Wait, there’s another contender: a 1934 Bugatti Type 59 Sports. It sold for $12.9 million, but that’s pocket change compared to the Mercedes. Still, its owner was a prince—Prince Victor Emmanuel of Savoy. He reportedly bought it with a check in 2015, then flipped it for $16 million. Royalty, of course, doesn’t haggle.
But the most jaw-dropping story involves a car that nobody “owned” in the traditional sense. The Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa once owned by actor Steve McQueen is priceless. He drove it, crashed it, and sold it for a fraction of its current value. Imagine that: the King of Cool owned a car that’s now worth $25 million, and he probably used it to get pizza. Priorities.
The Anonymous Billionaire
Let’s circle back to the $143 million Mercedes. The buyer’s identity is still a secret, but the rumor mill says it’s a Middle Eastern royal. You can picture it: a sheikh with a beard, sitting in a gold-plated throne, saying, “I’ll take the silver one, please.”
What’s even funnier? The car was technically “bargain” at $143 million. The owner probably saved money on not buying a yacht. I mean, if you can afford a small island, why not buy a car that looks like a spaceship from the 1950s?
16 Most Expensive Cars in the World 2026 | World’s Costliest Cars in 2026
