At some point in your life, you’ve heard, or sung along to, a song by Grammy Award–winner DJ Khaled. His ability to collaborate with virtually any artist and produce irresistibly catchy hits has taken him to the top of the charts time and time again. That success has also handed him the keys to an impressive collection of luxury rides, both on the road and in the air. To learn more about DJ Khaled and what drives him, literally and metaphorically, we joined him, his cars, and his private jet inside his South Florida hangar.
duPont REGISTRY: DJ Khaled, thank you so much for taking the time to talk with us. Can you tell us a little bit about the Rolls-Royce Phantom?
DJ Khaled: This Rolls-Royce Phantom is probably my third or fourth Phantom. It’s iconic and classic, and you can never go wrong with it, no matter what year it is. This one only has a few thousand miles on it, but it reminds me of the beginning. I remember when they told me I could never have a Phantom. They said that all the time.
So I made sure I got the extended version, not the regular Phantom. The long wheelbase, the one you order. They said I couldn’t get certain interiors, so I asked for red guts.
I’ve always been a fan of luxury cars since I was a kid. One of my first dream cars was a BMW M3. I had the original one, then the E46. Even when I didn’t have money, I always made sure I got a nice car, even if I missed the car notes and they came to pick it up. It wasn’t about showing off, it was about expressing success. Every car has a story.
When I finally got the Phantom, it felt like I pulled off the impossible, and that inspired me to go even bigger.
duPont REGISTRY: Can you show us the interior and what makes this a long wheelbase?
DJ Khaled: This is the long wheelbase. Look at the seat, I can put my whole feet up. I don’t drive this car, I get driven in it. It’s my office. If it’s an hour drive, it feels like 20 minutes.
Back here I’m doing emails, calls, ideas, music, sneakers, merch, movie scripts, and planning the next play. It keeps me inspired, and I’m grateful for that. We do shoots like this to show people they can have this too, if they want it.
This car is timeless and a classic. That’s how you start collecting cars. You get one, and before you know it, you have four.
duPont REGISTRY: Tell us about this one, the Maybach 62S Landaulet.
DJ Khaled: This Maybach Landaulet is serious. There are only a few of these in the U.S. It’s not a regular Maybach. I wish they would go back to this shape. The back seat is one of my favorites.
This one has no roof. They told me I could never get a Maybach, so I got a Maybach with no roof. People have offered me millions for it, but I won’t sell it.
I made the record ‘Top Off My Maybach’ with JAY-Z, Future, and Beyoncé. While we were working on it, I said I couldn’t make a record like that without living it, so I ordered the Landaulet.
This one is special, timeless, and completely factory. I didn’t want to change anything.
duPont REGISTRY: And the Virgil Maybach, what does this car mean to you?
DJ Khaled: This is one of my favorite cars, and it’s one of my everyday cars. First, it’s from the great Virgil Abloh. Not many people get to collaborate with Maybach and create something of their own.
The colorway is incredible. Nobody would have thought to do this. Virgil either took a chance or hit a home run, and he hit a home run.
I’ve known Virgil since the early Kanye days, and his vision was unbelievable. He was creating sneakers, clothes, and Maybachs, even things we didn’t know he was working on.
This was the hardest car for me to get. I contacted the CEO of Maybach and stayed persistent. Eventually, one became available. When it showed up on the trailer, it was a blessing.
duPont REGISTRY: And this one, the Rolls-Royce Cullinan?
DJ Khaled: This is my everyday car. If I’m not in my truck, I’m in this. I pull up to golf in it. It has Tiffany seats, which I special ordered. Shoutout to Jen at Rolls-Royce for helping me design it to match my golf bag.
Rolls-Royces drive with so much power. I love them. This is the car I use for school drop-offs, pick-ups, and errands.
duPont REGISTRY: Let’s talk about the jet.
DJ Khaled: Every time I walk into the We The Best air hangar, I remind myself that I worked hard for this. I needed it because the business kept growing. I was traveling from city to city and sometimes three states in a single day.
The Global 6500 feels like my living room in the sky. We made the carpet, the seats, and the pillows feel like home. I want peace and comfort when I fly.
A jet is like time travel. It saves time and gives you freedom. If it’s raining, we wait. If there’s turbulence, we go around it. And yes, you can fly from Miami to Tokyo nonstop.
My favorite memories are with my family. Watching my kids enjoy the life I worked for is priceless.
The jet was a dream that became a goal, and then I achieved it. Now I’m thinking about the next jet.
duPont REGISTRY: Your work ethic is nonstop. What drives you?
DJ Khaled: No one is going to work harder than me. That’s a fact. Teamwork makes the dream work, but I have to get it done.
I want to inspire entrepreneurs. There are no shortcuts. Praise God, work hard, go hard, and stay grateful.
Everything I do is for my kids and my family. I want them to have seven jets one day, but I want them to know the steps to get there.
Gratitude is number one. All these blessings, I thank God for them.
