Talking about Jay Leno car collection worth it, there’s no denying that Jay Leno has got a pretty big car collection, but it’s the kind of car collection you would expect from a guy who hosts “The Tonight Show” every single night, and he has done so since 1992!
You’ve probably heard of Jay Leno’s famous garage full of cars, but did you know it’s worth millions? In fact, Jay Leno’s incredible car collection might be the most valuable in the world!
The Jay Leno car collection worth millions that was accumulated over the years is enough to cause envy in any car enthusiast, and you would imagine that it might be hard to part with something that has so much sentimental value.
That, however, wasn’t the case when Jay Leno got married and had to move his car collection from his old house in California to the new one he bought in Malibu.
If you want to know how many cars were included in this collection, how much it was worth, and what happened to them after they were sold off at an auction, you should keep reading this article.
History Behind His Jay Leno Car Collection Worth
Jay Leno is known for being one of America’s favorite comedians and television personalities. But, he’s also known for his vast and expensive car collection.
Now we all know how much Jay loves cars but what many don’t know is just how much his car collection is worth. As it turns out, Jay has a knack for buying classic cars that only increase in value with age.
Many of these cars are rare gems that are extremely difficult to find. So you can only imagine that his million-dollar collection might actually be worth even more than that! There are a few interesting facts about Jay’s car collection you might find interesting as well.
Most Expensive Car In Jay Leno Car Collection
Jay Leno is one of the richest comedians and hosts, who not only earn money through his own business but also by inheriting a lot of wealth from his parents.
Jay owns a garage where he keeps all his most loved vehicles, some of which are quite more expensive than average cars. Some of Jay’s vehicles are vintage car which is worth millions of dollars.
Does the question arise that how much money does Jay earn with such expensive cars? Well, as per estimation in 2007, he was earning $32 million annually through selling auctioned collectibles.
More and more people wanted to know about Jay’s collecting habit and it seems to have risen even further since then. So let’s take a look at some of the priciest cars in Jay Leno car collection worth millions.
Read also: Johnny Depp Car Collection That Will Blow Your Mind!
1928 Bentley Speed 6 ($3 – $4 Million)
For decades, car collectors have been trying to get their hands on a Bentley Speed 6. It wasn’t until recently that a private collector had one for sale (that he would part with).
The Bentley was built as a prototype race car and is only one of five to ever be made. That makes it incredibly rare, valuable, and important.
Originally purchased for around $30,000 when new, today these cars can sell for millions at auction. Want to see Jay Leno drive his?
Here’s how he describes it: Nothing in my life compares to going fast in a well-made British sports car. He couldn’t have said it better!
1934 Duesenberg Walker Coup ($20 Million)
One of just a few dozen ever built, Leno’s 1934 Duesenberg Walker Coup was purchased by actor Will Rogers in Los Angeles. Rogers drove it once and found himself overwhelmed by its power.
He traded it for a Lincoln Model K. In 1972, William Poon bought it for $400,000 from an attorney who was liquidating his family’s estate, which had included one of four remaining Duesenbergs, the other three were owned by the Shah of Iran.
During an interview with Gooding & Company before his death in 1995, Poon said he owned 25 cars during his lifetime and never got tired of driving any of them.
1939 Lagonda V12 ($2.56 Million)
Jay Leno owns over 150 cars, but if he had to pick one as his favorite, it would probably be his 1939 Lagonda V12.
This luxurious British car was created when Edward Turner redesigned a pre-war Lagonda chassis and body with an engine straight out of a Rolls Royce Merlin.
Mr. Leno purchased his prized possession in 2011 for $2.56 million at Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
The car was purchased from its first owners, who also live in California, for a mere $4,300 in 1957! If you were to buy any one of Jay’s cars as an investment piece, we think that Mr.
1955 Mercedes 300SL Gullwing Coupe ($1.8 Million)
Jay’s 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing Coupe is featured in a commercial for Depend adult diapers and was featured on Jay Leno’s Garage. The price of $1.8 million was based on its value as an antique car, not on its celebrity status.
