George Clooney Auctions $125,000 Tesla Roadster for Charity, Jay Leno Follows Suit
George Clooney plans to auction off his rare 2008 Signature 100 Tesla Roadster, an eco-friendly electric sports car, on Aug. 19 to help better the world. The proceeds of the sale will go towards a charity that helps war-torn Sudan.
George Clooney's Tesla Roadster, a two-seater with only 1,700 miles on it from when it was built, will be auctioned by Gooding & Company at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in Los Angeles. The Obsidian Black finish and two-tone leather interior makes the exceptional vehicle worth at least $100,000 to $125,000, according to Tesla- a number that could easily be surpassed during the auction.
"We are overjoyed to present George Clooney's Signature 100 Tesla at Pebble Beach because this is an incredible opportunity to purchase a modern collector car with all the right elements; one-owner, celebrity provenance; historical significance; limited-edition rarity and philanthropic ties," David Gooding, president and founder of the auction house, stated.
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The profits from the sale of Clooney's rare car will go towards the Satellite Sentinel Project, a charity co-founded by the "Descendants" actor and another activist, John Prendergast. The charity operates a satellite over Sudan to monitor for evidence of "alleged atrocities"- torture, censorship, abductions, and slavery are some of the human rights abuses commonly reported.
Clooney does more than simple raise money for the Sudanese project, however. He was arrested for protesting outside the country's Washington embassy in March of this year.
Alongside the expensive roadster will be Jay Leno's 2012 Fiat 500, the no. 2 Prima Edizione model out of a limited-edition batch that celebrates the company's arrival in the U.S. last year. Although the car belongs to an equally famous celebrity, it is estimated to be worth between $25,000 and $35,000.
Similarly to Clooney's car, the proceeds from the Aug. 18 sale of the Fiat 500 will go towards Fisher House Foundation, a nonprofit that gives war veterans and their families temporary housing.
"They build these mansions using only the finest- 55-inch TVs, custom kitchens- the best stuff," Leno told The Hollywood Reporter. "If you are a soldier who has been wounded and you're in rehab you can move into the house and you can leave when you are ready to leave."
The winning bid on the Fiat also gets a rare treat: the chance to see Leno's vast collection of rare and expensive cars in Los Angeles firsthand.
"Knowing Jay's passion for cars, and what this one represents to him, we recognize that he is sacrificing something special for what he believes is a greater good," Ken Fisher, CEO of Fisher House, said in a statement. "All of Fisher House and the families we serve thank him deeply."
