These celebrities are banned from buying a Ferrari
From its inception until this very day, every car that has been made by Ferrari has been in high demand. So it is little wonder that the supercar manufacturer from Maranello, Italy has the power to choose who buys its cars.
Quite extraordinary, if you ask me. But that is the reality for a brand that puts image and prestige above all else.
Believe it or not, Ferrari actually maintains a list of famous individuals who are prohibited from buying its cars. Here are some of the big names on that list:
Justin Bieber
‘Beliebers’ will surely remember that the famous pop star once bought a Ferrari 458 Italia somewhere in 2011. He sent his car to West Coast Customs to get it wrapped in Electric Blue, and fitted with a Liberty Walk body kit and custom logos. That was his first strike.
After partying in Beverly Hills, Bieber actually lost his car for over three weeks. Shortly after it was found, the Baby singer auctioned it off for around $435,000 without Ferrari’s permission.
Floyd Mayweather Jr.
In similar fashion to Bieber, Mayweather Jr. was banned from buying a Ferrari because he violated Ferrari’s ownership rules and conditions that prohibit owners from selling their cars in the first year.
However, this is unlikely to be a huge problem for Mayweather Jr., as he is the world’s wealthiest boxer with a net worth of approximately $450 million to date. With that kind of moolah, he has access to many other luxury cars on the market – some might be even better than what Maranello has to offer.
Kim Kardashian
Whether it’s true or not that Kim Kardashian is banned from buying Ferrari is still unclear, but the story came to surface because she was seen driving a white Ferrari 458 Italia reportedly gifted by fugitive Malaysian businessman Jho Low.
Due to the negative publicity stemming from the 1MDB scandal, Kim Kardashian’s name is said to have been added to an unofficial list of individuals prohibited from buying a Ferrari.
Deadmau5
Some 10 years ago, Canadian EDM artist Joel Zimmerman, famously known as Deadmau5, wrapped his Ferrari 458 Spider with a Nyan Cat livery. He also replaced the brand’s horse logo with a cat logo and changed the ‘Ferrari’ lettering to ‘Purrari’.
Not only that, Zimmerman also sold the car through Craigslist less than a year after owning it. As you might expect, this angered Ferrari, which subsequently sent a cease and desist letter to Zimmerman.
Tyga
According to reports, Tyga once leased a Rolls-Royce Ghost and a Ferrari 458 Spider around 2016. However, the famous rap singer reportedly failed to make payments before the leasing agreement expired, resulting in the repossession of both cars.
As if that’s not bad enough, the company who leased out both cars took Tyga to court to sue the rapper for the unpaid fee said to be around hundreds of thousands of dollars. Needless to say, the whole debacle did not impress Ferrari.
50 Cent
Another rap star who ‘successfully’ put his name on Ferrari’s blacklist is 50 Cent, also known as Curtis Jackson. In 2020, Jackson took to social media to complain about his Ferrari 488 that wouldn’t start due to a dead battery.
In the post, Jackson said he didn’t want the car anymore and would replace it with a smart car. Bad publicity such as this will put you in Ferrari’s bad books.
Chris Harris
Those who do not follow the automotive sector may not have the slightest idea who Chris Harris is, but in the world of cars, Harris is considered an esteemed journalist.
The dispute between Harris and Ferrari stemmed from an article titled ‘How Ferrari Spins,’ published on the Jalopnik website in 2011. In the article, Harris claimed that Ferrari modified their test cars to ensure they receive outstanding scores in magazine performance tests.
