Rolls-Royce is a fusion of art, luxury, and finesse—custom-built to meet individual tastes. From the sleek stainless-steel figure on the bonnet, known as the Spirit of Ecstasy, to the RR logo stamped on soft leather seats, every part of a Rolls-Royce shows off luxury, style, and top-quality craftsmanship.
The soft-touch interior, combined with the unique exterior, represents not just luxury but also the heritage, craftsmanship, and status for which Rolls-Royce is globally renowned. It’s no wonder that a specific genre of the upper class owns such a fleet of vehicles.
The current Rolls-Royce lineup includes the Phantom, the Ghost, the Cullinan, and the Spectre, while the Wraith and Dawn have been discontinued in favor of electrification. The Rolls-Royce Cullinan, with a base price of $410,000, combines luxury with off-road capability. Named after the largest diamond ever found (the Cullinan Diamond), RR’s first and only SUV is highly popular among younger ultra-wealthy buyers, with customizations alone ranging from $50,000 to $200,000.
It’s quite a car to have, especially considering its exclusivity. After all, it’s not just about purchasing a vehicle—operating one comfortably comes with significant costs: insurance at $6,300 per year, fuel at $6,000 annually, maintenance at $4,000, and miscellaneous expenses at $9,800, totaling over $26,000 per year in operating costs. To afford one comfortably, a buyer should have at least $10 million in liquid net worth.
Rolls-Royce customers can personalize nearly every detail of the vehicle, sometimes down to a microscopic level. Consider the Rolls-Royce Boat Tail, currently the most expensive car ever made (as of its reveal in 2021), selling at $28 million. The customization alone costs over $22 million. Features include a nautical-inspired rear hosting suite, a built-in champagne cooler, a cutlery set, and cocktail tables. The car also features a rear deck that opens like butterfly wings to reveal the suite. Its exterior showcases custom blue paint with mica flakes and a mother-of-pearl shine. Sadly, this masterpiece is a limited edition, with only three units in existence.
Another standout is the Rolls-Royce Rose Phantom, which starts at a base price of $550,000 before customization. The customization, valued at $2.3 to $2.5 million, includes bespoke rose-themed embroidery and headliner, custom silk interiors, and rare trims. Commissioned by a Middle Eastern client, this piece ranks among the top-tier Rolls-Royce customizations ever made.
Mansory is a household name when it comes to Rolls-Royce modifications. The German company customizes luxury vehicles, including Rolls-Royce models, offering a wide range of enhancements—from visual upgrades to performance tuning. One such creation is the Mansory Cullinan Custom, which starts at $400,000, with customizations valued between $80,000 and $1.2 million. Features include a full-body carbon fiber conversion, gold wheels, grille, and trims, diamond or crystal accents in the interior, engine tuning, LED lighting, and exotic materials.
Rounding things off is the Rolls-Royce Spectre, starting at $420,000. A major milestone for Rolls-Royce, this is the brand’s first all-electric car. It blends traditional ultra-luxury craftsmanship with modern EV convenience and performance. The Black Badge Spectre offers a sportier edge, delivering 650 horsepower and 1,075 Nm of torque, unleashed via a hidden steering-wheel button.
Owning a Rolls-Royce is not just about driving a car, it’s a lifelong investment and commitment. With maintenance costs rising every year, one must consider liquidity carefully before purchasing. And of course, without customizations, it can get boring. If “the more, the merrier” were a car brand, it would undoubtedly be Rolls-Royce—because the more customizations, the more iconic the car becomes.
