Think of the world’s most expensive cars, and your mind may immediately wander to modern, high-performance models like the Koenigsegg CC850, Bugatti Centodieci, and Ferrari Enzo. However, despite attracting multimillion-dollar prices, these cars barely command a fraction of the sums attained by more exclusive and classic models.
Well, you have to be quite a classic car lover to know some of the world’s best luxury car brands.
Why you can trust Luxe Digital? To me, having and driving cool cars is one of the finest things in life. I’ve driven a bunch of Rolls, Bentleys, and classics. Of course, I love well-made things, and when it comes to luxury, there’s no denying that some car brands stand head and shoulders above the rest. For this article, we extensively researched data from car dealerships, esteemed collectors, reputed auction sites, and other historical records related to expensive car sales over the years.
1. Rolls-Royce
The benchmark by which all other luxury marques are measured—that’s Rolls-Royce. These cars are a global symbol of wealth, both old and new money, often proclaiming price tags above what the rest of us could ever imagine spending on any vehicle.
Classically designed and powered by big-capacity engines to haul along the cars filled with the finest metals, iconic grille, Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament, and lavish interiors, Rolls-Royce is British luxury on wheels. Long claimed to produce bespoke vehicles, Goodwood-based Rolls are now owned by the BMW Group.
| Established: | 1904 |
| Country of origin: | United Kingdom |
| Most expensive car: | Rolls-Royce Boat Tail, $28 million |
2. Bugatti
Bugatti is a legendary name in the world of supercars and hypercars, producing some of the fastest vehicles ever made. Today, just like in the days of the company’s founder, Ettore Bugatti, this brand is still the crown jewel of superlative cars.
Some of the most iconic Bugatti models are the Bugatti Centodieci, retailing at $9 million; the Bugatti Chiron Hermès Edition, with a price tag of $6 million; and the Bugatti Divo, which costs $5.8 million. But the most expensive Bugatti ever sold is the Bugatti La Voiture Noire, the only one of its kind.
| Established: | 1909 |
| Country of origin: | France |
| Most expensive car: | Bugatti La Voiture Noire, $18.68 million |
3. Pagani
Horacio Pagani, the maestro of motors, has always been a stickler for perfection. His mission? To craft the crème de la crème of supercars that are as stunning as they are speedy. Of course, Pagani and excruciating price tags are two things that go hand in hand.
The design of the first Pagani masterpiece, the Zonda, was inspired by jet fighters, and it’s no surprise that it is one of the most iconic supercars of all time. It’s so fast even Formula One champ Lewis Hamilton found it hard to handle in Monaco.
| Established: | 1992 |
| Country of origin: | Italy |
| Most expensive car: | Pagani Zonda HP Barchetta, $17.6 million |
4. Koenigsegg
If you’re familiar with notable Swedish car brands, you probably already know a thing or two about Koenigsegg. This company uses its own patented technologies, such as the Koenigsegg Direct Drive system, the Triplex suspension, and the Freevalve engine, to achieve unparalleled performance and efficiency.
Koenigsegg took eight years to launch its first street-legal model—the Koenigsegg CC8S—which was awarded a Guinness World Record in 2002 for the most powerful production vehicle. Only six units of this model were ever built. Today, Koenigsegg continues to maintain this tradition of building a small number of cars for each of its models.
| Established: | 1994 |
| Country of origin: | Sweden |
| Most expensive car: | Koenigsegg CCXR Trevita, $4.8 million |
5. Lamborghini
Lamborghini is famous for its scissor doors, angular shapes, and roaring engines, as well as its raging bull logo and model names inspired by Spanish bullfighting. When Ferruccio Lamborghini founded the company, he had an unrelenting desire to produce exotic cars, especially grand tourers, to compete with the already famous Ferrari.
As of today, the Italian brand builds some of the world’s most desirable and rarest sports cars—from its vintage Miura and Countach to its latest model, the Huracan STO—but that means they don’t come cheap.
| Established: | 1963 |
| Country of origin: | Italy |
| Most expensive car: | Lamborghini Veneno Roadster, $8.3 million |
6. McLaren
As an automaker with a Formula 1 racing pedigree, McLaren is one of the few most expensive car brands that has not yet produced an SUV, sticking exclusively to hypercars and exotic sports cars. The company now specializes in high-performance road cars that can make Ferraris and Lamborghinis blush faster than their 0–60 times!
As you may expect, McLaren Automotives can be very costly. So far, the brand’s vehicles carry the six-figure price range, including the GT Grand Tourer, the gorgeous 720S, and the plug-in-hybrid Artura.
| Established: | 1963 |
| Country of origin: | United Kingdom |
| Most expensive car: | McLaren F1, $20.5 million |
7. Ferrari
Ferraris are what dreams are made of. Fast, sexy, and highly exclusive! One of the best Italian car brands, Ferrari has come to be the very definition of upscale with an exotic blend of glorious glamor, sensuous style, and high performance.
