Record $40 Million Sale of Ferrari’s First Electric Model Highlights Philanthropic Motive

At an RM Sotheby’s auction during Monterey Car Week, the Ferrari Luce “Chassis 0” fetched a hammer price of $40 million, establishing a world record for the most expensive brand-new car sold at auction. The buyer’s premium was waived, and the price eclipsed the previous high of $26 million paid for a one-off Ferrari Daytona SP3 sold the year before.

This Is The Billionaire Who Dropped $40 Million On Ferrari’s First EV Ferrari’s Luce EV fetches $40M at auctionMILAN, Italy — Ferrari has sold at auction a one-off, bespoke version of the Luce, its first fully electric vehicle (EV), for $40 million, the Italian luxury s Herbert Wertheim and the Record-Breaking Ferrari Luce Herbert Wertheim Net Worth The Guy Who Spent $40 Million On The Luce Is A Red Fedora-Wearing Inventor

“Chassis 0” is the first production chassis of Ferrari’s inaugural battery-electric model, the Luce. Treated as a Tailor Made one-off by Ferrari’s design centre, the car carries an estimated manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $1.1 million, meaning the auction price was more than 36 times that amount.

This Is The Billionaire Who Dropped $40 Million On Ferrari’s First EV Ferrari’s Luce EV fetches $40M at auctionMILAN, Italy — Ferrari has sold at auction a one-off, bespoke version of the Luce, its first fully electric vehicle (EV), for $40 million, the Italian luxury s Herbert Wertheim and the Record-Breaking Ferrari Luce Herbert Wertheim Net Worth The Guy Who Spent $40 Million On The Luce Is A Red Fedora-Wearing Inventor

Herbert “Herbie” Wertheim was born on May 23 1939 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After enlisting in the U.S. Navy at 17, he pursued studies in physics, chemistry, and optometry, eventually founding Brain Power Inc., a leading manufacturer of optical-tint and lens-care products. Wertheim built his fortune through long-term investments in public companies such as Apple, Microsoft, and aerospace-parts maker Heico.

Herbert Wertheim Net Worth

A signatory of the Giving Pledge, Wertheim and his former wife Nicole committed to donating the majority of their wealth. Their philanthropic record includes:

The Guy Who Spent $40 Million On The Luce Is A Red Fedora-Wearing Inventor

• $100 million to Baptist Health South Florida for cancer research and treatment.

Herbert Wertheim Net Worth

• $100 million to the University of Florida.

Herbert Wertheim Net Worth

• $50 million to the University of California, Berkeley’s School of Optometry & Vision Science.

Herbert Wertheim Net Worth

• $65 million to Florida International University.

Herbert Wertheim Net Worth

• $50 million + pledged to the Ferrari Foundation for education initiatives.

Ferrari’s Luce EV fetches $40M at auctionMILAN, Italy — Ferrari has sold at auction a one-off, bespoke version of the Luce, its first fully electric vehicle (EV), for $40 million, the Italian luxury s

All proceeds from the Luce auction were directed to the Ferrari Foundation, which the automaker said would use the funds to support education projects and scholarships for young talent. The foundation’s recent activity includes backing the rebuilding of the Aveson Charter School in Altadena, California.

The Guy Who Spent $40 Million On The Luce Is A Red Fedora-Wearing Inventor

The foundation’s broader remit emphasizes educational outreach, aligning with Wertheim’s long-standing focus on university endowments.

The Guy Who Spent $40 Million On The Luce Is A Red Fedora-Wearing Inventor

• Hammer price: $40 million (buyer’s premium waived).

Herbert Wertheim Net Worth

• Estimated MSRP of “Chassis 0”: $1.1 million.

This Is The Billionaire Who Dropped $40 Million On Ferrari’s First EV

• Purchase price represents a >36-fold premium over MSRP.

Ferrari’s Luce EV fetches $40M at auctionMILAN, Italy — Ferrari has sold at auction a one-off, bespoke version of the Luce, its first fully electric vehicle (EV), for $40 million, the Italian luxury s

• Prior record for a new car at auction: $26 million for a one-off Daytona SP3, also bought by Wertheim.

Herbert Wertheim Net Worth

The transaction illustrates how collectors are valuing inaugural electric-vehicle models from historic marques, treating first-production examples as cultural milestones comparable to classic Ferraris. It also demonstrates a model in which ultra-high-net-worth individuals channel conspicuous luxury purchases into charitable giving, potentially shaping future auction strategies for emerging EV hypercars.

This Is The Billionaire Who Dropped $40 Million On Ferrari’s First EV

After a temporary return to Italy, “Chassis 0” is slated for delivery beginning in 2027, at which point the Ferrari Foundation will begin allocating the donated funds to its education programmes.

This Is The Billionaire Who Dropped $40 Million On Ferrari’s First EV

“You know, being a billionaire is not so easy. I’m serious when I say that. If you have a billion dollars, you have to figure out some way to give away $100 million 10 times. If you have 4 or 5 billion, you have to figure out 50 times how to give away $100 million. And to do it sensibly and with good judgment,” — Meet Dr. Herbert Wertheim

The Guy Who Spent $40 Million On The Luce Is A Red Fedora-Wearing Inventor