Jay-Z, Drake, and Kanye: Buying a Bugatti Veyron Is a Rapper’s Rite of Passage

There are a ton of celebrities who show off their expensive cars. It’s pretty common to see the impressive Bugatti Veyron in Hollywood with someone famous behind the wheel.

It’s a popular choice among rappers and hip-hop artists as well, almost making it seem like a rite of passage for those most successful in the music industry.

In exploring more about what makes this car such a high-ticket purchase among rappers, we uncovered a few unwritten rules about owning a Bugatti. We also found what happens when you don’t stick to the Bugatti owning code.

What’s so appealing about the Bugatti Veyron?

This high-level hypercar is a no expenses spared endeavor that makes it an undisputed great in automotive history. These sports cars are designed to hug the pavement and swallow curves. The Bugatti Veyron transformed this year into the Chiron and costs almost $3 million to buy.

It’s about as exotic as they come and offers acceleration that rivals the feeling of a jet plane take-off, with the 1500 horses under the hood. The Chiron may be replacing the Veyron this year, but nothing can dethrone the Bugatti Veyron from its celebrity status.

Celebrities and hip-hop artists who drive a Bugatti Veyron

Famous people in general love Bugatti Veyron sports cars, including Jay Leno, Tom Brady, and Simon Cowell. But, there is a growing trend among rappers and hip-hop artists as well.

Rappers T-Pain, Drake, Kanye, and Lil Wayne all park Veyron models in their respective garages. Other Veyron owning rappers include Jay-Z, Soulja Boy, Xzibit, and Flo Rida.

The unwritten Bugatti owning rules celebrities live by

A few basic rules apply when you invest in the high-dollar, Bugatti brand. You can’t park your Bugatti in the garage. You have to show it off at any movie premieres you attend. And, if you’re a hip-hop artist, you have to talk about it in your songs. But there are a few other rules that only Bugatti owners learn to follow.

When an automaker’s base model costs about $3 million to buy, it’s clear the only market for those cars is the wealthiest of individuals. Buying the car isn’t the only hefty price tag, though, as rapper Birdman issued a warning to other celebs thinking about making a similar purchase.

He says it costs almost $300,000 each year just in maintaining a car of Bugatti caliber. An oil change takes 27 hours and costs around $21,000, alone.

Another rule that costs extra involves customizing your Bugatti. The rich and famous invest in modifications to their cars, after they buy them, to make their impressive rides different from and even more unique than any other car on the road. For example, music producer Nigo opted to cover his Bugatti in a pink wrap.

Every once in a while, a Bugatti owner gets trolled

TMZ reported rapper French Montana bought himself a Bugatti Veyron, after being released from the ICU for having partied a little too hard. He shared the images on Instagram, of his blue and stylish self-affirming gift, as it rolled off the truck.

However, fellow artist 50 Cent called out Montana for having made a lame decision, considering the 2020 Bugatti Chiron would have been the more impressive buy. He even ribbed Montana further but suggesting instead he should have downloaded an Uber app. French Montana clapped back, citing his Veyron was a collector’s item and only one of 450 ever produced for 2010.

Owning a Bugatti as a rapper does seem to be a rite of passage. But with great vehicular power comes great responsibility, along with a few unwritten rules and extra costs. And, owning one certainly doesn’t make you immune from social media trolling either.