Bugatti La Voiture Noire: why this supercar costs $19 million and who owns it

When it comes to the most expensive cars in the world, the first thing that comes to mind is Bugatti is a brand that has been associated with luxury, speed and exclusivity for decades. But even against the background of other models of the brand it stands out Bugatti La Voiture Noire - a unique supercar, the cost of which exceeds $19 million. This is not just a car, but a work of art on wheels, combining advanced technology, hand assembly and historical heritage.

In this article we will look at why exactly La Voiture Noire considered the most expensive car in the world (as of 2026), who is its proud owner, and what technical innovations are hidden under its carbon body. You will also learn about other record holders among supercars, the history of the brand Bugatti, and why such cars are becoming not so much a means of transportation, but an investment asset.

Why Bugatti La Voiture Noire costs $19 million: 5 key reasons

Price in $18.68 million (official price at the time of sale in 2019) makes La Voiture Noire absolute record holder among production cars. But what exactly justifies such a price tag? Here are the main factors:

• 🏆 Uniqueness: this is the only copy in the world. Even among limited series Bugatti (for example, Divo or Centaodieci, released in an edition of 40 pieces) La Voiture Noire stands apart.
• 🎨 Design: body in the style of the legendary Bugatti Type 57 SC Atlantic (1930s), but with modern aerodynamic solutions. Every detail is worked by hand.
• 🔧 Technical stuffing: 8.0 liter W16 engine with four turbines, developing 1500 hp - same as Chiron Super Sport 300+, but with a unique setting.
• ⏱️ Manual assembly: it took more than one copy to create 2.5 years. For comparison: standard Chiron harvested in 6–8 months.
• 💎 Materials: Carbon fiber body, hand-stitched leather interior, titanium and aluminum parts. Even the headlights are inlaid with sapphire crystal.

It's interesting that initially Bugatti estimated the car at €11 million (about $12.5 million at the 2019 exchange rate), but the final price after the auction was $18.68 million. It's on 30% higherthan the previous record holder - Rolls-Royce Sweptail ($13 million).

Who is the owner of Bugatti La Voiture Noire? The billionaire's secret

Officially Bugatti does not disclose the name of the buyer, but the press is actively discussing the version that it is Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese footballer is known for his love of luxury cars - he already has one in his collection Bugatti Chiron, Ferrari Monza SP2 and Lamborghini Aventador. However, there are other candidates:

• 👔 Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan - Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE and owner Manchester City. There are rare ones in his garage Koenigsegg and Pagani.
• 💼 Tim Shen - Chinese billionaire, supercar collector. He owns Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse with a unique finish.
• 🎵 Drake is a Canadian rapper who has repeatedly boasted of rare cars in his videos, including Bugatti.

According to Forbes, the deal was concluded through a private auction, and the new owner received the car only in 2023 — the process of assembly and modifications to suit individual wishes was so long. At the same time Bugatti was obliged to maintain confidentiality, so there are still no official photos of the car in the hands of the owner.

It is worth noting that buying such a car is not only a matter of status, but also financial strategy. Over the past 10 years, rare supercars have seen their value increase by 20–40% per year, which is comparable to investing in art or wine.

Technical specifications: what's hiding under the hood?

Bugatti La Voiture Noire built on the basis Chiron, but with a number of unique modifications. Here are the key parameters:

The cooling system deserves special attention: due to the extreme engine power La Voiture Noire equipped 10 radiators (versus 7 for the standard Chiron). The car also received:

• 🛡️ Active aerodynamics: The front splitter and rear wing automatically adjust the angle of attack depending on the speed.
• 🔋 Hybrid recovery system: Although it's not a full hybrid, some of the braking energy is returned to the battery to power the onboard electronics.
• 🎛️ Adaptive suspension: magnetic shock absorbers with the ability to manually adjust stiffness.

Interestingly, despite the record price, La Voiture Noire is not the fastest model Bugatti. The title of the fastest production car belongs to Chiron Super Sport 300+, accelerated to 490.48 km/h on tests in 2019.

The history of the Bugatti brand: from racing to record-breaking supercars

Company Bugatti was founded in 1909 Italian Ettore Bugatti in the French city of Molsheim. Initially, the brand specialized in racing cars, and only then moved on to luxury cars for public figures. Here are the key milestones in the story:

• 🏁 1920s: Bugatti Type 35 won more than 2000 races, including Grand Prix. It is the most successful racing car in history.
• 💎 1930s: release of the legendary Type 57 SC Atlantic - one of the most beautiful cars of the 20th century (only 4 copies have survived).
• 🔄 1990s: the brand was reborn under the wing Volkswagen Group and released EB 110 - the first supercar with an engine V12 and four turbines.
• 🚀 2005: debut Veyron - the first production car to pass the milestone 400 km/h.
• 💰 2019: sale La Voiture Noire for a record $19 million.

Today Bugatti owned by a conglomerate Rimac Automobili (Croatia), but production is still carried out in France. It's interesting that every car Bugatti taking a test on a fast track Ehra-Lessien (Germany), where not only the dynamics are checked, but also acoustic comfort — The engine sound is manually adjusted.

Top 5 most expensive cars in the world: Bugatti competitors

Although La Voiture Noire holds the palm, there are other supercars on the market with prices over $10 million. Here are the five most expensive (as of 2026):

It is important to understand that prices for such cars are often unofficial. For example, Mercedes-Maybach Exelero initially cost $8 million, but after the death of the owner (American tycoon Gina Kelly) was sold at auction for $11 million. A similar situation with Ferrari 250 GTO 1962 - in 2018 it went under the hammer for $70 million, although the original price was several times lower.

Hire a personal driver with experience driving hypercars|Take out insurance with coverage for $20+ million|Store the car in a climate-controlled hangar|Regularly service it at an authorized dealer (every 5,000 km)|Do not talk about the purchase on social networks (risk of theft)-->

Is it possible to buy a Bugatti La Voiture Noire today?

No. La Voiture Noire - this is single copy, and it's already sold. However, other rare models sometimes appear on the secondary market Bugatti, which can be considered alternatives:

• 🔥 Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ — $3.9 million (maximum speed 490 km/h).
• 💎 Bugatti Divo — $5.8 million (circulation of 40 pieces, focus on handling).
• 🏆 Bugatti Bolide — $4.7 million (track hypercar, weight only 1240 kg).

If you are interested in the investment component, experts recommend paying attention to:

1. Classic Bugatti 1920s–1930s (e.g. Type 41 Royale). Their price increases by 15–20% annually.
2. Limited editions of modern hypercars (for example, Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut or SSC Tuatara).
3. Concept cars, which Later became serial (for example, McLaren Speedtail).