At age 10, birthday wish lists usually include toys, video games, bicycles and, for many children, a coveted Lego set. For young Jean, however, the celebration took place on an entirely different scale: he received a Ferrari 599 GTO valued at US$ 1.6 million — around R$ 8.5 million in an approximate conversion. And this is not a model car meant to sit on a shelf.
The gift is a real, full-size Ferrari and one of the Italian manufacturer’s most coveted modern models.
Only 599 examples of the Ferrari 599 GTO were produced, turning the sports car into a highly desirable collector’s item. The birthday boy, however, will still have to wait several years before he can legally drive it.
The story was published by Luxurylaunches, which identified the boy as Jean, the son of Dutch businessman and car enthusiast Jeroen van den Berg.
Ferrari was delivered by another 10-year-old boy
Even the delivery of the gift featured an unusual detail. According to Luxurylaunches, the person who handed the keys to the birthday boy was Vik, one of his closest friends — who is also only 10 years old.
The boy took part in the occasion representing the Hoefnagels dealership.
But perhaps the most surprising detail is another one: the Ferrari 599 GTO is not even the first car from the Italian brand associated with Jean.
The boy already owns a Ferrari 488 Spider Tailor Made, showing that the new gift is part of a family in which rare, high-performance automobiles play an important role.
Who is the father of the boy who received the Ferrari?
Jeroen van den Berg is a Dutch businessman known on social media as “thehomelessguy”.
According to Luxurylaunches, he runs Carlink, a company specializing in the import and export of hard-to-find automobiles, as well as the supply of corporate fleets.
In 2015, the businessman said the company recorded annual revenue of close to US$ 113 million.
His own car collection helps explain the unconventional gift given to his son.
Van den Berg once shared ownership of a Bugatti Chiron with DJ Afrojack and was also involved in bringing a new-generation Ford GT to the Netherlands.
Another car that passed through his garage was even more exclusive: the first chassis produced of the Ferrari Sergio, a model limited to just six examples.
What makes the Ferrari 599 GTO so special?
Its million-dollar value cannot be explained by the Ferrari badge alone.
The 599 GTO was created as a road-going interpretation of the radical 599XX, developed with strong influence from the racetrack.
Under the hood is a naturally aspirated 6.0-liter V12 engine, capable of producing more than 660 hp and revving beyond 8,000 rpm.
The powertrain works with an automated single-clutch transmission developed from technologies used by Ferrari in its high-performance cars and motorsport-related programs.
The GTO designation itself holds a special place in the history of the Italian manufacturer. Traditionally reserved for some of its most extreme road cars, it identifies a significantly more radical version of the 599 GTB Fiorano.
To create the GTO, Ferrari reduced weight, improved the chassis and incorporated solutions developed from the experience gained through its racing programs.
The car given to the boy features a Grigio Silverstone Opaco finish, a relatively understated matte gray shade for a vehicle that is extremely difficult to overlook.
A birthday gift that could become even more valuable
There is also one fundamental difference between this Ferrari and almost any toy received at age 10.
While video games become outdated and toys may eventually be forgotten, modern Ferraris produced in limited numbers have become highly sought-after collectibles.
The 599 GTO already holds a privileged position in this market thanks to its limited production, V12 engine and technical connection to the 599XX.
Jean, therefore, received a car valued at US$ 1.6 million before he is even old enough to get behind the wheel.
According to Luxurylaunches, Jeroen described the Ferrari as a gift for his beloved son and said he was proud of him.
Now the family has only one problem: after receiving a Ferrari 599 GTO at the age of 10, topping that gift for his 11th birthday will not be an easy task.
Source: Luxury Launches. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.