MotorCities - Jay Leno's Automotive Collection is One of the Best | 2023 (2024)

By Robert Tate, Automotive Historian and Researcher
Images Courtesy of the Jay Leno Collection
Published 9.20.2023

MotorCities - Jay Leno's Automotive Collection is One of the Best | 2023 (1)Jay Leno with his 1963 Chrysler Turbine car (Jay Leno Collection)

Jay Leno is a big part of the automotive community and has been a respected collector of vehicles for many years. His collection is outstanding and features many rare automobiles.

I have been a great fan of him and his collection for decades. As an automotive historian and collector, I admire his great sense of humor and his knowledge of automotive history.

MotorCities - Jay Leno's Automotive Collection is One of the Best | 2023 (2)The first car in the collection: Leno's 1934 Ford pickup truck (Jay Leno Collection)

Leno, who is a longtime stand-up comedian, hosted “The Tonight Show” on NBC from 1992 to 2009 and again from 2010 to 2014. He graduated from Emerson College in Boston with a degree in speech therapy before starting his career performing comedy in nightclubs.

MotorCities - Jay Leno's Automotive Collection is One of the Best | 2023 (3)Leno at the wheel of his 1955 Mercedes 300SL Gullwing coupe (Jay Leno Collection)

His collection includes many great and collectible automobiles like a 1963 Chrysler Turbine and a 1955 Mercedes 300 SL Gullwing coupe that is valued at about $1.8 million. Leno also owns a 1967 Lamborghini Miura P400 model that is worth about $3.5 million.

The first classic vehicle Leno purchased was a 1934 Ford pickup truck, which he bought when he was just 14. His father found the truck at an abandoned gas station.

MotorCities - Jay Leno's Automotive Collection is One of the Best | 2023 (4)Leno with his 1967 Lamborghini Miura P400 (Jay Leno Collection)

The world-renowned collection keeps Leno very busy as it continues to grow. Leno’s collection includes both American and foreign makes of classic automobiles like those you would see displayed at popular automotive museums across our country.

MotorCities - Jay Leno's Automotive Collection is One of the Best | 2023 (5)Leno's 1972 Mercedes Benz 600 Kompressor (Jay Leno Collection)

Automotive historians have reported that Leno owns 181 classic vehicles and 160 motorcycles in his private collection. The collection is not open to the public; however, he has shared it with many automotive enthusiasts.

Leno currently stores his massive car collection in the Big Dog Garage, located in Burbank, California, which is actually a series of large hangars at the Bob Hope Airport (also known as Hollywood Burbank Airport). One of his favorite vehicles in the collection would be his 1972 Mercedes Benz 600 Kompressor.

MotorCities - Jay Leno's Automotive Collection is One of the Best | 2023 (6)Leno with his 1937 Bugatti (Jay Leno Collection)

Experts have estimated that Leno’s automotive collection is worth about $450 million. That value is so high because Leno is very selective when adding a classic vehicle to his prestigious collection.

MotorCities - Jay Leno's Automotive Collection is One of the Best | 2023 (7)Leno's 1963 Porsche 356 (Jay Leno Collection)

Obviously, Leno has a passion for collecting and restoring classic automobiles which continues to grow. That passion is on display in his Emmy-winning television program “Jay Leno’s Garage,” which discusses classic and muscle cars as well as motorcycles. The show also highlights automotive history and features restoration projects.

MotorCities - Jay Leno's Automotive Collection is One of the Best | 2023 (8)Leno with his 1958 Chrysler Imperial

In conclusion, while nobody knows what the future holds, Leno will likely continue to collect classic vehicles. He is a very talented guy, and his automotive enthusiasm has made him a role model for car collectors.

Bibliography

CarZing Team. “Everything You Should Know about Jay Leno’s Car Collection.” March 10, 2022.

Dyer, Nathan. “With a Net Worth of $450 million, Check Out Jay Leno’s Car Collection.” CARHP, September 1, 2023.

Garrett, Mike. “7 Surprising Things We Learned from Our Visit to Jay Leno’s Garage.” Nitto Driving Line, May 22, 2017.

