A Shakira fan, Michael Mejía, who won the singer’s customized 2022 Lamborghini Urus, plans to auction the luxury car rather than keep it. The vehicle, valued at approximately $195,000, became a financial burden due to the high costs of maintenance, insurance, and other associated expenses.
The Contest and the Prize
In late 2024, Shakira launched a contest that offered her distinctive Lamborghini as the grand prize. Participants had to create an original video set to her song “Soltera” and share it on social media. Mejía, a young man from Colombia, won the contest with an impressive animation, capturing the singer’s attention.
Along with the car, Mejía also received a check for $90,000 to help cover initial costs such as taxes, insurance, and transportation. However, the financial realities of owning such a car quickly became apparent.
The High Cost of Luxury
Despite Shakira’s financial contribution, the ongoing costs of owning the Lamborghini proved overwhelming. In a recent interview, Mejía shared that after six months of secured coverage, he was facing monthly insurance payments of around $2,500, not including gas and maintenance. “I thought I would have a little bit of that money left to enjoy, but no, nothing. I ended up having to pay more money to keep the car for six months,” he noted.
Faced with these steep expenses, Mejía is now considering either selling the car privately or auctioning it off to invest in his artistic future. “A middle-class person has just won a car that only millionaires can have,” he said. “Even though I would want to keep it forever, I will have to auction it or sell it, because it is quite expensive to maintain.”
Mejía remains grateful to Shakira for the opportunity and recognizes the significant impact of the experience, even though it taught him a valuable lesson about the true cost of owning luxury items like the Lamborghini.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Michael Mejía decide to auction Shakira’s Lamborghini?
Mejía is choosing to auction the car due to the high expenses associated with maintaining the vehicle. While he received financial assistance from Shakira, the monthly insurance costs, alone, were roughly $2,500, which proved unsustainable.
How was the contest organized by Shakira?
Shakira’s contest asked participants to create a unique social media video using the song “Soltera.” The winner was selected based on their creativity. No purchase was required, but the contest was limited to U.S. residents over the age of 18.
What did Michael Mejía learn from winning the Lamborghini?
Mejía learned that owning luxury items involves significant costs that far exceed the initial purchase price. Even though owning the car was a dream come true, maintaining a luxury vehicle like the Lamborghini proved to be financially difficult. This experience offered a valuable lesson about the economic challenges associated with owning high-value vehicles.
