Bugatti La Voiture Noire: Production, Owner & Price

Bugatti’s La Voiture Noire, unveiled at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, is a one-off hypercar that pays homage to the lost Type 57SC Atlantic while shrouding its owner in secrecy. Priced at over $18.9 million, it is the most expensive new car ever built.

Units Produced: 1 ·
Price: $18.9 million (tax‑inclusive) ·
Engine: 8.0L quad‑turbo W16 ·
Power: 1,500 hp ·
Torque: 1,600 Nm

Six key specifications, one pattern: La Voiture Noire shares its core with the Chiron but adds a bespoke carbon‑fibre body that reinterprets the lost Atlantic.

How many Bugatti La Voiture Noire are there in the world?

Exactly one. Bugatti built a single example of the La Voiture Noire as a commission for an undisclosed enthusiast. According to Car and Driver (automotive news outlet), the car was a one‑off creation, not part of any limited series. That means there is precisely one La Voiture Noire in existence — no replicas, no homologation units, no second chassis.

Exact production run

• One‑off commission: Bugatti confirmed the car was built as a single, unique order.
• No plans for series production — it remains a singular design study.

The one‑off status

Being a one‑off means that every component — from the handmade carbon body to the unique taillight signature — exists only on this car. As MotorTrend (performance‑car magazine) noted, the car was “already sold to a Bugatti enthusiast who was fascinated by the Type 57SC Atlantic Coupe.”

The implication: For collectors, the rarity of this one-off ensures its status as a unique asset.

Who owns the Bugatti La Voiture Noire now?

Bugatti has never publicly named the buyer. The only official details came at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, where the company stated the car had been sold to a “Bugatti enthusiast.” Later reporting by DuPont Registry (luxury car market specialist) confirmed the car was delivered in 2021, but the owner’s identity remains confidential.

Original buyer rumour

• Cristiano Ronaldo speculation: Social media posts, especially on Instagram, have linked the footballer to the car, but no credible evidence supports this.
• No confirmation: ABC News reported that Bugatti declined to disclose the customer’s name, and no leak has been verified since.

Rumoured celebrity ownership

The Ronaldo theory persists because of an Instagram post showing a black hypercar in a garage that fans claim is the La Voiture Noire. However, Car and Driver and other outlets have not been able to confirm any association. The pattern: high‑value one‑offs often change hands privately, and the true owner may remain a mystery for years.

The pattern: Without official disclosure, the market for this hypercar remains opaque.

Which is the most expensive car in the world?

At its unveiling, La Voiture Noire was described by multiple outlets as “the most expensive new car ever built.” ABC News called it “the world’s most expensive new car,” citing the 16.7‑million‑euro sale price. But the title depends on how you define “most expensive.” Production cars like the Rolls‑Royce Boat Tail and the Ferrari 250 GTO have sold for more at auction, but no factory‑fresh hypercar ever carried a higher sticker.

Evaluated by retail price

• La Voiture Noire: $18.9 million (new, tax‑inclusive)
• Bugatti Centodieci: $9 million
• Rolls‑Royce Boat Tail: ≈$28 million (bespoke, not a standard model)

The catch: La Voiture Noire holds the record for a new car from a volume luxury brand. Custom coachbuilt models from Rolls‑Royce and others exceed it, but those are effectively art pieces.

The catch: While it holds the record for a new car, bespoke models from other brands can exceed its price.

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What is the real price of Bugatti La Voiture Noire?

The numbers vary depending on taxes and currency conversion. Car and Driver reported $12.5 million before taxes and $18.9 million after. MotorTrend specified the exact tax‑inclusive figure: $18,905,235. In euros, ABC News placed the sale at 16.7 million euros. The price is often rounded to $18.7 million in headlines, but the precise total is over $18.9 million.

Conversion to other currencies

• USD: $18,905,235
• EUR: €16.7 million
• GBP: ≈£14.3 million (at 2019 exchange rates)

Cost breakdown

The pre‑tax price of $12.5 million covered the car itself. The additional $6.4 million included taxes, shipping, and optional customization — a significant mark‑up that reflects the bespoke nature of the order. As Bugatti’s head of interior design, Etienne Salome, told ABC News, “We didn’t set out to create the most expensive car in the world. We set out to create something beautiful.”

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Which celebrity owns Bugatti La Voiture Noire?

No celebrity has been confirmed as the owner, despite intense speculation. The most persistent rumour links Cristiano Ronaldo to the car, fueled by Instagram fan accounts. However, Car and Driver and MotorTrend have found no evidence connecting the footballer to Bugatti’s exclusive customer database. Other names that have been floated include various Middle Eastern royalty and tech billionaires, but none have been substantiated.

Cristiano Ronaldo speculation

• Instagram posts: Multiple accounts have posted images of a black Bugatti with “CR7” insignia, but these are likely fan edits or other cars.
• Bugatti silence: Bugatti has explicitly declined to comment on any celebrity link.

Why it matters

The identity of the owner affects the car’s cultural cachet. A confirmed celebrity owner could increase the car’s market value by tens of millions and make it a pop‑culture icon. But without confirmation, the La Voiture Noire remains an artefact of automotive engineering first, status symbol second.

“We didn’t set out to create the most expensive car in the world. We set out to create something beautiful.”

— Etienne Salome, Bugatti Head of Interior Design, via ABC News

“La Voiture Noire is a modern reinterpretation of a legend.”

— Bugatti official statement, 2019 Geneva Motor Show

For potential buyers in the ultra‑high‑net‑worth market, the choice is clear: commit to a car that costs more than most private jets, or accept that the only existing example is already taken. For the rest of the world, the La Voiture Noire remains a legend wrapped in carbon fibre — and its owner will likely stay a mystery.