Most vehicles decline in value quite a bit as soon as they are driven off the lot, making them poor investments. However, keeping a collection of high-end vehicles in showroom condition can be a path to increased wealth over time. Here are some of the most impressive collections owned by the famed residents of Tinseltown.
Jerry Seinfeld
The famous comedian and television actor has an estimated worth of $800 million, $15 million of which he has invested in one of the most rare and extensive Porsche collections on the planet. His finds include a silver Porsche 959, one of only 338 in the world, which is worth over $700 thousand dollars. All told, he has 47 Porsche cars, houses them in a $1.4 million dollar, temperature-controlled garage and has a full-time mechanic to keep them all in perfect condition. As the cars age, their worth will only increase in value.
Jay Z
Rapper and entrepreneur Jay Z has a varied assortment of vehicles. His wife, successful songstress Beyoncé Knowles, bought him a Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport as a gift. The high-performance car is among the most expensive in the world with a price tag of $2.6 million. Jay Z also owns a Maybach 57S, which also retails for north of $2 million and a Maybach Exelero worth $8 million. Jay Z is no snob, however, as he is frequently seen in his Range Rover and Jeep Wrangler, both of which are more common vehicles. With a net worth of $560 million personally and $900 million in his marriage, Jay Z can afford any vehicle that strikes his fancy, whether it be a Ferrari or a Honda. No matter what he chooses to drive, you can be sure it will have all of the luxury options and some after-market additions as well.
Jay Leno
The retired late-night talk show host has a net worth of $350 million and boasts a car collection that is known throughout the world as eclectic and exciting. He’s filled an airplane hangar with 130 cars, 93 bikes and a load of related memorabilia. While most collectors are in love with a particular time period or manufacturer, Leno’s collection breaks all the rules. He has vehicles spanning the market, including McLaren, Lamborghini, Bugatti, Duesenberg, Bentley, Jaguar, and even a few Bristol and Lotus cars. Also unlike most collectors, Leno has no interest in buying as an investment. He purchases vehicles that he likes to drive. He is often seen going about in vehicles so old, rare or expensive that most owners would keep them in a museum or only drive them to awards ceremonies. Leno is the kind of guy who picks up a pizza in his 1967 Lamborghini Miura. While he enjoys doing some maintenance on his own, he also employs four full-time technicians to keep his fleet ready to roll.
To many, a car is just a mode of transportation. To these celebrities, cars are works of art and investments.