Over the years, Ferrari has produced more than a handful of fancy cars. But be prepared to pay a hefty price, as even the entry-level LaFerrari Aperta will set you back $2.2 million. Things only go up from there with the rare Ferrari Sergio Roadster and the vintage 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO. Purists may be surprised to hear that the Purosangue, a Ferrari SUV, is joining the line-up as well.
| Established: | 1939 |
| Country of origin: | Italy |
| Most expensive car: | Ferrari 250 GTO, $70 million |
8. Aston Martin
While Aston Martin may have been famous for being James Bond’s ride of choice, today, it makes amazing sports cars that sell at a premium price. You can picture yourself in the Aston Martin Valkyrie, the brand’s first-ever hypercar developed for Formula One’s resident genius Adrian Newey. This collaboration is limited to 150 road cars priced at $3 million.
Perhaps you could land the original Goldfinger DB5, which was sold in 2010 for $4.6 million. Even so, the most expensive Aston Martin ever sold is the 1956 DBR1—the first ever Aston Martin DBR1 to be manufactured.
| Established: | 1913 |
| Country of origin: | United Kingdom |
| Most expensive car: | Aston Martin DBR1, $22.55 million |
9. Pininfarina
Automobili Pininfarina took the next step toward becoming an independent car brand and launched its first luxury hypercar, the Battista. Revealed at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, the car is purely electric, with 1877 horsepower and the soul of a Rimac.
The Pininfarina Battista hums. Not in a “crystals have energy” sort of way, but in a much more accurate sense—the carbon-fiber bodywork literally vibrates. Only 150 are being produced, each with four electric motors and a top speed of a modest 220 mph (354 km/h).
| Established: | 1930 |
| Country of origin: | Italy |
| Most expensive car: | Pininfarina Battista, $2.2 million |
10. Gordon Murray
One of the biggest names in motorsport and automotive design, Murray went from serving as technical director for Formula One teams to forming his own quirky supercar company. Murray set out to create a new generation of supercars that would be even more technologically advanced and performance-focused. But to get one of these cars, extravagance has to be your second name.
The Gordon Murray T.50 is a marvel of engineering, with a pure V12 engine and only 100 cars to be made. The T.33 Spider blends the elegant, classic design of the T.33 with a more thrilling and captivating driving experience. With two detachable roof panels, a retractable rear window, and the Cosworth GMA.2 V12 behind the seats, it’s a supercar in a league of its own.
| Established: | 2017 |
| Country of origin: | United Kingdom |
| Most expensive car: | Gordon Murray T.50, $3 million |
11. Mercedes-Maybach
Even though most Mercedes come at a more reasonable price, there are some limited-edition models that cost a pretty penny. Check the S-Class sedan, for instance; it is already the epitome of luxury, so what happens when you add some Maybach spice?
The Mercedes-Benz Maybach Exelero is a rare and expensive beast, with only 12 made worldwide. One of them belongs to the famous rapper Jay Z, who showed it off in his song – Lost One. The Mercedes-AMG One is another one, with a price of $2.72 million. It is a hybrid that uses Formula One technology, and it’s legal to drive on the road. All 275 of them have been sold.
| Established: | 2014 |
| Country of origin: | Germany |
| Most expensive car: | Mercedes-Maybach Exelero, $8 million |
Frequently asked questions about the most expensive car brands
The title of the richest car in the world goes to the Rolls-Royce Boat Tail, with a price tag of $28 million. This one-of-a-kind masterpiece is a true testament to automotive luxury and exclusivity.
The 10 most expensive cars include the Rolls-Royce Boat Tail, Bugatti La Voiture Noire, Pagani Zonda HP Barchetta, Koenigsegg CCXR Trevita, Lamborghini Veneno Roadster, McLaren F1, Ferrari 250 GTO, Aston Martin DBR1, Pininfarina Battista, and Gordon Murray T.50.
The richest car brand in the world is Rolls-Royce. Known for their unparalleled luxury and craftsmanship, Rolls-Royce cars are a symbol of wealth and prestige. However, some other most notable luxury car brands that consistently rank among the richest include Bugatti, Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Mercedes-Benz.
One notable car enthusiast is the Sultan of Brunei, who is rumored to own over 5,000 cars, including rare and exotic models from various luxury car brands. Other notable car collectors include Jay Leno, Ralph Lauren, and the late Sheikh Hamad bin Hamdan Al Nahyan of the UAE.
