The 2026 edition of Mecum Auctions in Kissimmee will go down as one of the most spectacular in recent automotive auction history. In the space of a few days, dozens of cars topped the million-dollar mark, and the top 10 alone amassed more than $130 million. An unprecedented performance, largely driven by FerrariThe final rankings were also dominated by a Ferrari. But at the top of this already dizzying hierarchy sat an absolute icon: a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO, which sold for $38.5 million. A colossal sum, even for this mythical model, considered for decades to be the ultimate Grail of the car collector.
A unique 250 GTO
This Ferrari 250 GTO is no ordinary GTO. Produced in 1962, it was the only one to leave the factory in this white color, dubbed "Bianco Speciale". Where most GTOs sport the traditional Rosso Corsa or other racing colors, this model stands out for its almost unreal elegance. Another special feature is that, despite a slight paint refresh during its lifetime, the car has never been extensively restored. It remains a true witness to its era, preserved in near-original condition, further enhancing its aura among the most discerning collectors. Unsurprisingly, bids soared to $38.5 million, making this GTO the most expensive car ever sold at a Mecum event.
Before joining the collection of its new owner, this 250 GTO belonged to Jon Shirley, former president of Microsoft, who acquired it in the late 1990s. Carefully preserved and never extensively restored, it has endured the decades as a relic of Ferrari's golden age of racing. Even at $38.5 million, it falls short of the all-time record for a 250 GTO, held by chassis 4153GT, sold for $52 million in 2013. But its unique status and special history give it a special place in Ferrari legend.
A buyer not long in the dark
On the day of the sale, one question was on everyone's lips: who could be behind such a cheque? In the room, it wasn't the buyer himself who raised his hand, but a man on the phone, advancing the bids on behalf of an anonymous client. For long minutes, all eyes turned to this mysterious intermediary, as the price rose above $34 million, then the symbolic threshold of $38 million. When the hammer finally fell, confirming the sale at $38.5 million, the identity of the new owner remained unknown. Until the veil was lifted a few days later.
David Lee, the collector of unlikely colors
The new owner of the Ferrari 250 GTO Bianco Speciale is none other than David Lee, a name already well known to Ferrari enthusiasts. A Californian entrepreneur of Hong Kong origin and head of the Hing Wa Lee group, which specializes in luxury watches and jewelry, David Lee is now considered one of the world's leading Ferrari collectors. He already owns some twenty models of the brand, but above all a collection that has become legendary for its atypical organization. Here, Ferraris are not classified by year or rarity, but by color. The reds are nicknamed "ketchup", the yellows "mustard", and the other shades join the "vegetable" category. It's an offbeat way of showcasing a collection estimated, even before this sale, to be worth over $100 million.
With this white Ferrari 250 GTO, David Lee completes a long-standing quest. On social networks, the collector didn't hide his emotion, calling the 250 GTO "the top of the mountain" and "the last stone of infinity" in the Ferrari universe. He explains that he has been collecting for years, and has set himself precise goals, such as owning all five of Ferrari's great modern supercars, from the 288 GTO to the LaFerrari, in duplicate, in red and yellow. But the 250 GTO, icon among icons, represented the ultimate achievement. In a world where supercars are called ketchup, mustard or vegetables, this white GTO could almost be nicknamed "milk".
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