The sterling silver Indy 500 trophy gets fractionally heavier every year and this year it's worth $80,000

The Borg-Warner Trophy, also known as the Indy 500 trophy, gets just a little bit heavier every single year.

It’s not just heavy, it’s also massive.

The Borg-Warner Trophy stands over five feet tall, and weighs more than 110 pounds.

But why exactly does the trophy gain weight every year?

VISIT SBX CARS – View live supercar auctions powered by Supercar Blondie

Well, every time a driver wins the Indy 500, their face is immortalized on the trophy.

A tiny silver likeness is sculpted and added to its surface, joining a proud line-up of racing legends going all the way back to 1936.

But here’s the kicker: the winning driver doesn’t actually get to take the Indy 500 trophy home.

That honor stays with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum.

Instead, after drinking milk at the end of the race, each winner gets a smaller, shinier memento called the ‘Baby Borg.’

It’s 18 inches tall, also made of sterling silver, and far easier to lift without pulling a muscle.

The owner of the racing team that wins the Indy 500 also receive a team owner’s trophy, starting from 1998.

Naturally, the original Borg-Warner trophy is the star of the show.

Every tiny face is hand-sculpted, capturing each champion’s likeness in gleaming silver.

This is the level of handcrafted luxury on par with the exclusive Aston Martin supercar factory.

In 2024, the trophy is valued at around $80,000 in sterling silver alone.

However, its true worth goes way beyond silver.

With nearly a century of racing history built into it, some estimates place the full value of the Borg-Warner Trophy at over $3.5 million.

Each May, the Indy 500 adds a new chapter to this legendary trophy’s story.

The original trophy was crafted to accommodate 70 race winners, but a sterling silver base has been added twice to make room for additional winners.

The current Indy 500 trophy has space available for the race winners through 2033.

After we crown a champion for this year’s inaugural Wienie 500, featuring six Wienermobiles, we should see a new face on the trophy.

DISCOVER SBX CARS: The global premium car auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie