Dave Ramsey Says Millionaires Drive These 10 Cars: Are They Worth the Price Tag? (2024)

Yaël Bizouati-Kennedy

·3 min read

Dave Ramsey Says Millionaires Drive These 10 Cars: Are They Worth the Price Tag? (1)

Cars as status symbols seem to be a thing of the past, according to Dave Ramsey — and a majority of wealthy people are exercising frugality.

While some wealthy Americans drive luxury vehicles, an Experian Automotive study found that a whopping 61% of wealthy people with household incomes of more than $250,000 don’t drive luxury brands. Instead, they drive less showy cars, such as Hondas, Toyotas and Fords, Ramsey said in an article.

“Most millionaires don’t drive flashy cars,” Ramsey said in a Facebook post. “69% of millionaires did not average $100,000 or more in household income per year-and (get this) one-third of millionaires never had a six-figure household income in their entire careers.”

Check Out: These 10 Used Cars Will Last Longer Than an Average New Vehicle
Learn More: How To Get $340 Per Year in Cash Back on Gas and Other Things You Already Buy

According to Ramsey, “When people don’t waste money trying to look wealthy, they have money to actually become wealthy.”

Indeed, buying a car is no small affair — even sometimes for the wealthy. Indeed, Consumer Reports noted that the average cost of new cars is now more than $48,000 — up a whopping $6,000 from two years ago and $10,000 from September 2020, according to Kelley Blue Book.

And in the fourth quarter of 2023, in the used vehicle market, average APR and down payments hit record highs, according to Edmunds. Indeed,APRs climbed to 11.6% on average, up from the third quarter’s Q3’s average of 11.2%, and 10% from a year ago.

Sponsored: Credit card debt keeping you up at night? Find out if you can reduce your debt with these 3 steps

What Cars Do the Wealthy Drive?

The top 10 car brands driven by millionaires, according to a Ramsey post on X (formerly Twitter) are:

1. Toyota

The average price for a Toyota went up to $38,198 in the automaker’s second quarter of its 2024 fiscal year, according to Carsdirect, citing Cox Automotive data.

2. Honda

One of the least expensive Toyota SUVs is the front-wheel-drive HR-V LX crossover, starting at approximately $25,000, while the Civic Sport sedan is the least expensive Honda car, just under $26,000, according to Motor Trend.

3. Ford

For instance, a 2024 F-150 XL pick up truck starts at $36,570, according to Ford.

4. Lexus

According to Car and Driver, the price of the 2024 Lexus ES starts at $43,190 and goes up to $53,480 depending on the trim and options.

5. Subaru

Subaru Crosstrek, the automaker’s best-selling vehicle, has been completely redesigned for 2024, and starts at $24,995, according to Kelley Blue Book.

6. BMW

The 2024 BMW 3 Series, deemed the “consummate compact luxury sedan,” by Kelley Blue Book, starts at $44,500.

7. Acura

The 2024 Acura MDX’s price ranges from $50,150 to $73,800, according to Edmund’s.

8. Hyundai

“Truly inexpensive cars are hard to find in 2024, as the average new car transaction price approaches $50,000,” according to Motor Trend. “A fully loaded Hyundai Venue can be had for about half that.”

9. Lincoln

For instance, the 2024 Lincoln Aviator ranges from $53,340 to $80,725, according to Edmund’s. Yet. Edmund’s noted that it questions the value of the Aviator when it comes to it’s highest trim level.

“If you can live with a less luxe interior, go with the more competitively priced Reserve,” Edmunds wrote.

10. Buick

The all-new 2024 Buick Envista is a subcompact SUV with “a sleek profile aimed at young city dwellers,” noted Kelley Blue Book, adding that it’s also the cheapest new Buick, with pricing starting at $22,400.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Dave Ramsey Says Millionaires Drive These 10 Cars: Are They Worth the Price Tag?

Dave Ramsey Says Millionaires Drive These 10 Cars: Are They Worth the Price Tag? (2024)

FAQs

What vehicle do most millionaires drive? ›

The top 10 car brands driven by millionaires, according to a Ramsey post on X (formerly Twitter) are:
  1. Toyota. The average price for a Toyota went up to $38,198 in the automaker's second quarter of its 2024 fiscal year, according to Carsdirect, citing Cox Automotive data.
  2. Honda. ...
  3. Ford. ...
  4. Lexus. ...
  5. Subaru. ...
  6. BMW. ...
  7. Acura. ...
  8. Hyundai.
Apr 5, 2024

What does Dave Ramsey say about vehicles? ›

“Your cars, trucks, boats, motorcycles, and other vehicles should not have a total value that exceeds half your annual income. Why? You don't want too much of your wealth tied up in things that depreciate.

Do millionaires usually drive new cars True or false? ›

How many quadruplets do you know? 8. Millionaires usually drive new cars. False— Only 23% of millionaires drive a current-year car and more than half drive a car that is more than two years old.

