A collection of 25 supercars seized from Equatorial Guineaโs vice president as part of a Swiss money-laundering probe fetched nearly $27 million (ยฃ22.18 million) at an auction held by Bonhams on Sunday.
A 2014 white Lamborghini Veneno Roadster sold for 8.28 million francs (ยฃ6.80 million) including commission, about 50% more than its pre-sale estimate, in heavy three-way bidding.
โThe top lot of the collection and rarest of all, one of only nine built and introduced for the 50th anniversary of Lamborghini,โ said James Knight, group chairman of Bonhams Motoring Department, as he opened bidding.
The buyer was anonymous, but the saleroom burst into applause as the hammer came down at the event in a 12th-century abbey in the grounds of Bonmont golf and country club in the village of Cheserex, 30 km (19 miles) from Geneva.
Geneva prosecutors said in February that they had closed an inquiry into Teodoro Nguema Obiang for money laundering and misappropriation of public assets with an arrangement to sell the cars to fund social programmes in west African state.
Known as Teodorin, he is the son of President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, who has ruled Equatorial Guinea for 40 years. Rights groups label his administration as one the worldโs most corrupt.
A Reuters tally of official hammer prices, VAT and 15% commission, showed a total of 26.93 million francs.
A 2011 Aston Martin One-77 Coupe, which Knight described as an โabsolute rocket shipโ, went for 1.55 million francs.
โProceeds are for charity,โ he said.
A black 2015 Koenigsegg One-1 fetched 4.6 million francs.
A Swiss bidder told Reuters that an agent for a collector in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, had bought several supercars.
A grey armoured 1998 Rolls Royce Silver Spur in need of repair – and described by Knight as โperfect for someone who doesnโt have any friends or has enemiesโ – went for 86,250 francs.
A 1956 Aston Martin Lagonda, owned by the late Claude Nobs, founder of the Montreux Jazz Festival, was among 50 other cars that found new owners.
The Rolling Stones, Petula Clark, Aretha Franklin, Nina Simone, David Bowie and Freddie Mercury rode in the vintage vehicle, the catalogue said.
Thierry Amsallem, Nobโs partner and heir, attended the sale and bought a white 2007 Bentley Azure Decapotable from Obiangโs collection for 112,125 francs.
โIt is like new, just 843 miles on it. Weโll use it to drive around performers,โ Amsallem, chair of the Claude Nobs Foundation, told Reuters.