Millionaire boy racers

We’re constantly hearing of wacky and exorbitant prices paid for cars by the testosterone-charged rich and famous… you know the ones, those with enough cash to not bother so much about growing out of a yen for shiny boys toys- Clarkson and his highly-publicised Ford GT saga being one prime example.

So, here we will take a moment’s pause to salute the men so many of us deep down wish we could be. Or at least, whose garages we could claim as our own. Let’s see now…

First up it's Simon Cowell with his Mini Cooper S, Ranger Rover Autobiography, DB7,Bentley Azure, Arnage T and Continental GT, Lambo Gallardo Spyder, Ferrari F430 and California, Audi R8, Merc SL55AMG, Porsche 911, Mitsubishi Evo, Jag XK, two Roller Phantoms and for many, the ticket that notifies you’ve arrived at your destination, the Bugatti Veyron.

Then there’s the perhaps unlikely Blackadder himself Mr Bean Rowan Atkinson, proud owner and racer of a Jag Mk7, Aston Martin DB2, Ford Falcon, BMW 328, Aston Martin V8 Vantage and famous for wiping out his Mclaren F1. I dread to think what his insurance quotes must be like. ‘Right, Mr Atkinson… What’s your profession? Actor. Hmm. And have you made any claims in the last 5 years?’

Shut Up.

Jay-Z is listed as having -among other things- a Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet, a Ferrari F430 Spyder, a Rolls-Royce Phantom, Maybach 62S, Jeep Wrangler, obligatory Bugatti Veyron, but also the one off, $8million 700hp, two-seat Maybach Exelero. Yeah. $8million. Shut The F-ront door!

Much-documented also, is DJ Chris Evans, self-confessed petrolhead, his tastes have run the full gamut, taking himself a little less seriously perhaps than many of the others, his collection has embraced VW Beetles and Fiat 500’s as much as the Rollers, but it’s his quite extraordinary stable of Ferrari stallions that he very generously allows strangers to parade once a year in support The Children’s Trust that he is best known for. These include: Ferrari 250 TR 61 Spyder Fantuzzi, 512 TR, the 1993 V12, 1956 Ferrari 860 Monza, Ferrari 458 Italia, , Ferrari 550 Maranello, three Ferrari Californias, long wheelbase 1959 Spyder, 599 and the piece de resistance, James Coburn’s £12m 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO. He also owns Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Surely the ultimate boy toy?

An honourable mention must also go out to Jamiroquai’s Jay Kay. His country estate needing to house his collection of 50 cars, which he shuffles and adjusts as new marques hit the market. Standouts include a Ferrari Vignale 330 GT, a Porsche 911 2.7 RS, a few Lamborghinis and an ’86 Audi Sport Quattro. Classy.

Then there’s comedian Jerry Seinfeld who owns one of the largest Porsche collections in the world, standing at just under 50 vehicles, including a 959. Funny guy.

One of the less imaginative inclusions to my list, but still qualifying as a genuine Boy Racer nevertheless, must be fashion supremo, Ralph Lauren, although he seems to have gone for the standards- anything, so long as it’s expensive. These include a Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa, a McLaren F1LM and a errr... Veyron.

Talking of Yanks, talk show host Jay Leno is another well-known car nut. Picture postcards include a 1986 Lamborghini Countach, a 1909 Stanley Steamer, a 1937 Fiat Topolino, a 1955 Buick Roadmaster, a McLaren F1, and a Mercedes 300SL Gullwing. 

It has to be stated at this point that he might well have taken top spot in this list, being as famous toy manufacturer ‘Hot Wheels’ actually released a “Jay Leno Collection” of toys, based on the contents of his extensive garage.

However, that honour needs to go to a member of royalty. Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, better known as the Sultan of Brunei. His personal collection of over 7,000 high performance cars, which some estimates put at more than $5 billion, includes 600 Rolls Royce cars, over 300 Ferraris, including two Mythos, 456, F40, FX, F90, F50, 550 marques, 134 Koenigeggs, 11 McLaren F1s, 6 Dauer Porsche 962 LM’s, 600 Mercs, including models never up for sale, like the special Mercedes S-class Touring model designed just for the Sultan. He got himself the only right hand drive Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR, as well as the only gold-plated Merc in the world. Then there’s the several hundred BMW’s plus assorted Jags, Range Rovers, Jeeps, Bentleys, Mustangs, Fords, Lambo’s… the list goes on.

Did I mention the 600 Rollers? All his cars are bullet-proof and feature state-of-the-art technology and are housed in a garage the size of five aircraft hangars, with separate wings for the different makes.

Ok, Your Majesty, you win.