Celebrities are recognized for their extraordinary skills in singing, acting, and dancing or other talents. But dig deeper, and one may find they also have a niche interest. For instance, some have revealed in interviews what true motorheads they are. Celebrities like Ellen DeGeneres and Elton John own expensive, luxurious cars, from early-day classics to modern-day prototypes. While some drive them around as fashion accessories, others spend time tuning them or taking them to track.
Ellen DeGeneres
Besides being an exceptional television host, actress, and comedian, Ellen DeGeneres is a gearhead who owns several luxury cars, mainly from Porsche. Fans believe her inclination towards the brand is because it reads similar to her spouse’s name (Portia de Rossi). The Porsche Cayenne, Porsche Panamera, Porsche 993, Porsche 911 Turbo S, and Porsche 911 Carrera GTS are a few cars Ellen has owned. She also owns cars from other popular brands, like a Ferrari California, a Lamborghini Urus, a Mercedes-AMG GT, and a Land Rover Defender.
Ellen loves to drive her cars instead of being taken around by someone else. In an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in 2018, she said she loves going fast. She even exclaimed how she was once pulled over for doing 35 in a 30-mph zone. Well, rules are rules, even for Ellen.
Idris Elba
In 2013, the Emmy-winning actor hosted BBC’s King of Speed, a series in which he explored the local street racing scenes in different parts of the world. A few years later, in 2019, he played Brixton Lore, the antagonist in Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw, who rode a superbike to fulfill his mission. But Idris Elba is not just a motorhead on screen. The actor owns expensive rides like the Rolls Royce Phantom, Bentley Continental GT, Jaguar XE, and Ferrari 488 Spider.
Interestingly, Elba has also worked in the automobile sector. The actor is said to have served at the Ford Dagenham plant for a couple of years. It’s one reason why Ford Motor Co. picked him to partner with the launch of the Mustang Mach-E.
Rowan Atkinson
No, it’s not the yellow Mini! Rowan Atkinson, the award-winning actor known for his role as Mr. Bean, owns a 1939 BMW 328 Roadster, which is easily worth a million. Even a McLaren F1 sat in his garage for some time but was sold after he had a couple of mishaps with the car. Other rides part of Atikinson’s collection include a 1964 Ford Falcon, a 1952 Jaguar MK7, a 1986 Aston Martin V8 Zagato, a 1989 Lancia Delta HF Integrale, a 2002 Honda NSX, and a 1989 Lancia Thema 8.32.
Atkinson is so involved with the motoring world that he even proposed an alternative to lithium batteries. In an editorial article in The Guardian, he suggested saving ICE vehicles by using hydrogen as a fuel to tackle pollution.
Gordon Ramsay
Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay’s obsession with cars came to light in a 2002 Top Gear episode when he achieved a lap time of 1:50.0 in the Liana truck. In an interview with The Tufts Daily, Ramsay said, “I act on impulse and I go with my instincts.” And while he referred to a cooking show, one would think he applies the same logic to cars.
Ramsay’s garage has several luxury cars, including a Ferrari F12 Berlinetta, a Ferrari 550 Maranello, a Ferrari 812 Superfast, and a Ferrari California T. Another supercar in his collection is the McLaren Senna, a rare, pricey model with only 500 units in circulation. They are rarer rides too, like the Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta, which is one of 150 units.
Elton John
Music legend Elton John rose to popularity in the ’70s with hits like Rocket Man and Candle in the Wind. With fame came money, and a unique car collection. A 1956 Bentley S1 Continental Sport Saloon was among the first cars Elton owned. He is said to have modified this car in 1976, adding power steering, air-conditioning, and a proper stereo system, for his music, of course. The singer has also owned a 1987 Ferrari Testarossa, which was a 40th birthday gift from his record company, MCA.
Of all of Elton’s cars, the 1972 Ferrari Daytona 365 GTB/4 was perhaps the most exotic. It was one of just 158 UK-supplied Daytonas. As it appears, Elton always had a passion for classic cars, not just music.
Lady Gaga
Most fans know Lady Gaga as a singer-songwriter who is the voice behind songs like Shallow and Poker Face. Some even admire her work in films, such as for her character Harley in Joker: Folie à Deux. But acting and singing aside, Gaga has a penchant for collecting cars, especially the classics. She owns various brands and models like a 1965 Lincoln Continental Convertible, a 1967 Ford Mustang, a Bronco from the same year, a 1969 Chevy Nova SS, and a 1970 Chevrolet El Camino. One of her favorites is the Lamborghini Huracan, which sits at the luxurious end of her collection.
David Beckham
Born in London in 1975, David Beckham made a massive impact in soccer from a young age. But as it turns out, soccer isn’t the only thing he is passionate about. Beckham has an extravagant collection of cars, such as the Aston Martin V8 Volante and the 2015 Jaguar F-Type Project 7. All cars value hundreds of thousands of dollars or more, a testament that Beckham has an expensive taste and appreciation for fine automobiles.