One of only 210 Gullwings ever produced, it sold at auction in 2013 for $1.35 million, falling short of a private sale offer by three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Bobby Unser that would have been worth more than $3 million with investment returns factored in.
Even so, it’s a modern classic that looks great on Jay’s favorite car lift!
1967 Lamborghini Miura P400 ($3.5 Million)
Collectors love Lamborghinis, and one that’s in perfect condition and still has its original paint is extremely rare.
The Miura was made by Lamborghini from 1966 to 1973. Only about 350 were ever produced, so if you ever spot one for sale, it might be worth a call.
Jay Leno owns several cars from his collection that are worth a combined $35 million. But he says his favorite car is a 1967 Lamborghini Miura P400 because it was owned by three popes before him!
Read also: Steve Hamilton Car Collection is Worth Million
2014 McLaren P1 ($1.35 Million)
This supercar is one of the most innovative cars of all time, driving with an electric motor for about 15 miles. After that, a twin-turbo V8 engine kicks in and boosts performance from zero to 60 mph in less than three seconds.
This car boasts more than 1,000 horsepower and a top speed of 217 mph! Jay Leno’s car collection is absolutely insane, and it’s worth millions. There are over 200 cars just like this one in his garage.
McLaren F1 ($12 Million)
The McLaren F1 is considered by many to be one of (if not THE) most beautiful cars in automotive history. Designed by Gordon Murray, every single F1 was hand-built at McLaren’s Woking, Surrey factory. Jay Leno has a black 1993 model. He also owns a Mercedes SL600 and every Porsche ever made.
But his most impressive car is his collection of cars worth over $12 million, including a Lamborghini Miura SVJ (1971), a Ferrari F40 ($7.9 Million), three Chevrolet Corvettes (1953, 1954, and 1957 models), an Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato ($867K) and many more!
Koenigsegg CCXR Trevita ($4.8 Million)
This car is a carbon-fiber-bodied supercar with a 4.8-liter V8 engine that delivers 1,001 horsepower to all four wheels.
If you’re wondering why it costs so much, have a look at some of its other features, like active rear aerodynamics that delivers 100 pounds of downforce at 185 mph and an active suspension that adapts to changes in road conditions.
Only three of these cars were ever built and all are accounted for, good luck finding one on Jay’s block. The average price is around $4 million each, but it can sell for more if you put enough miles on it.
Read also: Joe Rogan Car Collection
Jay Leno Car Collection That Made The Biggest Impact
Jay Leno car collection worth consists of unique and rare automobiles that made an impact in history. His preference for classics is due to his admiration of James Dean, who used to drive around in a Porsche 550 Spyder.
There are some pictures of Jay Leno riding on a motorcycle with Dean before he was killed in a crash during a race at California Speedway.
Jay eventually got his hands on one of Dean’s motorcycles and he has been driving it since then as an homage to his friend.
Read also: Sylvester Stallone Abandoned Cars: What Problem Is He Having
Behind the Scenes Stories
Jay Leno is best known for his time as host of NBC’s The Tonight Show, but he also has a remarkable collection of cars and motorcycles.
In fact, Jay had so many that he needed to find a bigger space to store them in than what his Los Angeles garage could provide.
As you can imagine, getting such an impressive collection of vehicles into one place requires some planning.
We talked with Jay about how he put together such an extensive collection without going broke, and why it wasn’t easy! Here are six fun facts you might not know about Jay Leno’s incredible car collection:
1. The Right Tools for the Job
Jay’s collection began with a few cars he purchased from his childhood hero, comedian Johnny Carson.
One of Jay’s first purchases was a 1955 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz convertible that Jay traded to Carson for two $50 bills and some jokes he borrowed from the late-night legend. The car proved to be a wise investment, as it sold at auction in 2012 for an impressive $250,000!
Jay also had an early interest in unique automobiles, often buying rare vehicles such as James Dean’s 1962 Porsche Spyder 550 Spyder.
