California man bought Tesla Model S for $125,000 and is left in disbelief as he shares what it's now worth three years and 30,000 miles later
Published on Aug 28, 2026 at 2:34 PM (UTC+4)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on Aug 28, 2026 at 2:34 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Mason Jones
Three years after this California man purchased a Tesla Model S for $125,000, he found out what it was worth and was left stunned.
After adding 30,000 miles, YouTuber Cam Casey decided he wanted to see how much his EV was now worth.
He was undoubtedly hoping for a good return on his investment.
Finding out the value of your car can be quite a shock
Any time you go in to get your car valued, there’s some sense of trepidation about it.
You’ll always be crossing your fingers and hoping it goes your way.
But there’s a voice in the back of your mind reminding you that you could very well have lost a ton of money.
When this British man had his Porsche Taycan appraised, he had to swallow a bitter pill once he realized his car was ‘worthless’.
It was a similarly harsh dose of reality for one man in Connecticut when he returned his Tesla Model S only five months after buying it.
The unfortunate reality is that EVs, by and large, do depreciate at a faster rate than their gas guzzling cousins.
Most Tesla models have seen their values slump, often leaving owners disappointed when it’s time to trade in.
One man who knows that better than anybody is YouTuber Cam Casey.
How much was this Tesla Model S worth after three years and 30,000 miles?
Taking to X, Casey vented about the value of his Tesla Model S after three years of ownership.
“Do yourself a favor and don’t ever buy an electric car – but I have a solution,” Casey fumed.
“I bought my Tesla Model S for $125,000 USED with 3,000 miles. It was a good deal at the time.
“Now 30,000 miles later & 3 years later that car is worth $50,000.”
It stung particularly badly because this was a used car when he bought it, as it already 3,000 miles on it.
“I lost 60+% ($75,000) of my investment within 3 years of buying a USED CAR,” he wrote.
As you might expect, he wasn’t too pleased about this.
But he had a solution.
“Now while I would never buy an electric car again – the tech goes out of style so fast – I would lease an electric car,” Casey points out.
Do yourself a favor and don’t ever buy an electric car (but I have a solution)
— Cam Casey (@notcamcasey) January 14, 2026
I bought my Tesla Model S for $125,000 USED with 3k miles. It was a good deal at the time.
Now 30,000 miles later & 3 years later that car is worth $50,000
I lost 60+% ($75,000) of my investment… pic.twitter.com/f04HEMgJqI
“The lease deals are an absolute steal most times, and you get all the benefits of leasing.”
Will his words of advise catch on with his followers?
If increasing sales figures are anything to go by, it appears the general public aren’t being put off from buying EVs.
Is depreciation worth all the other perks? That’s for individual drivers to decide.
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.
