25 Insanely Expensive Cars Driven by Star Athletes
If you’ve ever wondered how an athlete can spend tens of millions of dollars, we have one idea: cars. The most car-obsessed sports stars start building their collections early and never stop. You will see showcases at any NFL training camp, MLB Spring Training, and wherever else athletes congregate in warm weather.
Naturally, you’ll see exotic cars that are impossible to find, and you’ll definitely come across customized models that stretch the bounds of good taste. But you have to spend the money somehow, we suppose. Here are 25 of the most expensive cars star athletes showed off over the years.
1. Robinson Cano: Ferrari 458 Italia

Baseball fans know seven-time All-Star Robinson Cano for his power at the plate and smoothness in the field. However, you may not be aware of his passion for exotic cars. Cano had MC Customs personalize a Ferrari 458 Italia for him in 2014. It features forged Vellano wheels and a gold “wet mirror” finish. No matter where you stand on the paint job, you have to admire the artistry on Cano’s Ferrari. With the additions, this car easily tops $300,000.
2. Antonio Brown: Rolls Royce Wraith

The Rolls Royce Wraith features a satellite-assisted transmission and the usual flourishes you expect from a car that costs $315,000. However, Antonio Brown took it to another level with the intergalactic themes of his custom-wrapped Wraith. Brown’s cars caused such a stir in Steelers training camp that Brandon Marshall made him a bet. Marshall promised Brown a Porsche if Brown finished with more receiving yards than Marshall. Should Marshall win, he’d get Brown’s Wraith. Almost one year later, Brown was still waiting on the payoff.
3. Joe Johnson: Ford F-650

If you needed to get your shipping business going, you might consider a Ford F-650 and a trailer. However, NBA sharpshooter Joe Johnson decided to extend a four-door model into an incredibly heavy truck for motoring around town. In addition to the massive size and enormous gas costs, the vehicle cost in the neighborhood of $200,000 to customize. An F-650 has a base price near $60,000.
4. Tom Brady: Audi R8

Future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady may not be as flashy as some other sports superstars, but he knows how to spend more than six figures on an automobile. Brady has been spotted arriving at events in a black Audi R8 that houses a V10 engine and starts at $162,900. At the 2008 New York Auto Show, he posed inside a red R8 during an Audi event.
5. Lionel Messi: Maserati Gran Turismo

Argentinian soccer sensation Lionel Messi showed some excellent taste in cars with his custom Maserati Gran Turismo MC Stradale. Priced at $150,000 new, Messi threw several thousand more into aftermarket tweaks. When he put the car up for sale in early 2017, Messi was asking $125,000 for the Maserati GT. His biggest fans would probably pay more.
6. LeBron James: Lamborghini Aventador

Lebron James’ car plans began with a Lamborghini Aventador and ended with a floral sneaker design. Rich B. Caliente, Lou La Vie, and Toys for Boys Miami finished it off with this wrap design commissioned by Nike for the release of the King James Legacy line. In the end, they created one expensive car ($670,000) appropriate for the NBA’s best player. LeBron’s car collecting pace seems to have slowed since his Kia sponsorship, but he has driven some memorable vehicles over the years.
7. Justin Verlander: Mercedes SLS AMG

On top of the $250,000 price tag, Mercedes made it tough for people who wanted to buy the SLS-AMG Black Series supercar in America. Only 200 models made it to the U.S. when it appeared in 2014. Fortunately for Justin Verlander, he was on the list. The star Tigers pitcher will earn over $200 million by the time he ends his MLB career, so the cost was certainly no issue here.
8. Serena Williams: Bentley Continental GT

As the greatest women’s tennis player, Serena Williams has won enough prize money to buy a fleet of the world’s most expensive cars. Bentley Continental GT, which starts at $198,500, represents a nice start to any collection of pricey vehicles. The W12 engine produces up to 581 horsepower and propels the GT to 60 miles per hour in 4.3 seconds — nowhere near the speed of a Williams serve, but still great for a car.
9. Henrik Lundqvist: Lamborghini Gallardo

New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist makes the style pages almost as frequently as the sports section. Apparently, he takes that approach to his cars as well. Lundqvist had Proformance customize his Lamborghini Gallardo, a 550 horsepower rocket from the iconic Italian brand, on multiple occasions. In 2013, the shop removed the Lamborghini badge from the back and replaced it with the hockey star’s last name.
10. Cristiano Ronaldo: Bugatti Chiron
Soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo has Bentleys, Ferraris, Porsches, and limited-edition Audis, but his most expensive ride may be the Bugatti Chiron, which runs buyers about $2.5 million. Ronaldo will get plenty for his investment, as Chiron is among the fastest cars ever made. In fact, Chiron will likely take No. 1 when it heads to the track for its speed test in 2018.
11. Floyd Mayweather: Koenigsegg CCXR Trevita

Only two examples of the Koenigsegg CCXR Trevita exist, and boxing legend Floyd Mayweather bought the only one made for the U.S. at the cost of $4.8 million. Trevita produces over 1,000 horsepower, hits 60 miles per hour in 2.9 seconds, and can flash to a top speed of over 240 miles per hour. Nonetheless, Mayweather put the rarest of supercars on the market in March 2017.
12. Odell Beckham Jr.: Mercedes-AMG CLS63

Odell Beckham Jr. clearly has a thing for six-figure cars. The New York Giants receiver owns a Rolls Royce Phantom ($417,825) and a Mercedes-AMG CLS 63 coupe ($109,825). West Coast Customs gave his AMG the treatment in 2016, and Beckham obliged by posing for this photo on the shop’s Twitter account. Underneath the custom flourishes is a V8 biturbo engine capable of 577 horsepower.
13. J.R. Smith: Gurkha

