- Cristiano Ronaldo’s representation has denied he is the secret buyer of a $12.5 million one-of-a-kind Bugatti, as previously reported by the European media.
- The purchase was not confirmed by Bugatti, and the 260-mph car will not join its new owner until 2021 at the earliest as the manufacturer still needs to apply finishing touches to the vehicle.
- Ronaldo is one of the richest athletes on the planet, according to Forbes.
- You can see the Bugatti, named “La Voiture Noire,” or “The Black Car,” below.
- Visit Business Insider’s home page for more stories.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s representation has denied that he bought the one-of-a-kind Bugatti worth $12.5 million.
As a big-game player on a $35-million-a-year contract, Ronaldo clearly has money to spend – but reports in Italy’s Sky Sport, Spain’s Marca, and the Daily Mail that suggest the 34-year-old bought the “most expensive” car on the planet have been robustly rejected by a spokeswoman, who told Business Insider the reports are “entirely false” and that “he has not bought the car.”
The motor was unveiled at this year’s Geneva Motor Show.
It has an 8.0-liter turbocharged W16 engine capable of taking its driver to speeds as high as 260 mph.
Only one model has been built, and it was inspired by the four iconic Type 57 SC Atlantic models that Bugatti made from 1936 to 1938.
The new model, "La Voiture Noire," which means "The Black Car," has been built to commemorate the 110th anniversary of the luxury car firm.
It comes with a price tag of 11 million euros, according to Marca, or $12.5 million, reportedly making it the most expensive car sold.
Here's a look at the car:
Marca reports that Bugatti has not confirmed the buyer, and the driver will not be able to actually get their hands on it until 2021, when the final touches will be complete.
Though Ronaldo is not the new owner, he did recently purchase a bright white Rolls-Royce Cullinan reportedly worth $360,000 earlier this year, an SUV that was added to a collection that included a Bentley, a Porsche, and a Ferrari.
As this Business Insider list shows, it is not just cars he likes to buy, as Ronaldo also spends his money on expensive suits, $20,200 Tag Heuer watches, and incredible properties around the world.
He made his fortune because of his exemplary soccer skills and is able to fund his shopping sprees because he was named the third-best-paid athlete on the planet in 2018, according to Forbes.
It was estimated that Ronaldo banked $61 million from his playing career in 2018 and earned a further $47 million through endorsements from blue-chip companies like Tag Heuer, Herbalife, and Nike.
He remains critical to Juventus' success on and off the field, and played in helping the team win the Supercoppa Italiana earlier this year, together with the 2018-2019 Serie A championship.
Juventus is next in action against its local rival Torino on Friday.
