Billionaires may have shed wealth during the global financial meltdown but they’re snapping up models from the world’s most expensive luxury car brand in record numbers.

Despite the million-dollar-plus price tags, Rolls-Royce last year posted its best sales in 18 years, selling 1212 cars globally.

And the BMW-owned British brand could triple sales next year with the arrival of a new model.

This June 7 Bonham’s will auction off the 1928 Rolls-Royce 40/50hp Phantom I Ascot Dual Cowl Sport Phaeton with coachwork by Brewster that starred in the 1974 movie version of The Great Gatsby.

The sale will take place during the Greenwich Concours d’Elegance in Connecticut and the car is expected to fetch anywhere between $150,000 and $200,000.

The car belongs to Massachusetts collector Ted Leonard, who leant it for the film.

Shoppers at a Tesco superstore (Hampshire) had to dive for cover when a motorist drove a Rolls-Royce straight through the store window and demolished checkouts.

Minutes earlier the 50-year-old man had tried to buy alcohol at the supermarket but staff refused to serve him because they claimed he was already drunk.

He then stormed out of the shop and got into the luxury saloon, where store managers tried to reason with him.

Burj Al Arab, one of the most luxurious hotels, has received four new bespoke model Phantom Rolls-Royce’s into its already extensive luxury vehicle range.

The iconic hotel has enlarged the fleet of Phantoms to ten - all of which have custom-made features specifically crafted to reflect the unique opulence of the hotel.

The four Special Edition Phantoms are hand built with custom-made wood with Gold Inlays matching the Burj Al Arab logo and unique Greek inlays harmonizing with the hotel’s rooms.

“Spotted in Monaco recently was this pimped-out Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe customized in a Murakami multicolored Louis Vuitton monogram, belonging to the infamous Prince Marcus von Anhalt.”

This Phantom Drophead Coupe is so vulgar that it deserves to be ranked amongst the worst, though.

All the style and class of a Phantom has been taken away.

Palmer Johnson is preparing to take on the world with a 82-meter (267-foot) Ice Class expedition yacht designed by Nuvolari & Lenard, aptly named the “World”.

Having acquired the Norwegian shipyard Flekkefjord Slipp & Maskinfabrikk’s, PJ has now positioned themselves to build “world” class expedition yachts.

True to the Palmer Johnson identity, Italian designers Nuvolari-Lenard have ensured the six-deck interior and exterior living areas provide the highest degree of comfort.