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William Adams, better known as will.i.am found an interest in rapping from a young age and began his career at 13. Before he graduated high school, the rapper was signed to the record label Eazy-E. He formed a trio in 1996 to create Black Eyed Peas, and the release of their first two albums was a moderate success. When Fergie joined to create a quarter, their third album Elephunk became a massive hit worldwide. Along with the band's success, will.i.am also focused on his solo career and released his tracks. He used his producing skills to create beats for notable artists like U2, Britney Spears, Justin Bieber, and Michael Jackson.
With a net worth of $70 million, will.i.am has spent the majority of his net worth on cars. Not only does he purchase them, he also redesigns them to create new bodywork with the help of West Coast Customs. From a modified Tesla to designing a car from scratch, let’s look at the expensive cars in will.i.am’s collection.
Tesla Model S ($94,900)
Tesla Model S has a unique design, and the rapper wanted to add his touch to the automobile. He customized a white Model S, first seen on Beverly Hills' streets in 2016. According to Top Speed, the custom model has a wide-body kit with a grill-like front structure resembling a smile. There are cutouts in the middle with black inserts and deep rims, along with a curved rear glass. The Model S also has tinted windows for privacy.
Tesla Roadster ($200,000)
Before customizing the Tesla Model S, will.i.am purchased a Roadster in 2013 to set himself apart. The rapper added massive 24-inch rims to the car along with tall fenders and large headlights. It looked wider than the original designer due to the tweaks that increased its size. will.i.am had offered an original sketch of his expectations, and almost 75% of the elements were incorporated in the changes. He was seen showing his car around New York at Barney’s in 2013.
Mercedes-AMG GT ($92,500)
To help support the non-profit STEM for its education initiatives, will.i.am and Mercedes-AMG teamed up to create the special concept car WILL.I.AMG in May 2022. The Mercedes-AMG GT Four-Door was taken to West Coast Customs to switch into a coupe and add the largest doors to a car, as noted by Car and Driver. The truck-like square front resembles a G-Wagen Additionally, the Mercedes logo on the front is replaced with the emblem of a bear to introduce Mercedes’ Bear Witness limited-edition online apparel.
Bentley Continental GT ($202,500)
While the previous models of the Bentley Continental GT drew mixed reviews until the powerful V8 model was released in 2013. The twin-turbocharged engine gives an HP of 500 and an improved throttle response. The GT has an eight-speed transmission with standard all-wheel drive. The interior has an expensive finish with comfortable seating. Will.i.am was often spotted driving his Continental GT around LA.
Lexus NX ($43,025)
Will.i.am had another customization on his hand with the Lexus NX in 2014. Lexus wanted to promote its NX, and the automaker teamed up with will.i.am to design a version of the compact crossover for the audiences to see. He added his touch to the vehicle and displayed his creation at the Paris Fashion Week in 2014.
1959 Custom Corvette ($687,500)
The 1959 Corvette became a popular car after its feature in the Johnny Depp film The Rum Diary in 2011, but the car had already caught the rapper’s interest. As mentioned by Daily Mail, will.i.am tracked down the vehicle to feature in his music video Gettin’ Over You in 2010. A year later, West Coast Customs tweaked and made a few changes to the tube chassis and added an iPad to its center console. In 2012, he was often seen taking it for a spin around the streets of West Hollywood.
DeLorean DMC-12 ($52,104)
DeLorean DMC-12 first gained traction after being featured in the time-travel comedy Back To The Future in 1985, wherein the lead character goes back in time. His white supercar was restyled at West Coast Customs in 2021. The car now has sunk-in headlights, a wide-body kit, revised front fascia, LED lighting, 20-inch fins, and a reworked hood. After the modifications, the car reportedly looks different and unrecognizable.
Volkswagen Beetle Bug ($1 million)
After making a series of custom-built vehicles, will.i.am next found his interest in the 1958 iteration of the Volkswagen Beetle. Called the ‘Mutant,’ the rapper began working on its cosmetic updates in 2009, and it took two years to build the car to completion, as stated by Motorious. He installed an LS3 supercharged engine with a grille and suicide doors. The reason for the creation of the car was for children to take an interest in math and engineering.
The rapper has continued to add education-related invitations through his innovation with cars to create interest in various pursuits in the field. His love for automation design has continued to grow over the years and will.i.am will continue to collaborate with famous automakers to make new designs.
Sources: Top Speed, Car and Driver, Daily Mail, Motorious
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