The car cost $2,500 when Dean bought it new in Germany—about $20,000 less than what Jay paid for it when it came up for auction in 1994!
2. Staff is Key
There are two elements that go into building a great car collection. First, you have to love cars and want to spend as much time with them as possible.
Jay has been a car nut since he was four years old, so working on his cars is almost a hobby for him. The second thing you need is the staff, specifically a group of talented mechanics who will work under your direction and help you build your dream garage.
While most people would have to take out a second mortgage to pay for all those cars, Jay’s staff only cost him about $5 million in total compensation over his career, which just goes to show what a good group of mechanics can do for your bank account!
3. Surround Yourself With Good Peers
When Jay Leno and his wife Mavis married, he had been collecting cars for many years. She also loved automobiles and admired his collection, but she never pressured him to spend any more money on cars.
And when he got a new Ferrari or Lamborghini, she always told him to enjoy it while he could because they wouldn’t be around forever. That kept him in check and meant that most of his classic car collection stayed intact over time.
In other words, Jay surrounded himself with people who supported his passion and didn’t pressure him to grow or change in ways that would have caused regrets later on down the road. You can do that too!
4. Don’t Go Too Big
No matter how much you think you might be interested in car collecting, don’t go too big. Whether it’s by car count or money spent, Jay Leno has set a pretty high bar for himself, and for others looking to expand their own collections.
Don’t get into [car collecting] unless you can afford it, he says. Of course, that shouldn’t stop anyone from dreaming about an extraordinary collection… but make sure you know what you’re getting into!
5. Don’t Forget About Charity
Jay doesn’t like to talk about his philanthropic efforts but he did tell us he has donated more than $50 million to charity since he started collecting cars.
The money has gone to cancer research, children’s hospitals, and other good causes. Jay says people assume he just wants to show off when they see how many cars he has, but that’s not true at all.
Jay says It is never enough … I think you know it is never enough because if it was enough I would be thinking about something else. At a certain point, you have more than you need so let’s find something good for them.
6. Stay Cool Under Pressure
Most people don’t think of Jay Leno as an adrenaline junkie, but he certainly is one. Over his career, Jay has had a few close calls while driving or riding in rare cars.
The thrill of having to keep things under control in high-stress situations is why Jay collects classics, they remind him that there are still times when things can go wrong, even when you do everything right.
Whether it’s at SEMA or a car show, if Jay sees something rare, he wants to get behind the wheel and drive it like no one else on earth ever will!
Biography Jay Leno
Jay Leno is a famous stand-up comedian, best known for his work on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. In 1986, he was given his own show called The Late Night with Jay Leno where he did stand-up as well as interviews.
He is also famous for hosting Saturday Night Live 10 times and winning Primetime Emmy Awards in 1989 and 2013.
His signature Tonight Show segment, Jaywalking, garnered him several Emmy nominations over two decades.
After quitting high school at age 17, he moved to Hollywood to pursue his dream of being a stand-up comedian.
Who is Jay Leno?
Jay Leno is a very talented actor who was born on April 28th, 1950 in New Rochelle, New York. He has been an American stand-up comedian, television host, and voice actor but mostly he is known for being a part of late-night shows.
The show that he hosted was called The Tonight Show with Jay Leno which ran for 22 years from 1992 to 2009 before finally being canceled by NBC who at that time had enough of Jay Leno.
He has also been responsible for writing numerous comedy books all of which have sold over six million copies around the world.
Was he ever married before?
He has been married twice before. He was married to Mavis Gary from 1978 to 1988. He was also married to his current wife, Mavis Griffin from 1989 till today.
They have a son named Matthew who is now in his mid-twenties. The couple shares custody of their son who was born after their marriage and is living with them both equally.
Not much is known about his previous marriages as he does not talk much about them in public or give out any details about them.
He once said that if he had a chance to do it all over again he would have never married in the first place as he realized later in life that marriage wasn’t for him.
Does he have any children from previous relationships?
