Drake just gave the world a tour of his renovated Boeing 767, and it confirms what industry watchers have been saying for years. The era of the flying mansion has arrived. The Canadian rapper’s $185 million aircraft, known as Air Drake, has undergone a complete interior transformation that he describes as a “Ca$tle in the Sky.” Out with the old pink aesthetic. In with warm lounges, a dedicated gaming table, and enough sleeping quarters to house a small entourage.
The reveal came via social media in July 2025, following Drake’s three-night run at London’s Wireless Festival. The timing makes sense. When you’re moving between continents regularly, your aircraft becomes more than transportation. It becomes your primary residence.
Why the 767 Matters
Most celebrity jets top out at Gulfstream G650s or Bombardier Global 7500s. Drake operates a commercial airliner. The 767 was designed to haul cargo and passengers across oceans. It burns roughly 1,600 gallons per hour in cruise. Operating costs likely exceed $20,000 per flight hour when you factor in crew, maintenance, insurance, and positioning.
But here’s what those numbers buy you. Space. A traditional large cabin business jet offers around 2,000 square feet of cabin volume. A 767 gives you closer to 5,000 square feet. That’s the difference between a luxury apartment and an actual house.
The Design Choices That Signal a Shift
The new interior ditches the previous look for what Drake calls a warmer, lounge-like feel. The specific additions tell you everything about how he uses the aircraft. A master bedroom suggests long-haul flights where actual sleep matters. Three guest bedrooms mean he’s traveling with a team, not just solo. The movie theater is self-explanatory. But the Stake gaming table is the detail that stands out.
Mid-flight gambling isn’t new. High rollers have been playing cards at altitude for decades. But a dedicated gaming setup suggests Drake views this aircraft as an entertainment venue, not just a productivity tool. That’s a meaningful distinction. The previous generation of celebrity jets focused on office amenities. Conference tables. Satellite communications. The tools of work. This generation wants residential comfort and entertainment systems.
The Virgil Abloh Connection
The late designer Virgil Abloh handled the exterior paint scheme in 2019. That collaboration placed Air Drake in a unique category. It wasn’t just a customized aircraft. It was a branded experience. The new interior renovation continues that philosophy. Every surface, every material choice, reinforces Drake’s personal brand. That’s intentional design work, not decoration.
The Cargojet Partnership Context
Understanding how Drake acquired this aircraft matters. Cargojet CEO Ajay Virmani gifted the plane in 2019 as part of a strategic partnership. Cargojet is a Canadian cargo airline. Drake is a globally recognized Canadian artist. The partnership gave Cargojet visibility in exchange for providing Drake with an asset few entertainers could afford to purchase outright.
Virmani noted at the time that the aircraft placed Drake on a level of aviation exclusivity comparable to heads of state. That wasn’t hyperbole. Only a handful of private individuals operate aircraft this size. The list includes heads of state, a few billionaires, and now entertainers at the absolute top of their field. The operational complexity alone keeps most buyers away. You need multiple type-rated pilots. Ground support at every destination. Hangar space large enough to accommodate a widebody aircraft.
What This Means for Celebrity Aviation
Drake’s renovation arrives during a busy professional period. His single “What Did I Miss” debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 earlier this year. The 100 Gigs content drop kept him in constant motion. When your schedule demands that kind of flexibility, private aviation stops being a luxury and becomes infrastructure.
The trend extends beyond Drake. Other top-tier entertainers are looking at VBJ conversions. Very Big Jets. Airframes originally designed for commercial service, stripped down and rebuilt as private residences. The economics only work at a certain level of wealth and utilization. But for those who clear that bar, the space advantage is undeniable.
The Operational Reality
Operating a 767 privately means accepting trade-offs. You can’t land at every airport. Some FBOs can’t accommodate an aircraft this size. Fuel stops become more complex. International permits require more advance planning. But what you gain is the ability to move 10, 15, even 20 people comfortably on intercontinental flights. The per-person economics start looking reasonable when you’re moving that many bodies.
The aircraft also serves as a mobile production facility. Recording equipment, video editing suites, satellite internet with enough bandwidth for real-time collaboration. Drake can work on a project over the Pacific and have it uploaded before landing. That capability changes how you think about time zones and scheduling.
The Flying Mansion Benchmark
This renovation sets a new standard for what’s possible in celebrity aviation. Not because of any single feature, but because of the totality of the space. A movie theater isn’t revolutionary. A gaming table isn’t unprecedented. But combining them with multiple bedrooms, lounges, and likely production facilities creates something closer to a touring headquarters than a jet.
The industry has been moving this direction for years. Charter operators report growing demand for ultra-long-range flights with full sleeping accommodations. Fractional ownership programs are adding more heavy jets to their fleets. The market is responding to clients who view their aircraft as extensions of their homes, not just transportation.
For Drake, Air Drake represents more than personal comfort. It’s a business tool that enables a global schedule while maintaining a consistent environment. Every hotel room is different. Every venue has its own quirks. But the aircraft remains constant. That consistency has value when you’re managing the kind of output Drake maintains.
The Ca$tle in the Sky label is marketing. But the underlying reality is pure business aviation strategy. When your time is worth millions per day, and your schedule spans continents, this level of investment makes sense. The question for the rest of the celebrity aviation market is whether they can justify following Drake’s lead into VBJ territory. For most, the answer remains no. But for those at the absolute peak, the template now exists.