MotorCities - Jay Leno's Automotive Collection is One of the Best | 2023 (2024)

FAQs

How much is Jay Leno's entire car collection worth? ›

Jay Leno's quirky US$50 million car collection: from a 1906 Stanley Steamer to a Ford GT, the talk show host's 140,000 sq ft garage holds more than 180 cars, including a US$12 million McLaren F1. Jay Leno's car collection isn't like anyone else's on the planet … quite literally. Why?

How many cars and motorcycles does Jay Leno own? ›

Located at the Burbank Airport, Jay Leno's extensive car collection is an ever-changing showcase of automotive magnificence. Jay Leno's car collection consists of over 181 cars and 160 motorcycles. This impressive assortment is constantly evolving as Leno actively manages his beloved fleet.

Who has a bigger car collection Seinfeld or Leno? ›

Who has more money? Without looking, I'd say Leno has more cars and Seinfeld has more money. Leno actually collects cars; Seinfeld had the fun show with them, but I don't think it was really ever a matter of owning them for him. Meanwhile, while The Tonight Show paid well, Seinfeld paid extraordinarily well.

Who owns the most expensive car in the world? ›

Who owns the most expensive car in the world? Only three people own the Rolls-Royce Boat Tail. According to Daily Mail, one is owned by music power couple Jay-Z and Beyoncé. The second is owned by Mauro Icardi, Argentine footballer and Galatasaray striker.

How many Lamborghinis does Jay Leno own? ›

The Miura is the first model to put Lamborghini on the map, and it's one of the most stunning supercars ever made. Leno owns a 1967 Miura and a 1969 Miura, and he uses one of them as a daily driver.

Does Jay Leno own a private jet? ›

While Leno doesn't own a jet, he feels it's more optimal to lease them for travel. “Pilots must have 12 hours between flights. So, I lease planes. Otherwise I would need two planes,” Leno explains.

How much does Jay Leno pay in car insurance? ›

He has quite the insurance payment.

Jay Leno, the celebrated comedian and avid car collector, faces the substantial financial responsibility of preserving automotive history, with an impressive monthly insurance bill of $45,250 for his collection of 181 classic cars.

Does Jay Leno own a Bugatti? ›

With a car collection as illustrious as his comedy career, Jay Leno is one of the most celebrated figures in the automotive and entertainment worlds alike. One of the greatest pieces in his collection is a “replica” Bugatti Type 57 SC Atlantic.

Who owns the biggest car collection in the world? ›

The world's biggest car collection – an estimated 7,000 cars worth more than $5bn – is owned by the secretive Sultan of Brunei. It's private, so unless you're a friend of the absolute ruler of this tiny oil-rich state on the north coast of the island of Borneo, you'll never see his cars.

Who is the king of car collection? ›

Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei's automobile collection, valued at an estimated US$5 billion and consisting of over 7,000 cars, is often regarded as the largest private car collection in the world.

Who has the most impressive car collection in the world? ›

The 29th Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, has the largest private car collection in the world, with over 7,000 vehicles and valued at over $5 billion. Who has the biggest car collection in the U.S.?

Who was the most famous car guy? ›

Famous Car Guys.
  1. Jay Leno. Producer. Writer. Actor The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (1994–2013) ...
  2. Tim Allen. Actor. Producer. ...
  3. Jerry Seinfeld. Producer. Writer. ...
  4. Patrick Dempsey. Actor. Production Manager. ...
  5. Steve McQueen. Actor. Producer. ...
  6. Billy Gibbons. Actor. Composer. ...
  7. Nick Mason. Actor. Music Department. ...
  8. Neal Schon. Actor. Composer.

Who has the largest car collection in the world? ›

Frequently asked questions. Who has the biggest car collection in the world? The 29th Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, has the largest private car collection in the world, with over 7,000 vehicles and valued at over $5 billion.

How much is Jerry Seinfeld's car collection worth? ›

With so many vehicles, Seinfeld has a number of storage units in different parts of the country to keep them safe, including a $1.4 million garage in Manhattan. The total value of his car collection is estimated to be between $50 and $100 million.

How much does Jay Leno make a year? ›

In the wake of these cuts, Leno and other higher-paid staffers apparently accepted pay reductions to prevent further crew-member layoffs. Although he no longer hosts “The Tonight Show,” according to some sources, Leno still earns between $10 and $15 million annually from his 200-or-so standup comedy performances.

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