A video of John Travolta talking about his private jet use has gone viral, and it comes after a photo of Travolta’s Florida mansion called “disgusting” shows his two jets casually parked out back.
In a YouTube short from 10X Studios (@10xstudios) shared on September 28, Grant Cardone asked him in an interview, “Why do you have three planes? … I got one plane. I can barely handle it.”
“It’s a practical reason. I’m a pilot myself. … If I have a jet obsolete, I have one to back it up,” Travolta replied. The interview was originally taped in front of a live audience as part of the 10X Growth Conference 2021 on Wealth Creation. The lavish set-up of his home, which includes a runway leading directly to his door as part of the Jumbolayer Aviation and Equestrian Estate community where he lives, received an online response just a few months ago.
This property sits in an aviation-themed community in Ocala, Florida, designed for residents who prefer to taxi their planes directly to their homes. Travolta has 12 jet ratings, including Boeing 747s, 707s, Gulfstreams and Learjets, and has made it clear that he prefers to fly rather than charter.
For Travolta, it’s just part of the lifestyle he’s built, and it was probably more understandable at a time when the effects of jet pollution and rising global temperatures weren’t well understood — if you’re lucky enough to strike it rich, you go ahead and spend the money as you please.
That scene isn’t inherently bad, and Travolta has a good reputation on and off camera as a friendly guy, but most would agree that there are responsible and less responsible ways to spend. Either way, the clip shows how different “practical” can look depending on who you are.
Apart from the lavish lifestyle, there is talk of what private jet travel represents at a time of major pollution concerns. Private jets produce up to 19.5 million metric tons of planet-warming gas in 2023, which is equivalent to the output of 177 passenger cars or nine heavy-duty highway trucks, according to ICCT. This use of private aircraft has a direct impact on global warming by releasing heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere.
The ripple effect of rising global temperatures results in extreme weather events such as devastating hurricanes, prolonged droughts and severe wildfires. These events threaten human safety, wildlife safety, the integrity of our local ecosystems and even food supplies.
Travolta isn’t the only celebrity to be called out for unchecked consumption. Other public figures such as Jeff Bezos and Steven Spielberg have faced similar backlash. Bezos bought his fourth private jet for $80 million in direct contradiction to Amazon’s public stance on environmentally friendly goals. Similarly, Spielberg has publicly said he is “scared of global warming” but is among the celebrities who use their private jets the most.
When the planet is experiencing extreme weather events due to human-caused rising global temperatures, exposure to this degree may be less practical and more harmful.
“How much money could he put into evaluating 12 jets?” one commenter under the YouTube short asked in frustration.
“It’s no different than anybody else with a hobby. … So I guess it depends on how much money you spend on something you like,” another added in Travolta’s favor.
“I’m richer than you. That’s all he has to say,” wrote a third.
Editor’s note: A previous version of this article reported that the September 28 video posted by 10X Studios was a new interview. It has been updated to reflect that it was originally filmed in 2021.
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