No. He is married to Mavis Leno since 1986 and they have no children together. However, Jay has a son, Matthew with his first wife (Anne Stringfield).
Matthew is a businessman who runs an art gallery in New York City. He also has 2 grandchildren from his son Anne Stringfield, Emily, and Jackson.
What is his family life like?
Jay Leno has been married to Mavis Leno since 1989. They have one son together, a 16-year-old named Matthew Jay.
It was long rumored that Jay had an affair with coworker Julie Roginsky on The Tonight Show in 1998 when she was just 24 years old.
Roginsky went on to get her own hosting gig on CNBC’s Power Lunch at age 28 after leaving The Tonight Show in 2001.
When Roginsky was hired by Fox News in 2007 as a political contributor at age 35, everyone wondered if she would compete with Bill O’Reilly for first place in nightly cable ratings against MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann, except it turned out that Olbermann left MSNBC before Roginsky even joined Fox News!
How did he grow up?
Jay Leno is one of America’s most celebrated comedians. He grew up in Andover Massachusetts to an Italian father and a Greek mother who owned an auto parts store.
Both his parents pushed him to become successful as they always dreamed of their children growing up to be doctors or lawyers, however when Jay became a stand-up comedian at 15 years old they weren’t very happy with it.
Later on in life, he would marry Mavis Georges from his hometown of Andover who was his high school sweetheart.
In 1989 he had twin boys: Edward and Patrick, though shortly after that marriage broke down due to domestic violence that happened between them several times during their marriage.
In 1999 he married writer Suzanne Pleshette but unfortunately only lasted 9 months until she passed away from cancer.
Why was he selected as the host of The Tonight Show?
Jay was selected because he had tons of experience on television with his late-night talk show The Tonight Show.
While many others were also considered for hosting duties on The Tonight Show, Jay was selected because of his strong background in comedy.
As a young man, Jay performed as a comedian at a local club called The Purple Onion in California. Later on in life, he became successful as an actor and comedian performing stand-up routines. In 1982 he succeeded Johnny Carson as host of The Tonight Show.
On The Tonight Show Jay brought on many famous guests including politicians, actors, and musicians from across America. He hosted The Tonight Show until 2009 when Conan O’Brien took over as host.
The Evolving Jay Leno Net Worth Throughout the Years
Jay Leno has seen quite a lot of change in his career. He started out as a writer for local publications. He then moved to Los Angeles to work for The Tonight Show in 1985.
This job was short-lived due to Johnny Carson’s retirement in 1992. After that, he got his own show called The Jay Leno Show.
This show lasted from 1992 until 2009 when he returned to hosting The Tonight Show after Conan O’Brien had left in 2010.
So far, his net worth stands at $325 million but it’s increasing every year thanks to his lucrative contracts with NBC and Universal Television as well as his tours around America performing stand-up comedy shows.
Where does he live?
Jay Leno resides in a nine-bedroom Beverly Hills mansion that he purchased in 1987 for $10 million. The home sits on 2.5 acres at the end of a private road.
In 2001, he spent another $3 million adding an 875-square-foot guesthouse with an atrium and luxurious baths. Leno also owns properties on Maui and in Telluride, Colorado. Some estimates have his net worth as high as $350 million.
How Much is Jay Leno’s Car Collection Worth
In the last 35 years, Jay Leno has amassed quite the car collection. With over 100 cars in his garage and almost 20 motorcycles, not to mention several car-related machines.
Jay Leno’s celebrity status has granted him access to some of the rarest vehicles in the world, and even some that are no longer made.
Let’s take a look at some of the most expensive ones and figure out just how much is jay leno’s car collection worth.
Conclusion
In total, Jay Leno car collection worth over $50 million, which makes it one of the most valuable in America.
And, while it includes some of history’s rarest and most sought-after cars, it’s also filled with so many others that he just loves to drive.
That all adds up to an amazing accomplishment for a man who started out with one Volkswagen Beetle and had no idea where his life would lead.
Now that you know about Jay Leno car collection worth, you might be thinking about your own collection.
