What do CEOs drive?

So, Is that because they interviewed small firm CEOs becuase I am sure that those who make above $200,000 wouldn't be driving cars below 25k, but like the article says Mercedes cars.

- 29 percent: Passengers cars
- 24 percent: SUVs
- 19 percent: Luxury cars
- 13 percent: Pickup trucks
- 9 percent: Vans and minivans
- 6 percent: Sports cars

I was expecting CEO's to drive less luxury and focus more on practicality. My boss drives a Subaru Legacy wagon for instance - and he makes good money.

My CEO (good friend) drives a two year old Highlander and a 5 year old Camry. Granted he has a really nice huge house with a 61" DLP in his poker room.

And still putting his last kid through school.

elsup - 9/7/2006 2:36:07

So, Is that because they interviewed small firm CEOs becuase I am sure that those who make above $200,000 wouldn't be driving cars below 25k, but like the article says Mercedes cars.

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That is not true. One of the world's richest men drives an old Volvo Wagon. He's a billionaire. How come he doesn't drive an expensive Supercar? Like the article said. Reliability, price, and value for the money.

Off topic for a sec here. Bill gates is the world's richest man. However, when you see him in his clothing, he doesn't look like a billionaire, and nor does his wife. Infact, Gates wears Microsoft T-shirts/Polo's you name it. It's not to promote his company either. His wife wears regular women's business dress pants with suit jacket (women's).

Now back on topic, main point is that no matter how much money a person has and how deep those pockets get, it does not mean they HAVE to have expensive things. So for anyone to say "Oh he is rich, he must drive a Lamborghini" would be a stereotypical thing to say.

Having that said, it also depends on what generation the 'wealth' is from. If it is old money, it usually either involves practicality or ultra-luxury sedans in which they are driven in. If it is "New world" money, perhaps a guy in his 30's 40's 50's, they MIGHT have a Ferrari, Bentley, RR, or any luxury car in their garage, OR they may simply drive an Acura TL (For example).

The title CEO justifies nothing. It's simply a position in a company that in many cases do mean high salary. It does not equal nice cars eventhough they could afford one.

Some of the most wealthy people I know drive ordinary cars. Most of the time somebody is "rich" because they know how to save their money and spend it on important things. To many a car is just a depreciating asset that isn't worth spending money on.

Actually you are what you drive, not in a shallow, materialistic way, but in a soulful, passionate way. Driving a Lexus vs an Audi or BMW tells volumes about your character and what you value in life without even saying a word. Its ok if people choose to drive an econo box because they are over it, but it matters in choosing a luxury car.

i don't think your car says anything about you. there are too many things that affect it like price, practicality fuel economy etc.
new cars waste a ton of money, you might as well just throw away the tax on it, you'll never get it back.
agent 63, the world's richest man is the chief of ikea. he is weird, he flies economy and has the volvo.
you most definitely aren't what you drive.
the second richest people i know drive a 2000 ml270cdi and a 1992 toyota previa.
the richest people i know(type binani on google, those companies are all theirs) drive a cls 500, a bmw 760li and a toyota previa. the daughter drives a 1996 renault clio.
they just don't care about that much about cars, lots of people don't.
if i had their money i'd be in porsches and lambos for sure (he just learnt to fly a helicopter and then flew it to cornwall for the weekend, the others have 7 houses or so in india).
does a car say your values in life? i don't think so. my parents main priority is me (of course) but they have bmws, so they should be caring about money and image.

what would other cars values be?

Luxury is a need not a necessity. CEO’s don’t have to buy Mercedes to know who they are and what they do.

Vcowman is spot on. What you drive says loads about who you are: what you value, your take on certain politics, etc. How could it not? The supporting evidence about the "richest men" and what they drive only goes to prove that it does matter. If it didn't, why would you be talking about it?

my point is that he did not go from an audi to a kia. what you drive matters.

We're mixing apples and oranges here. CEO's certainly make statements by driving expensive cars. Sure.

On the other hand, lots of people who have budgets drive what they can afford. They aren't making a statement except to say, this is what I can afford that won't break down.

Judging a guy in a Maxima because he isn't driving a more exciting car is very harsh on most people.

We don't know the person driving next to you. We don't know anything about them, even based on their make and model. Especially since most people have more than one vehicle. ("My other car is a ... " syndrome.)

Being an enthusiast is great. Taking it to this level is not great. Let's enjoy the cars WE own and like and let other people make their own decisions :)

-what you drive matters.

oh man lol.

Having been in the Fortune 500/Global 500 sectors, The CEOs I've had the privilege to work for have chauffeurs. Their personal vehicles are their business. A fact from a previous company was a stable of Ferraris in the garage.

Another CEO I had the pleasure to work for, was into Planes rather than cars. He was even rumored to own six planes including an F-16 to add to his collection. There was a rumor he flew under the Golden Gate Bridge, which is a major violation. He, as well, is into sailing and you may have seen him in the NASDAQ television commercials.

I think if you are the 400lb gorilla in the market, cars are the last things on your list.