World’s third richest billionaire drove Peugeot hatchback, but more than doubled its cost with subtle modification

  • Bernard Arnault once drove a 1990 Peugeot 205 GTI
  • Currently, the car is valued at €59,990
  • The car had level two armored protection and bulletproof windows

Published on Sep 11, 2024 at 2:12 PM (UTC+4)
by Daksh Chaudhary

Last updated on Sep 12, 2024 at 3:32 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by Tom Wood

Can you imagine a billionaire like Bernard Arnault driving a humble car like a 1990 Peugeot 205 GTI?

Well, it’s true – the man with a net worth of $181 billion – at the time of writing this article – once drove this modest hatchback.

But what’s even more impressive is that the cost of the car has doubled up over the years.

Currently, the car is valued at €59,990, thanks to its fine modifications and – of course – that connection to Bernard Arnault.

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Bernard Arnault owned a 1990 Peugeot 205 GTI with subtle modifications

Arnault usually avoids coming into the spotlight, and there couldn’t be a better car than a 1990 Peugeot 205 GTI for that.

However, while the car wasn’t flashy, the extensive modifications increased its price.

The car was fitted with level two armored protection, turning a simple hatchback into one of those heavily fortified cars that billionaires trust more than anything.

The Peugeot 205 GTI was further upgraded with bulletproof windows and heavy armored plating.

To give it a touch of luxury, the interior was upgraded with bespoke leather, air conditioning, and power steering – after all, Arnault is the king of luxury.

The value of the car has increased over the time

All these modifications added considerable weight to the car, bringing the total weight to somewhere around 3000lbs.

That was a significant increase compared to the standard model.

The car remained in the billionaire’s service for several years, before being sold to a private collector in 2009 for €37,500.

It changed hands again in 2018, to someone who almost certainly bought it for its history with Arnault, as they only added around 100 miles over the past six years.

Today, the car is valued at around €59,990, and any owner would surely take pride in possessing such a unique piece of history.

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Meet Daksh: Not your typical pro, but definitely a pro at being fascinated by supercars, tech, and all things futuristic. When he's not nose-deep in work, catch him glued to anime screens or lost in the pages of a good book.