A trip into space with Leonardo DiCaprio sold for £1.19 million at an AIDS research fundraiser held during the 2013 Cannes Film Festival.

A seat beside The Great Gatsby actor on Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic space flight was auctioned at amfAR’s 20th annual gala. Seats on these flights, which Virgin Galactic hopes to commence by the end of 2013, usually sell for £132,406.

After winning, Monaco based Russian estate agent Vasily Klyukin, 37, said: ‘I want to be a bit daring. I will have to give up smoking now for sure!’

Whether the winning bidder wants the company of a wealthy charmer, the assurance of riding with a great aviator, or advice from a capable coach in the event of a wreck, we know DiCaprio has flourished in all three roles.

[Thanks to David Klaus for the story.]