The alleged ban revolves around the 2008 Bugatti Veyron 16.4, reappearing after a decade to seek a new owner, hopefully bringing more joy than it did to its original purchaser, Cowell.
Cowell’s acquisition of the Veyron in 2008, inspired by a visit to the Bugatti showroom in Beverly Hills, was met with both admiration and incredulity due to its extravagant price tag of $1.6 million. Despite initial skepticism, Cowell succumbed to the allure of the car, purchasing it on a friend’s encouragement.
Although Cowell expressed immense fondness for the Veyron during a subsequent interview, admitting to reaching speeds of 250 mph on Sunset Boulevard, his infatuation didn’t translate into frequent use. In the four years of ownership, he reportedly drove it only twice.
Subsequently, Cowell sold the Veyron at a profit in 2013, with a mere 1,300 miles on the odometer, prompting Bugatti’s ire and leading to his purported ban from purchasing their cars anew.
The Veyron, now part of RM Sotheby’s Dare to Dream Collection, is scheduled for auction on June 1, 2024. Notably, it boasts a rare “sinister triple black” paint job, setting it apart from other Veyrons.