I am thinking the likes of Jeff Bezos or Bill Gates simply do not drive anymore. Someone drives them and that person is likely a body guard with training in evasive driving (or whatever you call it) in case someone tries to attack or kidnap them.
I gotta say though, even if I was a billionaire, I’d still want to drive sometimes. I like driving. Not always but I would miss it if I could never do it again.
So, are there any special ways for very famous people to get a driver’s license or do they have to stand in line at the DMV like everyone else and hope they don’t get mobbed (not violently…just attract a lot of unwanted attention)?
I think it depends what state they to live in, but for the most part unless they have to appear in person, for example to get photographed for a new license, they pay people to handle these things for them. If they do have to visit a DMV in person, AIUI there are special accommodations provided, such as after-hours access and a back door entrance, so they can get in and out quickly without being seen by the general public.
I only know one billionaire personally. He waits in line like the rest of us.
One good thing about Washington State, you don’t have to go in every four years for a new photo and can just renew online. I don’t know how many times you can do that, but I haven’t been to the DMV in a long time.
I remember a video from years ago showing Kim Kardashian at the DMV (with her own makeup and lighting crew), but when I went looking for it now, I noticed that the DMV is clearly closed while she’s there. I mean, Kardashians are gonna Kardashian, and if she went to during normal operating hours, I’m sure they wouldn’t let her do all that.
I can see how it might be easier for everyone involved to have certain, what, ‘less’ down-to-earth celebs coming in outside of regular operating hours rather than causing a scene (even if they’re just standing in line and acting like a normal person). In any case, I’m going to WAG that, assuming it’s someone they’re willing to do this for, they make them pay a fee to cover the OT and any other expenses.
Reminds me of one of the few scenes from the show Nurses that I remember. The nurses are talking about how bad their DL pictures are. Loni Anderson shows hers, done with a professional makeup artist and lighting.
In any case, here’s the KK DMV clip
That’s probably the most typical answer. I don’t know any billionaires, but the very wealthy people I have met are self made workaholics, who don’t flaunt their status.
At my first job working at a Boston Market in San Diego about 25 years ago I once served lunch to Ken Shamrock and his family. He drove a vintage pink Cadillac.
I think there is going to be a big difference between celebrity and non-celebrity billionaires. Personal anecdote:
The billionaire family that I seem to visit about once per decade, are by planning and design very anonymous. They almost always drive themselves, and are indistinguishable from upper middle class orthodontists parking themselves at the DMV in a $150,000 Porsche.
They do many billionaire kind of things, like a palatial house, private jet, domestic help, extravagant parties, and much more expensive Porsches, but don’t even think twice about driving themselves to wherever they need to go.
They definitely maintain driver’s licenses, and are so devoted to self-driving, that they keep cars at their non-primary residences. I can’t comment on whether they go to the DMV themselves, but if that’s what’s required to renew a license, then that is what they’ll do.
Everyone in the USA knows The Walton Family that owns Wal-Mart is the wealthiest family in the country but I doubt most people would EVEN recognize any of them