J.R. Smith is known for his capacity to grab headlines, and the shooting guard did just that when he drove around New York’s Meatpacking District in a Gurkha armored vehicle. Usually deployed as a vehicle for combat situations, the monstrous utility model runs civilian buyers about $300,000. Smith probably just needed a ride to get himself to and from the club safely. His coach would probably approve.
14. Yoenis Cespedes: Alfa Romeo 8C

Ballplayers naturally have a competitive streak in them, and Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes challenged himself to drive a different exotic car to Spring Training camp every day of the week. One of our favorites of the Cepsedes collection is his Alfa Romeo 4C Competizione. This one debuted in limited edition in the U.S. back in 2008 and runs buyers about $250,000 these days.
15. Maria Sharapova: Porsche 911 Cabriolet

As a brand ambassador for Porsche, Maria Sharapova takes photographs with many different models. However, the one she drives out of her home in California is the Porsche 911 S Cabriolet. Originally the prize of a tennis tournament sponsored by the automaker in Germany, the 911 got Sharapova off SUVs and turned her into a die-hard fan of the brand, she told Vanity Fair. If she had to pay for one, the 911 Cabriolet would have cost the tennis star about $200,000 before options.
16. David Beckham: Rolls Royce Phantom Drophead

Soccer star David Beckham caused a stir in L.A. driving his custom Rolls Royce Phantom Drophead while kicking the ball around for the Galaxy. Beckham added many personal flourishes to the convertible during the brief time he owned it. When it was time for an upgrade, he had agents put it on the market for $390,000. It had fewer than 6,000 miles on it at the time.
17. Kobe Bryant: Ferrari F430

Lakers star and all-time NBA great Kobe Bryant put together an impressive car collection while he was winning rings, and we expect that trend will continue in retirement. Though he owns a pricey Bentley and Range Rover, he seemed most excited talking about his Ferrari 360 Modena when he broke down his car collection in an interview with Charlie Rose. The road-going convertible ran buyers $300,000 in the highest trim, which we assume Bryant selected.
18. Felix Hernandez: Nissan GT-R
Mariners star pitcher Felix Hernandez has a Cy Young Award and a perfect game on his resume, and he has some crazy expensive cars as well. In a little photo shoot with the crew from MC Customs, King Felix showed off his Range Rover and Nissan GT-R ($174,990 before extras for Nismo model) that got the special treatment. We love the stripped-down look and understated paint job on this 565 horsepower rocket.
19. Derrick Rose: Bentley Mulsanne

Former Bulls franchise face Derrick Rose may have been unlucky with injuries during his NBA career, but he has been very successful in collecting cars. Rose bought a Maserati Gran Turismo early in his career and later moved on a Bentley Mulsanne ($303,000). Outside of driving a mid-six-figure car, Rose’s shoveling session proved he’s just like us — except for the part where he left his Bentley in the middle of a parking lot during a snowstorm.
20. John Cena: Custom Corvette

John Cena’s taste for cars skews toward classic muscle machines, but he is not above customizing a Chevy Corvette to make a splash. The wrestling superstar had Parker Brothers Concepts whip up this beast called the InCENArator for the celebrity Gumball 3000 rally. It all began with a wrecked ‘Vette chassis, so we’re guessing it cost at least $200,000 if it cost anything.
21. Reggie Bush: 1967 Ford Shelby Mustang

USC and NFL star Reggie Bush got his muscle car fix when he bought this 1967 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500. Over the years, more than $800,000 of work went into making this beauty a true work of art and “Eleanor tribute.” Fortunately, those who simply must have this car actually can have it: Bush’s Shelby is up for sale at $325,000. Get it while it’s hot.
22. Bubba Watson: Cadillac LaSalle C-Hawk Roadster

PGA veteran Bubba Watson isn’t just a car enthusiast. Since he bought a Chevy dealership in 2016, he’s literally in the car business. As far as his collection goes, he once bought the actual General Lee Dodge Charger used in “The Dukes of Hazzard” and owned a custom Cadillac C-Hawk Roadster from 1939. This car put bidders into a frenzy in 2015, when Watson auctioned it off for charity. It fetched $410,000 at Barrett-Jackson.
23. Aroldis Chapman: Lamborghini Murciélago

Hard-throwing closer Aroldis Chapman went from the Reds to the Yankees to the Cubs in 2016, and his season ended with a World Series win in Chicago. Judging by his past car purchases, we’re guessing the Cuban Missile celebrated with a new ride. In 2011, Chapman had MC Customs do a number on his Lamborghini Murciélago LP640. The “highly customized” model likely ran the car’s already insane price ($382,000) closer to half a million.
24. Brandon Marshall: Porsche 911 GT3

Does Brandon Marshall actually own the Porsche 911 GT3 he bet Antonio Brown in 2016? Marshall’s very public challenge, which put this Porsche on the line for Brown’s Rolls Royce, may have been offered without the title. The 911 in question, which starts at $143,600, was a promotional model for the partnership between Porsche and the New York Jets. To complicate things, Brown signed with the Giants in 2017. Brown said he does not care about the car and suggested Marshall donate $100,000 to his charity instead.
25. Mario Balotelli: Bentley Continental

Italian football star Mario Balotelli definitely marches to the beat of a custom drum, and he made that clear when he wrapped a Bentley Continental in camouflage. With a starting price topping $200,000 before any options, you can bet Super Mario paid a hefty sum to make his Continental just so.