A $15 million Christmas tree glittering with jewels and exquisite accessories embodies the generous spirit of the festive season like nothing else.

The opulent 19-foot tree at the Kempinski Hotel Bahia in Marbella, Spain, is covered with intricate decorations that are possibly worth more than your and my lives put together.

Sure, it appears to be an average tree at first glance. Pay attention!

Debbie Wingham, 37, believes her sumptuous fir will be dubbed the "world's most expensive Christmas tree ever," saying she's beaten the previous record of $11.4 million set by Abu Dhabi's Emirates Palace Hotel in 2010.

Over 500 items created with luxurious materials from famous labels such as Louis Vuitton, Cartier, Bvlgari, and Chanel make up the pompous tree's sparkles.

Hanging diamond and sapphire studded nutcrackers, tchotchkes draped in luxury furs and leathers, and 3,000 Swarovski crystal-bedazzled ostrich eggs with gold-leaf and diamond dust – Wingham brought the extravagant setting to life.

Cost: $15 Million

If you're still perplexed as to how the cost of design could be comparable to the gold content of the material, you're undoubtedly wondering how Abu Dhabi, the world's least Christian country, could play into and even wrap up the proceedings in our most costly Christmas trees.

However, in 2010, one of the most expensive Christmas trees ever in history was planted in Abu Dhabi, namely at the Emirates Palace Hotel.

The tree's complete cost did not come from the building itself; in reality, it was only a few thousand dollars. You'd have to focus your attention on what they put around the tree: the Christmas decorations, which cost millions of dollars. We're talking about a huge collection of diamonds, gold, pearls, sapphires, and emeralds.

They weren't satisfied with that, so they added watches, necklaces, and bracelets to the valuable balls. While it may seem expensive in the land of liquid cash, keep in mind that Dubai and Abu Dhabi are regularly flooded with the world's wealthiest tourists. Once you understand this, it's simpler to see how the needs of such VIP consumers might trump established viewpoints. An 11.4 million dollar Christmas Tree at the Emirates Palace Hotel appears to be a minor detail for a hotel that offers automated gold bar vending machines and the use of a private plane.

Cost: $11.4 Million

Ginza Tokyo didn't quite make it to the top of our list, but its pure gold will undoubtedly outshine any gifts put beneath it. This year's USD 4.27 million Ginza Tanaka Disney Gold Christmas Tree stands at 2.4 meters tall and incorporates 50 Disney characters that opted to convert themselves into pure gold for the holiday season in Japan. The gold weighs 88 pounds and is completely 24-carat gold. The Disney Tree was delivered on schedule thanks to ten artists and two months.

If you're curious about how 88 pounds of gold became USD 4.27 million, the answer is simple, at least in the world of precious gem craftsmanship: a portion of the price goes to the design.

All that shining gold Ginza Tanaka Disney Gold Christmas Tree in Ginza, Japan, must be making Christmas shine even brighter than usual this year.

Cost: 4.24 Million

Swarovski presents the 30-meter high outdoor Crystal Christmas Tree in Statue Square in Central, Hong Kong, in honor of the holiday season.

The Hong Kong Swarovski Crystal Christmas Tree is over 30 meters tall, inspired by urban effervescence and a landscape dominated by skyscrapers and buildings with a limitless number of windows.

They also made certain that the magnificent tree is situated at a prominent area for both outgoing and arriving tourists.

The tree is surrounded by silver and gold rhombus-shaped mirrors that resemble window panes. Swarovski crystals totaling over 20 million pieces adorn them.

The dynamic lights from over 200 Swarovski Annual Edition 2010 Christmas decorations illuminate the Swarovski Crystal Christmas Tree at night.

Cost: $1.8 Million

While most of the trees on the list have been tall, Takashimaya went the opposite way to show that size isn't the only factor in attracting attention—and money—when it comes to Christmas tree glitz.

Takashimaya managed to compress the Rose Mini Christmas Tree to a measly 40-centimeter/16-inch height, clustered by a little tower of preserved roses looked over by a bear, based on a concept by Parisian flower store Claude Quinquaud. Diamonds from Australia and Africa are embedded in the petals of each rose. They lay on the petals like drips of dew, quenching another kind of need for anyone willing to part with USD 1.8 million. The bear's partner isn't much better: it's a diamond pendant that twinkles like the stars overhead.

According to the department shop, Rose Mini Christmas Tree is 40 centimeters (16 inches) tall and contains roughly 100 carats of diamonds from southern Africa and Australia.

Cost: $1.8 Million

Ginza Tanaka, a Tokyo jeweler, is one of the country's most prestigious jewelry stores, with locations throughout Asia and Europe. You'd expect a business known for selling some of the world's most costly jewels to go all-out for its Christmas displays. One of their Tokyo shops has a Christmas tree made of 12 kg of real gold that did not disappoint.

With its 6.6-foot Christmas tree made of gleaming 42 lbs of pure 24-carat gold fashioned into tiny golden wires, Tokyo's Ginza Tanaka takes the stage for the second time. The Midas-worth tree, which was created to commemorate the shop's 90th anniversary, was considered as a method to spread Christmas cheer—in Japan. Tabletop Tree at Ginza Tanaka Jewelry Shop is more than enough to astonish everyone who walks through this spot. Of course, many people would be overjoyed if they could transport the entire thing. However, for USD 1.8 million, they must be pleased and happy from afar.

Cost: $1.8 Million

There is one spot on the list where the astronomical cost of a Christmas tree does not imply fake limbs, twigs, or leaves. Since 1964, Washington's Capitol has pledged to plant a conifer from its own commissioned tree nursery in front of the White House once it is holiday-ready, replacing the live thing roots.

The massive yet spiky Washington DC Capitol Christmas Tree, which can reach a height of 20 meters, necessitates the use of thousands of lightbulbs to bring out its beauty. Consider the complexities of removing the plant from its current location while ensuring that the roots remain intact, transporting it to the Capitol grounds, and negotiating with the stinging branches, and it's easy to see how costs may soon reach a million dollars. Locals and visitors alike don't mind, of course: the sight is worth the price.

Cost: $1 Million

In 2007, jeweler Steve Quick was in the mood to celebrate the holiday in his own unique way: he wanted to create a piece that was both exquisitely aesthetic and reflected the virtue of generosity that the occasion demanded. His key to his vision was pounding 18 carat pure gold into a gleaming yellow Christmas tree drowned in diamonds to give the spectator the impression of pristine snow.

The star at the top of the Steve Quick Jewelers Gold Tabletop Tree is made of platinum and a 4.52 carat diamond. The star may also be worn as a pendant because it is totally removable. When the tree and pendant were placed in the storefront, no one paid for it, but an eBay auction accomplished the trick, with the money going to the American Cancer Society. Steve quickly came out with more affordable silver- and gold-plated versions of the Christmas tree to placate people who balked at the daunting price. Everyone was pleased with the choice to sell the Steve Quick Jewelers Gold Tabletop Tree at more affordable pricing of USD 20 and USD 25.

Cost: $500,000