Think Ferrari is still a small, family-owned Italian brand where anyone with enough money can walk into a dealership and drive out with a Prancing Horse?
Think again.
Ferrari is one of the most mysterious and misunderstood automakers on the planet — and the truth behind its ownership, its buying rules, and its modern lineup is far more complex (and fascinating) than most enthusiasts realize.
From Enzo Ferrari’s last heir to the insane hypercars you’ll never be allowed to buy, here’s the real story behind the world’s most exclusive performance brand.
Ferrari’s Ownership: Not Family-Owned, and Not Even Mostly Italian
Many people still assume Ferrari is a privately run Italian dynasty. In reality, Ferrari’s ownership today looks very different:
🔹 67% — Publicly Traded (NYSE: RACE)
The majority of Ferrari is owned by shareholders worldwide. Anyone with a brokerage account can buy a piece… though that won’t bring you any closer to buying an actual Ferrari.
🔹 23% — Stellantis
The massive global auto group (which includes Dodge, Jeep, Alfa Romeo, Ram, Peugeot, and others) still holds a significant stake. This comes from the era when Ferrari was under Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), which merged into Stellantis.
🔹 10% — Piero Ferrari
Enzo Ferrari’s only living son owns the final 10%.
When Ferrari went public in 2015, Piero became a billionaire overnight, cementing his status as the last family link to Maranello.
So no — Ferrari isn’t a family business anymore. It’s part publicly traded, part multinational corporate stake, part Ferrari legacy.
The First Ferrari Ever: The 1947 125 S (Not the Monster You Think)
Today we associate Ferrari with fire-breathing V8s and screaming V12s. But the first-ever Ferrari was surprisingly modest:
1947 Ferrari 125 S
- 1.5-liter V12
- 118 horsepower
- Debuted poorly with a mechanical failure
- Later won 6 of 13 races
It wasn’t the loudest or fastest car of its era — but it was the car that announced Ferrari’s arrival on the motorsport stage.
That little 118-horsepower engine is what started everything.
Can Anyone Buy a Ferrari? Absolutely Not.
The biggest Ferrari myth is that if you’re rich, you can simply order whatever model you want.
The truth? Ferrari chooses its customers — not the other way around.
🚫 You cannot just walk in and buy a Daytona SP3.
Ferrari vets buyers for special cars. Requirements commonly include:
- Owning multiple previous Ferraris
- Maintaining a strong relationship with your dealer
- Not being known for flipping exotic cars
- Not making “unauthorized” personalizations
Yes — Ferrari has blacklisted people for modifying badges, wrapping cars, or selling too quickly.
🚫 Even celebrities have been banned
(Famous examples include Justin Bieber.)
So while many cars are “for sale,” not all buyers are welcome.
Ferrari’s Current Lineup: Hybrids, V12s, an SUV, and the Electric Future
Ferrari in 2025–2026 is more diverse than ever:
Hypercar & Halo Machines
- F80 (≈1,200 hp) – the next flagship hypercar
- SF90 XX Stradale/Spider – 1,030 hp track-enhanced plug-in monsters
Sport & Supercars
- 296 GTB / GTS – twin-turbo V6 hybrid
- 849 Testarossa – plug-in hybrid tribute to the ’80s icon
V12 Grand Tourers
- 12 Cilindri – Ferrari’s last screaming NA V12
- 812 Competizione – ultra-high-performance V12 special
SUV
- Purosangue – Ferrari’s first-ever SUV (and still a V12!)
Droptops & Grand Tourers
- Roma Spider – currently the cheapest new Ferrari, around $280K
Heritage “Icona” Models
- Monza SP1/SP2
- Daytona SP3
These celebrate Ferrari’s motorsport history and are offered only to handpicked collectors.
Want a Ferrari on a Budget? You Can… Kind Of.
There are affordable Ferraris — with a massive asterisk.
1980s Ferrari Mondial
- Typical price: $30,000–$40,000
- Running costs: catastrophic
- Known as the “cheapest Ferrari to buy, the most expensive to keep running”
If you’re dreaming of a budget Ferrari, just remember:
The purchase price is the down payment — the maintenance is the mortgage.
Performance Numbers to Blow Your Mind
A few stats that define Ferrari today:
- F80 Hypercar: ~1,200 hp and over 217 mph
- SF90 XX Stradale: 0–60 in 2.1 seconds
- 12 Cilindri: naturally aspirated V12 in a turbo-hybrid world
- Purosangue SUV: a Ferrari V12 family hauler
Ferrari may have heritage, but it is aggressively future-focused.
The Verdict: Ferrari is Exclusive By Design
Ferrari has never been just a car company.
It’s a luxury ecosystem, a status symbol, a lifestyle, and a controlled brand image protected at all costs.
To buy one:
- You need deep pockets.
- You need a long relationship with your dealer.
- You need patience.
- And sometimes, you need Ferrari to choose you.
The myth is that Ferrari is for anyone with money.
The truth is that Ferrari is for anyone who meets the brand’s extremely curated standards.
And that exclusivity — engineered or not — is what keeps the Prancing Horse so desirable.
