Who drives a Rolls-Royce or Bentley?
According to the luxury carmaker’s latest research, the average Rolls-Royce owner is a 55-year-old male. (Bentley owners are slightly younger, perhaps because of that marque’s sportier character.)
But 12 percent of those who drive the $251,000 Rolls-Royce Corniche IV convertible are younger than 20.
The typical owner of a Rolls-Royce or Bentley has an annual income of well more than $1 million, with 52 percent having assets valued at $5 million or more. Only 1 percent of owners have assets of $500,000 or less.
About a third of Rolls-Royce buyers are company presidents, and 19 percent are chief executives. About 8 percent are self-employed or entrepreneurs.
Doctors, stockbrokers, lawyers and pop stars lead the list of Rolls-Royce buyers, and Bentley owners are often in real estate or financial services.
Contrary to popular belief, only 3 percent of Rolls-Royce cars are chauffeur-driven. About 60 percent of buyers have owned Rolls-Royces previously.
Rolls-Royce’s biggest market is the U.S., followed by Britain, France and Germany. The Middle East and Japanese markets have fallen dramatically in recent years because of stagnant oil prices and economic recession.
Rolls-Royce plans to open its first dealerships in Russia and China soon. The carmaker recently opened its first dealership in Chile.
About two-thirds of the 117,000 Rolls-Royce cars made since 1904 are believed to be in running condition. On newer models, the odometer can record up to 1 million miles.
Features that have been built into Rolls-Royce cars at owner request include a pianola, coffee machine, bed, hot-and-cold running water, a commode and an interior roof depicting the heavens.
