Bulletproof Cars: 15 Ways the Rich and Famous Drive in Style

When money doesn't matter, you can buy everything you've always dreamed of. whether it's a wardrobe full of designer dresses or a stylish supercar, the possibilities are endless. Convertible sports cars can be the perfect boy's toy when it comes to owning a set of wheels, but if you very rich and versionIf you're famous, you need to consider more than just good looks and smooth running. You must consider whether it is safe or not. Convertibles are actually not very safe cars!

Whether you're a global celebrity or an important global leader, safety becomes more and more important as your level of success rises. The more famous you are, the more you become a target for those who want to make a name for themselves. Some celebrities are in even more danger because of their origins. One has only to think how many rap artists have been shot to understand that music can be a dangerous profession!

Perhaps Tupac Shakur would still exist today if he invested in a bulletproof car to take him and his entourage around Los Angeles. Despite this, more and more celebrities and famous personalities are investing in serious bulletproof and even bombproof cars to get them, their families and friends from point A to point B, including those listed below.

15 Bentley Mulliner Flying Spur — William and Kate

50 Cent may have started out driving around in a Chevy Surburban, but the next bulletproof car on the list these days would be far more suited to his taste: the Bentley Mulliner. Back in 2003, the British company created what it called "the world's most bulletproof car." This model is very popular with royalty all over the world.

Even the British royal family took part in the action: Prince William and his wife Kate used the Bentley Mulliner Flying Spur to get to official events. The royal couple's $400,000 car has steel plating and triple-glazed windows to ensure the safety of the heirs to the throne. More importantly, their Flying Spur can reach speeds of up to 200 miles per hour if they need to make a quick escape.

14 Chevrolet Suburban - 50 cents

The Suburban is Chevy's version of the luxury SUV. When rapper 50 Cent first became a superstar, he and this car were the perfect match in heaven. His tastes may have evolved into Bentleys and Rolls Royces these days (if his songs are to be believed), but in those days 50 Cent was all about his bulletproof Chevy Suburban.

This is the custom SUV behemoth that cost him $200,000.

In addition to being bulletproof, the Suburban was also reported to be explosion-proof and fitted with special tires that kept moving even when shot through. Considering that when 50 Cent - real name Curtis Jackson - was hit by nine bullets in his Queens home in 2000, it's no wonder he opted for a bulletproof car as soon as he could afford it.

13 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Pullman Guard — Vladimir Putin

If you decide that the Mercedes-Benz S-Class Pullman Guard is a bulletproof vehicle that keeps you and your family safe, then you are in good company. After all, this is the car chosen by Russian President Vladimir Putin for his safety. He definitely has a lot of enemies!

In fact, Russian presidents have been driving around in bulletproof Mercedes S-Class limousines since the days of Boris Yeltsin.

Before that, they always chose Russian cars, and Putin is returning to this tradition for his next car, nicknamed Processionwhich will be produced in Russia. It will be equipped with a Porsche engine and enough armor to keep out bullets and even rocket-propelled grenades. This is just in case someone gets close enough to the Russian prime minister to shoot them...

12 Conquest Knight XV - Dwight Howard

Now we're moving from luxury sedans that hide their bulletproof safety features under a sleek and sophisticated exterior to a car that screams its near-invincibility from the rooftops. The Conquest Knight XV is a very limited edition vehicle from Toronto-based Conquest Vehicles.

It's more tank than car, weighs 7 tons and only gets 6 mpg. This is not surprising when you consider that one of the doors of Conquest Knight XV weighs as much as two adults!

These monsters, worth over $600,000 each, will never be a regular sight on the streets. However, the cars were sold out by one of the princes of the United Arab Emirates and basketball player Dwight Howard. Only Howard knows exactly why he needs such protection.

11 Lexus LS 460 L - Prime Minister of Singapore

Hollywood celebrities may be starting to believe in the idea of ​​bulletproof cars, but where these armored vehicles really make money is in the diplomatic scene. No self-respecting ambassador, prime minister, president, or dictator would get into a car that wasn't fully protected from all sorts of attacks.

The official car of the Prime Minister of Singapore is a white Lexus LS460 L. It is a $300,000 bulletproof limousine that combines luxury and comfort with the ability to protect passengers from armed attack. Lexus LS 460 L has a protection rating of BR6. For those not in the know, this means that it can protect against automatic rifle shots. Singapore's current prime minister, MP Lee Hsien Loong, has been in power since 2004 and doesn't need his bulletproof car just yet. However, it's better to be safe than sorry.

10 BMW 7 Series High Security - Tony Blair

Like all former British prime ministers, Tony Blair rides in a bulletproof car for the rest of his days. This is a BMW 7 Series High Security car. Although he is not the only one. As the Hollywood paparazzi get more pushy, this car is also getting more popular there.

Features once intended to scare off political assassins are now being used to discourage famous photographers from getting too close.

Some of the safety features of the armored version of the BMW 7 Series include a body that can withstand armor-piercing bullets. They also have run-flat tires and the windows can even be fully closed in case you get chemical attack (which is unlikely).

9 Audi 8L - king and queen of Norway

The King and Queen of Norway use a 2016L 8 Audi as their company car, although the luxury car is known simply as the "A2" among security officials. King Harald V and his wife Sonja have been on the Norwegian throne since January 1991.^st birthday in 2018, it's safe to assume that his son Haakon will soon inherit both the crown and the luxurious Audi 8L.

