87-year-old Florida billionaire who bought Apple at its IPO spends $40 million on Ferrari’s first EV designed with Jony Ive, making history with one-of-a-kind Luce bought at auction

An 87-year-old billionaire who made a fortune by investing in Apple during its early days has made another extraordinary bet on technology and design. Herbert A. Wertheim has paid $40 million for Ferrari’s first fully electric production car, the Ferrari Luce, securing a one-of-a-kind example at auction.

The extraordinary purchase took place at the RM Sotheby’s Monterey auction, where the Ferrari Luce dramatically exceeded its original presale estimate. The car was estimated at around $1.1 million, but ultimately sold for a staggering $40 million, with the proceeds going to the Ferrari Foundation.

The purchase is particularly notable because the Ferrari Luce was created in collaboration with LoveFrom, the creative collective founded by legendary Apple designer Jony Ive and Marc Newson.


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Apple investor buys Ferrari designed with Jony Ive connection

Wertheim's connection to Apple makes his Ferrari purchase even more fascinating. He bought Apple shares during the company's 1980 initial public offering, becoming an early investor in what would eventually become one of the world's most valuable technology companies.

Over the decades, his Apple investment became a major contributor to his wealth. He has also invested in companies including Microsoft, Google and other major businesses. His new Ferrari, meanwhile, has a strong connection to the world of Apple design.

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Jony Ive spent decades shaping Apple's most recognizable products, including the iPhone, iPod and Apple Watch, before leaving the company and establishing LoveFrom. Ferrari announced its creative partnership with LoveFrom in 2021, bringing together two worlds known for obsessive attention to design. The Ferrari Luce is one of the most significant results of that collaboration.

Ferrari Luce comes with 1,036 horsepower

The Ferrari Luce isn't simply an expensive collector's car. It represents a major turning point for Ferrari as the legendary Italian automaker moves into the electric era.

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The Luce features four electric motors producing a combined 1,036 horsepower. Ferrari says the electric grand tourer can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in approximately 2.5 seconds and reach a top speed of around 193 mph.

The car is equipped with a 122-kWh battery, while its claimed WLTP range stands at roughly 329 miles. Its charging system can reportedly support charging speeds of up to 350 kW.

$40 million Ferrari is Chassis 0

Wertheim's car is particularly special because it is identified as Chassis 0, making it a significant piece of Ferrari's electric-car history. The billionaire's example was also given an exceptionally distinctive specification by Ferrari's Tailor Made division.

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Its Madreperla Semi-Gloss finish changes appearance depending on the lighting and viewing angle, shifting between green and violet tones. The interior was similarly customized with Perla Le Mans metallic leather, while Grigio Corvara details add contrast. The personalization extends to several exterior elements, including the wheels and brake calipers.

Who is Herbert A. Wertheim?

Wertheim's story is considerably more unusual than that of a typical billionaire investor. Before building his fortune, he served in the Navy and later worked at NASA on instrumentation associated with manned spaceflight. He eventually became an optometrist, inventor and investor.

His investment philosophy has focused heavily on understanding technology and intellectual property. He has previously described spending significant time studying patents and technical information before making investment decisions.

His investment in Apple is perhaps the best-known example of his long-term strategy.

Why the Ferrari Luce purchase is so significant

The $40 million Ferrari Luce purchase brings together several defining elements of Wertheim's life: technology, investing, innovation and design.

He was an early Apple investor long before the company became a global technology giant. Now, decades later, he has purchased the first production Ferrari Luce, a car linked to the design philosophy of Jony Ive.

At $40 million, the Ferrari Luce is also an extraordinary auction result. But for Wertheim, the purchase appears to be about more than simply owning another rare supercar.

It gives him a place in the history of Ferrari's transition into electric vehicles—and a remarkable connection between two of the world's most influential names in technology and design.