Ferrari is one of those companies that isn’t afraid to discriminate among its VIP customers. You could be the Prince of Persia with billions of dollars at your disposal, but if Ferrari thinks you’re unworthy, then you won’t get invited to own their newest, baddest car. That’s just the way it works. The “VIP list” gives Ferrari a sense of power over almost anyone in the world.
You can’t just go out and buy the newest Ferrari. A used one, sure. But something like the LaFerrari Aperta, of which only 200 exist, you have to be on their special list. They have to invite you. Many celebrities are on that list, of course, but also people you wouldn’t expect.
There have also been people who have been kicked off the list for angering Ferrari, getting too many traffic citations in their cars, or for seemingly no reason at all.
Here are 5 celebs that Ferrari doesn’t allow in their showrooms anymore, and 10 VIPs they allow and love.
15. Allows: Lewis Hamilton (F1 Driver)
Lewis Hamilton is the third man ever to win five F1 World Championships, and he races for Ferrari, so it makes sense that he would be a VIP in their eyes. Hamilton has 15 cars in his collection, including a Ferrari 599 SA Aperta, a LaFerrari, and a LaFerrari Aperta—three of the coolest Ferraris in existence that requires special membership to even own.
He hopes to one day own a Ferrari 250GT California Spyder. He keeps his Ferraris well cared for, by towing them home after driving them around.
14. Allows: John Cena (Wrestler/Actor)
John Cena might be a big tough wrestler and actor, but on the inside, he’s a bit of a geek, especially when it comes to cars.
He owns several Ferraris, including a 360 Spider and an F430 Spider. His F430 has a gated manual transmission, which is unique (as opposed to a dual-clutch automatic), and he reportedly likes to drive his Ferraris in the rain. With his fame and celebrity status, it’s a win-win for Ferrari to make him a VIP member, as he’s naturally good publicity.
13. Doesn’t Allow: Deadmau5 (“Purrari” 458 Italia)
Deadmau5 is such a popular DJ that he thought he could pull any stunt he wanted without repercussions, but Ferrari didn’t agree. The company doesn’t like crazy creative changes to their perfect vehicles, and Deadmau5’s is one of the craziest.
His “Purrari” 458 Italia was wrapped in custom badges and bright blue and rainbow colors, before a cease and desist letter forced him to remove the badges. He probably won’t be on Ferrari’s VIP list in the future for pulling a stunt like that.
12. Allows: Sammy Hagar (Musician)
Sammy Hagar might be known as the Red Rocker, but the Eddie Van Halen lead singer actually chose a white LaFerrari Aperta.
He was one of the privileged 200 people invited to purchase the rare supercar, and he said, “I’m the ‘red rocker’ and everything, and I got enough red things, you know? It’s cream and black, and I call it my cappuccino.” His lyrics from “I Can’t Drive 55” is also a tribute to his love for Ferraris (and all things fast).
11. Allows: Eric Clapton (Musician)
Eric Clapton isn’t just a Ferrari VIP, but he’s even had a Ferrari custom-made for himself – at the cost of $4.7 million!
He’s famously featured his silver 365 GT4 BB on the inside cover of his album Slowhand. He’s owned multiple Berlinetta Boxers, and his Ferrari “SP12 EC” one-off vehicle, which was built in a collaboration by Ferrari’s Centro Stile and Pininfarina, is a celebration of his music career, his love for Ferraris, and a tribute to the Berlinetta Boxers of old (both the 365 and 512).
10. Doesn’t Allow: Justin Bieber (Ferrari 458 Liberty Walk)
There are a few strikes on the pop sensation’s Ferrari record.
First off, Justin Bieber doesn’t have the best driving record in general, which doesn’t bode well with Ferrari. Plus, he also famously lost his blue Ferrari 458 Italia “Liberty Walk” while out partying. It took his assistant three weeks to track it down. He’s also gotten parking tickets and rear ended in his red 458. Even though the deep blue West Coast Customs Ferrari looks cool, Ferrari doesn’t like the flashy blue wheels and over-the-top hue.
9. Allows: Ralph Lauren (Fashion Mogul)
Ralph Lauren has one of the most epic car collections in the world, without a doubt. His garage and collection is worth over $300 million! Included in that collection are some of the rarest Ferraris in existence: a 1960 Ferrari 250GT SW Berlinetta Scaglietti; a 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB N.A.R.T. Spyder (one sold at auction in 2013 for $27.5 million); a 1958 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa Spyder (one sold at auction in 2011 for $16.4 million); a 1954 Ferrari 375 Plus; and the biggest prize and most expensive car in the world, a 1964 Ferrari 250 GTO, which most recently sold in 2018 for $70 million—the most ever for a car in existence.
