$400 Million Worth Sylvester Stallone Once Auctioned Off Brazilian Legend Ayrton Senna’s Invaluable Gift for Mere $40K

Ayrton Senna still holds as much reverence in motorsport fans’ hearts as he did during his time. Before losing his life to a horrific crash in 1994, the Brazilian great wanted a movie to be made about his life. For that, he approached Rocky-famed Sylvester Stallone and presented him with one of his helmets. Stallone, however, auctioned the helmet away in 2016.

After winning the F1 world championship thrice and impressing with his gutsy racing style, Senna acquired a cult status among F1 fans which included Lewis Hamilton. A biopic on his life back then would definitely have been a blockbuster hit. And to have an actor like Stallone play the main role would have been the cherry on top. However, before any decisions could be made, Senna fell prey to his ill fate.

As per ESPN, ahead of a Heritage auction in 2016, Sylvester said, “Ayrton Senna was one of the great drivers of all time and he wanted me to do his life story. We were speaking many years ago on the phone and he goes ‘I think it would be really good, I liked your films’. I said thank you very much — we spoke a lot by phone.”

“He said ‘let me show you the colors, it’s very much like Rocky colors’. So he sent it to me and of course, I’d never seen a helmet like this. And then he, unfortunately, died in this horrible crash and after that, I just decided I couldn’t do the film, it was just too hard,” he added. “But this [the helmet] is what he sent me. It’s been sitting in my house for 15 years and it’s just wonderful.”

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The $400 million worth (according to celebritynetworth.com) Hollywood actor made about $40,000 from the sale.

When Serena Williams shared Lewis Hamilton’s fandom for Ayrton Senna

It is no secret how much Lewis Hamilton reveres Senna. In his 2007 autobiography, Lewis Hamilton: My Story, the Brit revealed how he had never been star-struck in his life. That, however, might have happened, had he met Senna. Imagine his happiness when he matched his idol’s record for the number of pole positions and was presented with his helmet by his family in 2017.

He was not the only one to receive the 1987 helmet’s replica, though. His good friend Serena Williams received the honor last year in August as well. The possession of the original helmet remains with Ayrton’s family.

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Many, since Ayrton’s sad demise, have surpassed his records. However, his legacy lives on and will continue to live on for many years.