When having a different car for every day of the month just isn’t enough
It’s quiet out on the automobile front with facilities having to shut down due to the pandemic. Announcements have been made: customers aren’t allowed to visit factories and delays are to be expected with regards to deliveries. On the news front, the spotlight has been turned to the existing cars on the market along with its owners.
It’s no secret that the wealthiest in Asia (and in particular, those in the Middle East) have a thing for speed. Think about the world’s top supercar brands – Bugatti, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and Pagani – and the people who own them.
For these elite members of society, it’s not simply enough that you’ve one of each model. For some, they require their cars’ body paint to have been customised in their favourite hue. And curious as we are, we’ve made it our mission to find out which billionaire entrepreneur or royal heir has the biggest collection of luxury and classic cars.
Mukesh Ambani
Country: India
Net worth: US$81.4 billion (S$112 billion)
Number of cars owned: 168
Mukesh Ambani is said to be the richest man in Asia, and the fifth richest man in the world. He also lives in what’s said to be the world’s most expensive private residence, though with numerous superlatives attached to each ‘most expensive’ item, we can’t say we know what’s qualifies anymore.
Where exactly would he park his vehicles, you ask. Well, you’ll find them neatly parked in the first six storeys of his castle in the sky. The collection includes a staple of ‘household’ cars including the Rolls-Royce Phantom, Cullinan, Mercedes-Maybach 660 Guard, Bentley Bentayga and Continental Flying Spur. Now, you’d have thought that the Phantom would be the most prized possession, but you’re wrong. The badge of honour goes to the BMW 760i, which has been customised (and armoured), said to be worth US$1.4 million (S$1.93 million).
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah
Country: Brunei
Net worth: US$28 billion (S$38.62 billion)
Number of cars owned: ~7,000
How many years would it take for Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah to drive all his cars, assuming he drove a different one each day? 19. That’s right, I’d have been born and graduated from junior college, and the Sultan of Brunei would still have another year to go before being able to complete his round.
Does he have a passion for life in the fast lane? You bet. His precious car collection is said to be worth a whopping US$4 billion (S$5.52 billion). In his heyday, he reportedly broke ‘royal protocol’ and raced with his brother Prince Jefri in one of their supercars, no less. For those who attended the Fullerton Concours d’Elegance in 2019, you’d have seen some of his cars on display. Word is on the street that the Sultan owns only right-hand drive Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR in the world.
Hamad bin Hamdan Al Nahyan
Country: UAE
Net worth: US$20 billion (S$27.5 billion)
Number of cars owned: > 200
Colours of the rainbow make most people happy, and Sheikh Hamad Bin Hamdan is no exception. But he has taken his love for colours further by purchasing not one, but seven Mercedes-Benz S-Classes, each in a different hue. Yep, that’s where the nickname Rainbow Sheikh comes from.
Now, it’s not known exactly how many cars he has. What we do know is that 200 of them are stored in a specially-built metallic pyramid. Sounds familiar? The pyramid is actually called the Emirates National Auto Museum. Yep, his personal collection actually serves as a national automobile museum. Not many can lay claim to this.
Supercar lovers shouldn’t bother purchasing an entry ticket, because you’ll be left high and dry here. The Sheikh prefers collecting classic and eccentric models, from Mini Coopers to a Dodge Power Wagon, and even an NYPD police car.
Khalid Abdul Rahim
Country: Bahrain
Net worth: US$6.2 billion (S$8.55 billion)
Number of cars owned: Unknown, but we’re betting it’s in the high-three-to-low-four digit range
Here’s how he started his car collection. Bahrain’s construction magnate Khalid Abdul Rahim, wanted a Ferrari Enzo. Given that his company built the Abu Dhabi Formula 1 and Bahrain International circuits, procuring one wasn’t the least bit difficult. He made a call to a supercar dealer Romans International, and within minutes, he was a proud new owner of said Ferrari Enzo. The end. If only all issues in life could be solved that easily, but that’s another story altogether.
Like most on this list, save for Sheikh Hamad, Khalid prefers modern, high-performance cars. Some of those in his stable include a Lamborghini Miura, Porsche GT1, and – like Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah – a Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR.
Turki bin Abdullah Al Saud
Country: Saudi Arabia
Net worth: Unknown
Number of cars owned: Unknown
Little is known about his net worth or assets, but one can be sure that they are far from modest. After all, Turki bin Abdullah Al Saud is best known for his fleet of golden chrome-wrapped supercars, having flown them to numerous countries for many a joyride.
And if that isn’t ostentatious enough, he has also been photographed on numerous occasions, with his pet cheetah riding shotgun. Apart from his love for supercars (his collection includes a Lamborghini Aventador SuperVeloce worth more than half a million dollars), you’ll also see him cruising around in a custom Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG 6×6.
