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High Earner Breaks Down the Numbers Behind His $90K Ferrari Purchase: 'I Didn't Miss The Money At All'

MarketDash Editorial Team
7 days ago
A car enthusiast in his late 20s making over $500K annually explains how he finally pulled the trigger on a Ferrari F360 Spider after a year of deliberation, financing it through margin loans while aggressively investing for retirement.

There's a moment in every high earner's life when the spreadsheets start to feel a little oppressive. You've saved diligently, invested aggressively, and built a comfortable nest egg. But at what point do you actually enjoy the fruits of your labor?

For one car enthusiast in his late 20s pulling in more than $500,000 annually, that moment arrived after mulling over a Ferrari F360 Spider purchase for over a year. With a $1.5 million portfolio already built, he finally pulled the trigger on his dream car. His reaction after the purchase? "I didn't miss the money at all."

He shared the financial details of his decision on Reddit, offering a fascinating glimpse into how someone balances aggressive wealth building with enjoying life right now.

Finding Value in the Used Luxury Market

This wasn't an impulsive walk into a dealership to buy a brand-new Ferrari. The buyer did his homework, finding a used F360 Spider from a dealer and putting it through a thorough inspection to assess its condition and identify necessary maintenance.

After evaluating what repairs would be needed, he negotiated hard and walked away with the Ferrari for $90,000. He estimates another $10,000 in repairs and an additional $10,000 for personal modifications, bringing his all-in cost to around $110,000.

"By all accounts, I stole a Ferrari," he told Reddit users. Similar models in comparable condition typically sell for around $140,000 before any work is done.

Buying used allowed him to sidestep the steepest part of the depreciation curve. A new Ferrari with zero miles would have cost substantially more, and as he pointed out, you don't necessarily need those pristine miles if the car isn't going to be your daily driver.

"I don't know how much I'll actually drive this compared to my other cars," he admitted.

The YOLO Philosophy Meets Financial Planning

The buyer was upfront about the opportunity cost. He now owns roughly $218,000 worth of vehicles with a cost basis of $183,000. From a pure ROI perspective, that money could have been working harder in the stock market.

But here's where his philosophy gets interesting. With his high income and already substantial portfolio, he figured he had enough flexibility to indulge in a dream purchase while still securing his financial future.

"I'm already at the top of my net worth and income bracket, and we're going to die," he said matter-of-factly.

Living that "you only live once" mentality, he took a rather unconventional financing route: an Interactive Brokers margin loan at 5% APR. It's not the most conservative approach, but he's been investing aggressively for seven years and feels comfortable with the risk.

"I'll be paying back this loan aggressively over the next six months," he explained.

Keeping the Prancing Horse Under Wraps

What's particularly interesting is how he plans to handle the social aspects of Ferrari ownership. He's not planning to parade his new toy around family, friends, or coworkers. For him, this purchase was about the driving experience, not status signaling.

"I know the badge brings preconceived notions that aren't necessarily positive," he said.

Rolling up in a Ferrari sends a certain message about your financial situation, and he'd rather maintain a lower profile in his social circles. It's a surprisingly mature take on luxury purchases from someone still in his 20s.

From a strict financial perspective, buying a Ferrari will never make sense. The same money in an index fund would almost certainly generate better returns. But his story highlights an important truth about personal finance that spreadsheets can't capture: sometimes the big purchase is worth it.

You can't justify these expenses purely on opportunity cost. But if you've been saving diligently for years, have your financial house in order, and the purchase represents something meaningful to you, maybe that's justification enough. After all, what's the point of accumulating wealth if you never actually enjoy it?

Back to News

High Earner Breaks Down the Numbers Behind His $90K Ferrari Purchase: 'I Didn't Miss The Money At All'

MarketDash Editorial Team
7 days ago
A car enthusiast in his late 20s making over $500K annually explains how he finally pulled the trigger on a Ferrari F360 Spider after a year of deliberation, financing it through margin loans while aggressively investing for retirement.

There's a moment in every high earner's life when the spreadsheets start to feel a little oppressive. You've saved diligently, invested aggressively, and built a comfortable nest egg. But at what point do you actually enjoy the fruits of your labor?

For one car enthusiast in his late 20s pulling in more than $500,000 annually, that moment arrived after mulling over a Ferrari F360 Spider purchase for over a year. With a $1.5 million portfolio already built, he finally pulled the trigger on his dream car. His reaction after the purchase? "I didn't miss the money at all."

He shared the financial details of his decision on Reddit, offering a fascinating glimpse into how someone balances aggressive wealth building with enjoying life right now.

Finding Value in the Used Luxury Market

This wasn't an impulsive walk into a dealership to buy a brand-new Ferrari. The buyer did his homework, finding a used F360 Spider from a dealer and putting it through a thorough inspection to assess its condition and identify necessary maintenance.

After evaluating what repairs would be needed, he negotiated hard and walked away with the Ferrari for $90,000. He estimates another $10,000 in repairs and an additional $10,000 for personal modifications, bringing his all-in cost to around $110,000.

"By all accounts, I stole a Ferrari," he told Reddit users. Similar models in comparable condition typically sell for around $140,000 before any work is done.

Buying used allowed him to sidestep the steepest part of the depreciation curve. A new Ferrari with zero miles would have cost substantially more, and as he pointed out, you don't necessarily need those pristine miles if the car isn't going to be your daily driver.

"I don't know how much I'll actually drive this compared to my other cars," he admitted.

The YOLO Philosophy Meets Financial Planning

The buyer was upfront about the opportunity cost. He now owns roughly $218,000 worth of vehicles with a cost basis of $183,000. From a pure ROI perspective, that money could have been working harder in the stock market.

But here's where his philosophy gets interesting. With his high income and already substantial portfolio, he figured he had enough flexibility to indulge in a dream purchase while still securing his financial future.

"I'm already at the top of my net worth and income bracket, and we're going to die," he said matter-of-factly.

Living that "you only live once" mentality, he took a rather unconventional financing route: an Interactive Brokers margin loan at 5% APR. It's not the most conservative approach, but he's been investing aggressively for seven years and feels comfortable with the risk.

"I'll be paying back this loan aggressively over the next six months," he explained.

Keeping the Prancing Horse Under Wraps

What's particularly interesting is how he plans to handle the social aspects of Ferrari ownership. He's not planning to parade his new toy around family, friends, or coworkers. For him, this purchase was about the driving experience, not status signaling.

"I know the badge brings preconceived notions that aren't necessarily positive," he said.

Rolling up in a Ferrari sends a certain message about your financial situation, and he'd rather maintain a lower profile in his social circles. It's a surprisingly mature take on luxury purchases from someone still in his 20s.

From a strict financial perspective, buying a Ferrari will never make sense. The same money in an index fund would almost certainly generate better returns. But his story highlights an important truth about personal finance that spreadsheets can't capture: sometimes the big purchase is worth it.

You can't justify these expenses purely on opportunity cost. But if you've been saving diligently for years, have your financial house in order, and the purchase represents something meaningful to you, maybe that's justification enough. After all, what's the point of accumulating wealth if you never actually enjoy it?