Why Bugatti Allegedly Banned Tom Cruise
Tom Cruise, a star celebrated for his love of fast cars and performing his own stunts, allegedly found himself on a unique list—celebrities banned from purchasing Bugattis. This reported decision by Bugatti stems from an incident at the “Mission Impossible 3” premiere in 2005, which the luxury car manufacturer viewed as detrimental to its brand image.
Cruise, who had acquired a high-end Bugatti worth over $1 million at the time, drove the car to the film’s premiere, aiming for a grand entrance. However, the event didn’t go as planned. The incident involved Cruise struggling to open the passenger-side door of his Bugatti Veyron—a car known for its powerful 16-cylinder engine and 1001 horsepower. This struggle, which lasted a significant amount of time, occurred in full view of the premiere’s attendees and was broadcast globally.
While the media and fans generally didn’t make a big deal out of the situation, Bugatti reportedly saw it as a serious blunder. Perceiving the mishap as a form of disrespect towards the brand’s esteemed reputation, Bugatti allegedly decided to prohibit Cruise from making any future purchases. The ban mirrors similar restrictions imposed by luxury car brands on other celebrities who, for various reasons, have potentially tarnished the brand’s image in public incidents. Other celebrities who have faced similar restrictions include Kim Kardashian and Justin Bieber.