Jay Leno reveals his friend sold McLaren F1 for $1.3M thinking it was 'genius' move only to be devastated by how much it's worth now
Published on Jun 15, 2026 at 1:54 PM (UTC+4)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on Jun 15, 2026 at 1:54 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Mason Jones
Jay Leno admitted that his friend once sold a McLaren F1 for $1.3 million, thinking he’d made a genius move – only to be humbled later.
Leno told the wince-inducing story while appearing on the Road To Success Podcast.
In the anecdote, Leno was driving home in his own McLaren F1 when he noticed a neighbor had an F1 parked in his drive.
But when he got speaking to the owner, he realized that a colossal mistake had been made.
Jay Leno knew somebody who sold a McLaren F1 for $1.3 million
Leno recalled the story while appearing on the Road To Success Podcast, reflecting on his own F1 which sat in the background.
He recalled that he’d initially been hesitant to purchase the car, as it was going for $800,000 at the time.
But after two weeks of trying to play it cool, he relented and bought it.
As he was driving home, he noticed an F1 parked up outside a house a few doors down from him.
He knocked on and asked a woman inside to pass on a message to her boyfriend – give Leno a call.
“He called me, and he’d only had it a short time before someone offered him $1.3 million,” Leno recalled.
That doesn’t sound too bad – until you remember that McLaren F1s fetch anywhere from $20 to $25 million.
Ouch.
Somewhere out there is a man who has a massive bruise because he’s kicking himself.
The McLaren F1 is a seriously rare car
In total, 106 McLaren F1s were produced, making them an exceptionally rare car.
It may have only had a six-year production run, but the car’s legendary status has lasted decades after it wrapped up.
Some lucky car fans have been fortunate enough to spot one out in the wild – whether that be out in Arizona or on a California highway.
Even Elon Musk had gotten his hands on one back in the day, although that didn’t end well.
Jay Leno knows his cars
Among celebrities, Jay Leno has a well deserved rep of knowing his cars.
It’s no wonder that people value his opinions on all things automotive.
With a car collection amassing more than 200, it should come as no surprise that his haul the most Googled.
Just don’t expect a Ferrari to end up there anytime soon.
Ben joined Supercar Blondie in February 2025 after being published by international organizations including LADbible, The Sun, the New York Post, and the Daily Mail. He covers supercars, rare and collectible vehicles, aviation, luxury assets, and the fascinating people behind them. His reporting has explored everything from seven-figure supercars and historic Ferrari collections to unusual aircraft adventures and extraordinary automotive discoveries from around the world. Ben has also gained first-hand insight into vehicle craftsmanship and customization, including visiting specialist workshops to see bespoke vehicles up close.
