The world’s most expensive car is spotted in Monaco with a dramatic police escort through the streets
Published on Apr 24, 2026 at 8:18 PM (UTC+4)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on Apr 24, 2026 at 8:25 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
Even by the lofty standards of Monaco, it was quite a spectacle when the world’s most expensive car was spotted on its streets with a police escort.
Its name even sounds expensive – the Bugatti Type 41 Royale Coupé Napoleon reeks of opulence.
As one of only six Royale chassis to be completed, this car was designed during a period when it was intended to be sold only to monarchs.
But even in the modern era, it still looks like a car fit for a king.
The most expensive car in the world made a scene when it took to the streets of Monaco
A clip shared to social media showed the Bugatti Type 41 Royale Coupé Napoleon being rolled out of a trailer.
From there, it is driven through the streets of Monaco, with a police escort guiding it along.
Seeing it move through the streets like this is like watching history come to life.
Its long nose is a classic car at its finest.
To see it treated with this level of reverence by the police speaks to its valuable status.
And you don’t need us to tell you that Monaco is a haven for luxury car lovers.
Six-figure supercar toys are regularly being flaunted there, alongside Aston Martin hypercars.
And that’s not forgetting the Ferraris that are competing with the superyachts for attention.
The fascinating backstory of the Bugatti Type 41 Royale Coupé Napoleon
Just how expensive is the world’s most expensive car exactly?
Before we get to that, let’s have a quick look at the car’s fascinating history.
Originally built with a Packard body back in the 1920s, it would be rebodied as a two-door fixed-head coupe by Parisian coach builder Weymann.
This body would end up being replaced when the car was crashed by none other than Ettore Bugatti himself, when he fell asleep at the wheel.
During World War II, the car was hidden at the Bugatti family home to avoid it being commandeered by Axis forces.
Financial difficulties would force its sale in 1963, and it eventually ended up in the hands of Fritz Schlumpf, a Bugatti collector.
From there, the car went to the Harrah Collection.
In 1986, it went up for auction and was purchased for $6.5 million by Texas real estate developer Jerry J. Moore.
Now, $6.5 million is no small sum, we know that.
But believe it or not, the next figure was even bigger.
A year after Moore bought it, the car went up for sale again and was purchased for $8.1 million by Tom Monaghan.
He may not be a household name, but his brand – Domino’s Pizza – certainly is.
These days, the car spends most of its time in the Musée National de l’Automobile, Collection Schlumpf in Mulhouse, France.
No wonder it needs a police escort when it goes out in public.
Following stints at LadBible, The Sun, The New York Post, and the Daily Mail, Ben joined the team full-time in February 2025. In his role as Senior Content Writer, his sparkling copy, the ability to sniff out a good story at 100 paces, and a GSOH quickly led to him becoming an integral and invaluable member of the writing staff.