Perhaps the most impressive thing about the Audi 8L is that it looks just as good on the outside as any other high-end Audi.

This particular bulletproof vehicle has a ballistic rating of VR9 - the highest possible - and is able to withstand just about anything you can throw at it, from automatic fire to explosives.

8 Cadillac Escalade - President Trump

Although the Cadillac One (presidential limousine) is not 100% Cadillac Escalade, it borrows many of the features and much of the look and feel of the popular luxury SUV. Trump's car also has a few extra bells and whistles when it comes to safety. After all, he carries the most powerful man in the world. It has bulletproof glass and doors without keyholes that can only be opened by members of the Secret Service.

He also has his own arsenal, including RPGs, night vision optics, and a tear gas cannon.

The car can also be sealed in case it gets chemical attack. In case of the worst, Cadillac One also has oxygen tanks and two pints of the president's blood!

7 Dartz Prombron Black Alligator - Jay-Z

The Dartz Prombron Black Alligator is the perfect vehicle if you want to combine safety and security with total brilliance. For example, this is the perfect car for a rapper like Jay-Z. That's why Mr. Beyoncé was one of the first in line to buy a limited edition Black Alligator from Latvian car manufacturer Dartz when his prototype was launched in 2017.

They will be considered among the most exclusive cars in the world. Only 50 units are produced, and each costs over $1 million. The body is made of Kevlar panels with a carbon coating. They're tough enough to keep any projectile out, and coated in 1,001 ground black diamond dust just in case the car isn't already screaming "gorgeous."

6 Rezvani Tank - Jamie Foxx

When the word "tank" is in the name of your car, you probably already have some idea of ​​what kind of vehicle you are going to drive from the parking lot. And that certainly applies to the Rezvani Tank, the favorite vehicle of actor and musician Jamie Foxx.

Perhaps the biggest safety benefit of the tank is that it looks like a vehicle that feels better on the battlefield than on the streets of Los Angeles.

This bulky SUV looks like the kind of car you wouldn't want to see approaching you in a dark alley. Based on his social media photos, Mr. Fox is clearly very proud of his latest car purchase. You can equip your Rezvani Tank with all sorts of additional safety features, including run-flat tires, ballistic armor, bulletproof glass and thermal night vision.

5 Chevrolet Camaro - Jay Leno

Car aficionado Jay Leno is a big Chevy Camaro fan. So much so that back in 2009, General Motors even released a "Jay Leno Edition" of the classic muscle car. If you are looking for safety, muscle cars are usually not the first vehicle that comes to mind. After all, this list is dominated by sedans and SUVs. However, one Texas company went out of its way to create a bulletproof Camaro for muscle car fans who might be attacked. fast and furious, anyone?

To keep the Camaro's classic look, the bulletproof version can only withstand small arms and shotgun fire.

However, even this level of protection is better than nothing, although the rebuild alone will cost you at least twice as much as the price of a new Camaro!

4 Maybach 62 - Charlie Sheen

Actor Charlie Sheen sold his bulletproof Maybach 62. He put it up for sale on eBay back in 2016. However, over the years, his custom wheels have been his pride and joy. Charlie Sheen reportedly paid around $400,000 for his Maybach 62 and only recovered $241,000 from his online sale. Someone out there got a lot! Now they have not only a piece of Hollywood memorabilia, but also one of the most impressive sedans ever made.

Sheen's model had a V12 engine and leather upholstery. A few years ago, the vehicle was upgraded to provide level 5 ballistic protection. This kept two and a half men the star is safe from everything, including high-powered rifles and irate studio executives.

3 Jaguar XJ Sentinel - Theresa May

Former British Prime Ministers may drive a BMW 7 Series, but current British Prime Minister Theresa May always has a fleet of cars at her disposal. The fleet includes a very luxurious Jaguar XJ Sentinel with all the modern comforts including safety features.

There is an element of tradition in Jaguar's choice to provide cars to the Prime Minister that goes back to when the company was still owned and operated in the UK, although the modern XJ Sentinel is a far cry from the traditional Jaguars of the 1950s.

The Prime Minister's Jaguar XJ Sentinel has a protection level of B7, which means that it can withstand even armor-piercing bullets. This also means that it provides blast protection for up to 15 kg of explosives.

2 Toyota Land Cruiser — Aamir Khan

Aamir Khan may not be a household name in the United States or Europe, but to the billions of people living in India, the award-winning Bollywood actor and singer is a living legend. He is also a big fan of the Toyota Land Cruiser, a reliable yet sophisticated SUV that is also enduringly popular with world leaders and ministers from around the world. This is all thanks to its impressive safety features.

Khan apparently owns more than one bulletproof vehicle as he reportedly received death threats in 2014. So far, his Toyota Land Cruiser and other modified vehicles seem to be doing a good job of keeping him alive - much to the delight of his army. Bollywood fans.

1 Huron - need to confirm?

At the moment, the Huron armored vehicle is only available for purchase if you are the head of government and want to buy vehicles for your police or military forces. However, given the success of the other bulletproof cars on this list, how long will it be before celebrities and world leaders start demanding even more protection from their cars?

The Huron APC costs up to $700,000 and was designed for the Colombian police.

It has an outer shell that can withstand not only automatic rifle fire, but also hand grenades and even small anti-personnel mines. It even manages to look pretty stylish. Think Hummer on steroids. You just know that if they were available, Hollywood stars would line up around the block to get their hands on that automotive shine.

Sources: inkaarmored.com, topspeed.com