Number plate ‘1’ sells for record $14.5m

Posted Sun Feb 17 2008 10:41 AM by Kenneth Hall

A new world record for the highest amount ever paid for a car number plate was set this weekend when an Emirati businessman placed a bid of 52.2 million dirhams, about $14.5 million, for plate number ‘1’ at an auction in Abu Dhabi. This almost doubles the previous record of 25.2 million dirhams, which was paid for plate number ‘5’, and makes last month’s sale of the number plate ‘F1’ for $880,000 look like a relative bargain.

Buyer Saeed Abdul Ghaffar Khouri told local reporters from ArabianBusiness that he hadn't bought the plate as investment but predicted its value would likely double within two years. In fact, Khouri revealed to reporters after the auction that he was willing to pay up to 100 million dirhams for the plate, roughly equal to $30 million, and that he hadn’t decided which car to use it on yet.

The auction was run on behalf of the Abu Dhabi police department and the money raised will go to a fund that helps victims of car accidents. The new record also means the United Arab Emirates now holds the seven most expensive plates in the world.

Reader Comments

Sun Feb 17 2008 2:35 PM
Raptor says

And they sell Veyrons for 1,3 million. Funny
Sun Feb 17 2008 2:47 PM
SuperSkyline89 says

Bugatti should have just made it $2 million, people would still buy it anyways and they would have lost less money on the program.
Sun Feb 17 2008 6:41 PM
olfa says

And what do you think about buying a lil home for a lil child for who a lil sum of money would be a life change?
Sun Feb 17 2008 7:18 PM
SuperSkyline89 says

As nice as that would be no one would do that. Given the money I doubt you would either.
Sun Feb 17 2008 11:10 PM
Sir Yappie says

what a waste of money from people with more dollars than sense...
Mon Feb 18 2008 10:39 AM
peste says

LOL @ the guy who actually bought the '5' plate. He's got 4 dudes that can bust his balls to no end.
Mon Feb 18 2008 12:44 PM
sonu says

Ye I know what a bunch of loonies and the guy who got #5 is his cousin. I guess its all in the family.
Tue Feb 19 2008 2:16 AM
Sir Yappie says

so i guess "1" stands for "number 1 tosser" ????

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