work.
Compared to many other schools on this list, the prices at Brillantmont seem like a deal with fees ranging from CHF 33,100 ($35,620) to CHF 87,600 ($94,280).

(Photo: Instagram @brillantmont_is)

Despite our best efforts, it seems that Brillantmont is extremely discreet about any alumni who may be famous, as we could barely find any information on this subject. However, information was found on one prestigious Brillantmont alumni, Maharani Gayatri Devi (pictured) of Jaipur, India. The school supposedly has a history of hosting Indian royalty and is particularly popular among young women associated with Indian royalty.

Founded in 1949, Aiglon College is a British-style international school located in the Swiss Mountains near the alpine village of Chesières. Tuition and boarding fees vary from around CHF 66,450 ($60,300) - CHF 102,600 ($93,110) per school year. The school has a heavy focus on the outdoors, and students are encouraged to participate in expeditions, sports, arts, and humanitarian activities. All students are required to partake in a daily morning meditation as well.

(Photo: Instagram @aiglonswitzerland)

Many successful individuals are the fruit of an Aiglon College education, including Michael Gill – an American actor known for his role in 'House of Cards,' Anthony Peck - American actor and writer, Cecilia Peck - American film producer, director, and actress, Princess Tatiana of Greece and Denmark, and former Google CFO Pietro Dova. (Pictured here are Anthony and Cecilia Peck, alumni of Aiglon and children of Gregory Peck.)

Founded in 1904, Lyceum Alpinum Zuoz is home to around 200 boarders and 100 day students between the ages of 11 and 21. Located in Zuoz, Canton of Graubünden in Switzerland, students can participate in many different winter sports in the Alps. The school offers preparation for German, Swiss, and international university entry exams. It's is also known for its solidarity, running aid projects with their 'Corps of Volunteers.'
Regarding tuition, oddly, it is more expensive for girls to board at the school than boys. Prices for girls go as high as CHF 84,200 ($90,620), whereas, for boys, it is "only" CHF 79,100 ($85,130).

(Photo: Instagram @lazuoz)

Among the many successful alumni Lyceum Alpinum Zuoz boasts of, are Michael White, a British theatrical impresario and film producer, and Anton-Wolfgang Graf von Faber-Castell (pictured), former CEO of Faber-Castell.