Is buying a new car a waste of money? ›

Buying new can be a good choice if you want the latest features and cheaper initial maintenance costs, but you'll have to deal with a higher rate of depreciation and a bigger price tag when it comes to the initial purchase and insurance rates.

What is the most popular car for rich people? ›

Additionally, research by MaritzCX found that for Americans earning more than $200,000 a year, the Ford F-150 pickup truck was the most popular choice of vehicle to drive.

Why do rich people buy cheap cars? ›

“Some [rich people] prioritize financial prudence and long-term wealth accumulation over ostentatious displays of wealth,” said Kilday. “Instead of spending money on expensive cars, wealthy individuals who choose to drive more modest vehicles [often] focus on building their investment portfolios.”

What is the average new car payment in America Dave Ramsey? ›

Ramsey took people to task for the financial hole they put themselves in as they contend with massive car payments. "You've got a car payment bigger than your house payment. The average car payment in America now is $499 — that's suspiciously like 500 bucks," he said.

What is the 20 3 8 rule? ›

The 20/3/8 car buying rule says you should put 20% down, pay off your car loan in three years (36 months), and spend no more than 8% of your pretax income on car payments. As we go into depth to determine how realistic this rule is, you may consider whether it can actually help you budget for your next car.

How much does Dave Ramsey say to give? ›

Honestly, whether you tithe from your gross pay or your take-home pay is totally up to you. The point here is that you're giving 10% of your income. Dave Ramsey gives off the top of his taxable income—and I do too! But the true heart is this: Just give and be a giver.

Do the rich buy new or used cars? ›

Personal finance expert Dave Ramsey emphasizes that those who have built wealth between $1 million and $10 million typically drive "understated" cars. He says that people in this wealth bracket often drive used Camrys, Hondas, or old pickup trucks, as they're not trying to impress others.

Where do millionaires keep their cars? ›

In a racetrack villa

The Thermal Club in La Quinta, California, is a V.I.P. racetrack country club that sells real estate on the track for super-rich buyers who want to build insane garages. In order to race supercars at this exclusive 4½-mile track, you need to be a Thermal Club member.

What does Jeff Bezos drive? ›

His collection includes several high-end vehicles such as a Cadillac Escalade, Land Rover Range Rover, Mercedes-Benz S450, Ferrari Pininfarina Sergio, W Motors' Lykan HyperSport, Bugatti Veyron Mansory and Koenigsegg CCXR Trevita.

What does Suze Orman say about buying a car? ›

In a 2017 blog post, Orman said buyers should spend the least amount possible on a car because paying less will help them pay off the car faster. Once the car is paid off, Orman advises hanging onto it for as long as possible.

What is Dave Ramsey's rule for buying a car? ›

Here's the deal: The car you can afford is the car you can pay for in cash. And as a general rule, the total value of all your vehicles combined shouldn't be more than half your annual income.

How much should I spend on a car if I make $100,000? ›

Starting with the 1/10th guideline, created and pushed by Financial Samurai, this guideline states: buy a car in cash that costs less than 1/10th your gross annual pay. If you make $50,000 you should buy a car in cash worth $5000. If you make $100,000, the car you buy should be worth no more than $10,000.

What car does Jeff Bezos drive? ›

Bezos also owns a car collection reportedly worth around $20 million. His collection includes several high-end vehicles such as a Cadillac Escalade, Land Rover Range Rover, Mercedes-Benz S450, Ferrari Pininfarina Sergio, W Motors' Lykan HyperSport, Bugatti Veyron Mansory and Koenigsegg CCXR Trevita.

What kind of a car does Warren Buffett drive? ›

Buffett's current vehicle, the 2014 Cadillac XTS that he has owned for approximately ten years, is a testament to his reputation for frugality.

Which car is best for billionaire? ›

Luxury Vehicles , super cars, exotic cars used by billionaires. All types of expensive vehicles like rolls royce , lamborghini ,ferrari ,benz, BMW and many…

What car does Elon Musk drive? ›

While Musk hasn't explicitly named a favorite, he frequently drives Tesla models, suggesting a personal preference for their performance and sustainability. He's also expressed admiration for the classic Jaguar E-Type and the iconic McLaren F1.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Msgr. Refugio Daniel

Last Updated:

Views: 6189

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (74 voted)

Reviews: 81% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Msgr. Refugio Daniel

Birthday: 1999-09-15

Address: 8416 Beatty Center, Derekfort, VA 72092-0500

Phone: +6838967160603

Job: Mining Executive

Hobby: Woodworking, Knitting, Fishing, Coffee roasting, Kayaking, Horseback riding, Kite flying

Introduction: My name is Msgr. Refugio Daniel, I am a fine, precious, encouraging, calm, glamorous, vivacious, friendly person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.