| One of the most important aspects considered | | | | of the Saudi King Abdullah, may have a lot of |
| by common car buyers is, of course, the price | | | | cars in his garage but none of them are what |
| of the vehicle. But for the elite, the | | | | you would expect from a person with a net |
| billionaires and millionaires, they can | | | | worth of $20.3 billion and has the |
| easily afford a fleet of Ferraris, Bugattis, | | | | distinction of being the 13th wealthiest |
| and Maseratis. | | | | person in the world. The Prince's fleet is |
| | | | composed of two Infiniti FX45s, two Hummer |
| But if one should look at the garage of the | | | | H1s, two Volvo XC90s, two Rolls-Royce |
| world's wealthiest, one cannot even find a | | | | Phantoms, and two Daewoo Matizes. The reason |
| BMW or a Ferrari in it. The world's | | | | for the two car set of each vehicle model is |
| wealthiest, of course, did not become | | | | that the Prince uses one car and the other is |
| billionaires by spending lavishly on their | | | | reserved for his bodyguards. An oddity in |
| personal carriers. | | | | the lineup is the Daewoo Matiz. |
| | | | |
| Mr. Microsoft, William Gates III, is an | | | | The reason for the Matiz's presence in the |
| example of the thriftiness of the elite. For | | | | Prince's fleet is that he holds a stake in |
| his net worth of $56 billion, Mr. Gates only | | | | the Korean car company. All of the cars in |
| has two cars in his garage - a 1999 Porsche | | | | the Prince's fleet are known for their sleek |
| 911 Convertible and a 1988 Porsche 959 Coupe. | | | | styling which can be enhanced further with |
| While Porsche has already redesigned the 911 | | | | the use of Westin aftermarket products. |
| entirely, Gates is yet to replace the 1999 | | | | |
| Porsche 911. The other classic car in Gates | | | | With a net worth of $33 billion, what would |
| garage is the rare 1988 959 Coupe which was | | | | you buy as your personal vehicle? Answers may |
| produced in a limited quantity of only 230 | | | | vary from a BMW or an Aston Martin, but for |
| units. The said car was only made legal for | | | | Ingvar Kamprad, the founder of IKEA, a boxy |
| Bill Gates to drive after a federal law was | | | | 1993 Volvo 240 GL is enough. While Kamprad |
| passed during President Clinton's term. | | | | has a Volvo, he still takes the bus to work |
| | | | and uses his discount card. Further proof of |
| For a billionaire such as Mr. Gates | | | | Kamprad's thriftiness is the fact that he |
| purchasing newer Porsches is easy but he | | | | flies economy and rarely stays in luxury |
| might have had more pressing businesses than | | | | hotels. With this philosophy, it is not a |
| buying a new car. | | | | surprise why he is the 4th richest person in |
| | | | the world and the wealthiest in Europe. |
| The billionaire Warren Buffet is another | | | | |
| wealthy individual who prefer the relatively | | | | Another billionaire who shows that cars are |
| lower-priced vehicle compared to Ferraris and | | | | not the only symbol status of being wealthy |
| Bugattis. Buffet has only one car in his | | | | is Paul Allen - the partner of Bill Gates in |
| garage which is a 2001 Lincoln Town Car | | | | founding Microsoft. He is currently ranked as |
| Signature Series. The license plate of the | | | | the fifth richest American with a net worth |
| car which reads THRIFTY says it all. It | | | | estimated at $18 billion. He owned a 1988 |
| seems that for the net worth of $44 billion, | | | | Porsche 959 Coupe that is similar to that of |
| Mr. Buffet is content with his daily driving | | | | Bill Gates'. But before the federal law that |
| machine. Considering the sleek styling of | | | | allowed Gates to drive his 959 Coupe was |
| the Lincoln Town Car, it shows that Mr. | | | | passed, Allen shipped his to Europe where it |
| Buffet may not splurge on expensive cars but | | | | is allowed to be driven. When in the United |
| knows how to choose a good-looking car. | | | | States, Allen uses his 1988 Mazda B-Series |
| | | | pickup. |
| Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Alsaud, the nephew | | | | |