George Clooney’s publicly documented cars make for an eclectic story, but not a verified, up-to-date inventory: a 1959 Corvette with family roots, a Porsche Carrera and a Lexus appeared in a 2013 garage profile, while his Tesla Roadster was sold at auction in 2012. Clooney also described earlier electric-car experiments in a 2011 interview.
What cars have been publicly documented?
The clearest snapshot is Esquire’s 2013 profile, which described a gray Lexus, a black Porsche Carrera and a red 1959 Corvette in Clooney’s garage. That is a report about the cars at that time—not proof that he still owns them or a complete count of his vehicles. Esquire’s 2013 profile is the source for that trio.
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| Car | What the dated reporting establishes |
|---|---|
| 1959 Chevrolet Corvette | Red convertible described in Esquire’s 2013 profile; Nick Clooney bought it new, and the profile called it original to the family. |
| Porsche Carrera | Black Carrera described in Esquire’s 2013 profile; the profile does not establish a specific model year or present-day ownership. |
| Lexus | Gray Lexus described in Esquire’s 2013 profile; the profile does not identify its model. |
Why the Corvette is the collection’s standout
The Corvette’s significance is personal as well as automotive. Esquire reported that Nick Clooney bought the car new in 1959 while working as a radio broadcaster in Lexington, Kentucky, and described it as a family car. That history makes it misleading to present it simply as a car George bought for himself.
In a 2020 British GQ feature, Nick recalled that George had long coveted it: “George always coveted my 1959 Corvette, which I bought to court my wife.” Nick said he was reluctant to let his son drive it, then later had it refurbished and sent to California as a Christmas gift. This is Nick’s recollection as quoted by GQ, not a current ownership record. British GQ’s account provides that family history.
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Clooney’s electric-car chapter
In a 2011 interview with Motorradonline, Clooney said he had a Tesla in Los Angeles and a Lexus hybrid, and that he had previously had a Tango, a compact electric car. These statements document what he said he owned at the time; they do not establish current possession. The interview is in German, so this summary avoids treating an English rendering as a verified direct quotation. Read the 2011 Motorradonline interview.
The Tesla Roadster was sold
The Tesla was a 2008 Roadster, Signature limited-edition model, identified by Gooding & Company as the eighth production Tesla and owned by Clooney from new. Its auction record shows it sold at Pebble Beach Auctions in 2012 for $99,000. Gooding said the proceeds would benefit the Satellite Sentinel Project. Gooding & Company’s auction record documents the sale.
A Los Angeles Times auction preview explained the project’s work using satellite monitoring to document violence and tensions near the Sudan–South Sudan border. It supplies context for the charitable destination, while Gooding’s record establishes the final sale result. The Los Angeles Times preview.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the garage says—and what it doesn’t
The reported mix spans a family heirloom, a Porsche sports car, an understated Lexus and past interest in electric vehicles. But the sources establish dated appearances and recollections, not a complete current collection, a total value or a reliable present-day ownership list. The Roadster, in particular, belongs in the story as a former car because its 2012 sale is recorded.
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