Cars have been and will remain one of the strongest status symbols you could attach your identity to. And when it comes to shining brighter in a crowd of LED lights, one as colossal as a Rolls-Royce Phantom is bound to turn heads.

Maybe this is why the car has maintained its position as an ultra-luxury possession since it was released in 1925, more than 100 years ago. Its exquisite interior, regal exterior, effortless power and technological gizmo has kept it steady in the elaborate car collections of celebrities .

One for all: Royalty , celebrities and musicians


If you've got the money in your pocket and the life for it, then there's one Rolls-Royce Phantom for you out there.

“In the early days, Hollywood encouraged their stars to ride around in very expensive cars,” said Leslie Kendall, curator of the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, “because it enhanced their celebrity and by extension, the celebrity of the studio." to The Hollywood Reporter.

As early as 1928, actor Fred Astaire bought a custom-bodied 1927 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Town Car and even shipped it to the States for outfitting with a custom Louis Vuitton trunk for his tap shoes. Then in 1930, Marlene Dietrich made her entry into Hollywood from Germany in her green Phantom I convertible, even carrying it in her Hollywood debut.

When it comes to royals, the Phantom IV limousines of the 1950s were built solely for rulers and autocrats. Cue the blue blood owners including the Shah of Iran, General Francisco Franco of Spain and Queen Elizabeth II of England. This one wasn't just about status, it was about exclusivity, off limits even to Hollywood.

Now ascending the throne were musicians, big band icons like Duke Ellington and Count Basie rolled out their Phantom II or III. Elvis Presley even customized a 1963 Phantom V with a telephone and microphone in case inspiration struck. A year later John Lennon outfitted his with a record, cassette player and external speakers while Liberace covered his with tiny mirrors in 1962.

The car took a breath in the 90s as Rolls reorganized but when Phantom VII was released in 2003, it was back on track. T-Pain, 2 Chainz, Rick Ross, Pharrell Williams, Jay-Z and Beyonce, all owned one.

There's news of a new Phantom rolling in and what this counts for in terms of status is another upgrade, probably for those with new money. For a time when grandeur and luxury were not just visible and voiced with couture and brand ambassadorship, Phantom worked its charm like a loyal partner. Now, it's rolling its wheels, ticking all the boxes- good look.