8. Allows: Lapo Elkann (Fiat Heir)
Lapo Elkann might do some crazy modifications to his Ferraris (like putting on a camouflage wrap on his 458 Italia, or a double-blue off-color paintjob), but he’s allowed to because he’s one of the heirs of Fiat Automobiles.
FCA (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V.) owns 90% of Ferrari, as of 1988, so Elkann can basically do what he wants with any Ferrari he owns. He’s also related to Gianni Agnelli, who was one of the principal shareholders of Fiat, and in life controlled 4.4% of Italy’s GDP, 3.1% of its industrial workforce, and 16.5% of its industrial investment in research!
7. Doesn’t Allow: Tyga (Modded Ferrari California)
Tyga is another young man who made the mistake of pimping out his Ferrari, ill-advisedly. His $200,000 Ferrari California was modded with Ashanti Wheels and a West Coast Customs wrap. But worse than that, the rapper had his Ferrari repossessed in 2016 while he was out with Kylie Jenner.
It doesn’t matter how rich you are, if you fail to make payments, repos happen—and Ferrari doesn’t like that one bit. What are the odds, you think, that he’ll be on Ferrari’s VIP list going forward?
6. Allows: Gordon Ramsay (Chef)
Gordon Ramsay might be known for his hot temper and his memes—or his culinary skills and Michelin-star restaurants, but he’s also one of the top 21 earning celebrities in the world. He can buy whatever he wants, including Ferraris, which he loves.
He’s very outspoken about his love for Ferraris and was invited to purchase a LaFerrari Aperta from the initial run of 200. He’s also owned a F12tdf, a California T, a LaFerrari, and a beautiful 812 Superfast.
5. Allows: Mike Tyson (Boxer)
The former heavyweight boxing champion of the world might be a little less relevant than he used to be these days, but he’s still a big name and a huge celebrity. He once admitted to not knowing what to do with is money, and he spent $2 million on a tiger, a bathtub, and owned 110 cars.
The crown jewel of his car collection was his rare Ferrari F50, which he eventually sold for $2.5 million. But it put him in good standing with the company, especially since he only put 4,900 miles on it and kept the car in pristine condition.
4. Doesn’t Allow: The Game (Customized Ferrari F430)
The Game is a legendary rapper, but Ferrari doesn’t give a hoot about that. They’ve turned down princes and billionaires before, for Pete’s sake.
The Game spent $200,000 on a beautiful F430 Ferrari, and then went off and gave it a unique, crummy leather exterior. His lawyer probably should have advised him that not only would Ferrari not like that, but leather on the EXTERIOR of a car just looks bad, no matter what you’re driving. He ruined a perfectly good supercar doing this.
3. Allows: Chris Evans (Top Gear Host)
Chris Evans might give Ralph Lauren a run for his money in terms of Ferrari ownership. His collection is truly awe inspiring, with cars like the 275 GTB, GT Lusso, 458 Speciale, 250 GTO, 250, TR61, 365 GTS, 599, and one of his favorites, the 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California. The car is valued at more than $7 million (still less than some of the others), and was once owned by Steve McQueen.
He also owns a LaFerrari that he gave five fans a ride in during a Top Gear test race for a $1,700 fee (donated to a local charity).
2. Allows: Sebastian Vettel (F1 Driver)
Ferrari’s number one driver is obviously a VIP in the company’s eyes. He has a permanent spot on the list, as far as anyone is concerned.
The four-time world champion owns several of his sponsor’s cars, including an F430 and a California. He almost got in trouble when a leaked YouTube video from 2014 showed him reaching in excess of 200 mph in his F12 on a deserted highway in Abu Dhabi, but he survived that publicity nightmare.
1. Doesn’t Allow: Blac Chyna (Pink Ferrari California)
Blac Chyna might be going out with a guy named Ferrari (Ferrari Tru), but that doesn’t mean the namesake company wants her in their showrooms. She painted her first Ferrari, a California, bright pink, which is one of Ferrari’s most hated colors.
She also recently bought a 458 Italia and ruined the beautiful white paint job with flashy, hot red wheels. Nicki Minaj also teased Chyna about racing her hot pink Lamborghini against Chyna’s hot pink Ferrari.
Sources: dailymail.co.uk, ferrarilife.com, complex.com, caranddriver.com
