Sometimes, even owning a Ferrari or Lamborghini doesn’t quite satisfy the craving for an extraordinary ride.
Just ask Joe Burrow, quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals. In the latest episode of HBO’s Hard Knocks, the young NFL star casually shared with his teammates the latest addition to his impressive car collection: a replica of the iconic “Tumbler” Batmobile from Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy.
In a scene from the show’s new AFC North in-season series, Burrow is seen chatting with wide receivers Tee Higgins and Jamar Chase during practice. With a grin, he casually drops the bombshell: “Have I told you I bought a Batmobile? … I don’t get it for like a year, but I bought it.” His laid-back manner, which has earned him the nickname “Joe Cool,” is on full display, though he clearly enjoys sharing the news with his teammates.
In true Burrow fashion, he has a bit of fun with the announcement, jokingly pondering, “What if I wore it to every game? I just wore the full Batsuit, the Batmobile, to every game. I’d go crazy on Halloween,” he says, laughing with Chase.
The excitement behind Burrow’s purchase is understandable. Warner Bros. Discovery had announced in October that they would produce ten replicas of the Batmobile, and Burrow was eager to get his hands on one. The full-sized, fully functional replica measures 183 inches in length, 111 inches in width, and stands 60 inches tall, according to The Drive. It’s powered by a 6.2-liter LS3 Chevrolet V8 engine that delivers over 500 horsepower, but due to its hefty 5,500-pound weight, it likely won’t match the speed of the Batmobile seen in the films. Unfortunately for Burrow, the replica doesn’t come with the movie version’s weapons or the deployable Batcycle. It’s also not street-legal, but it still ranks as one of the most extravagant vehicles owned by a professional athlete—up there with Luka Dončić’s Apocalypse Hellfire 6×6.
While the Batmobile may not be exactly the same as the one from The Dark Knight, it’s still a significant purchase. Warner Bros. is asking a hefty $2.99 million for each replica. But Burrow, who signed a record $275 million contract extension with the Bengals last fall, can certainly afford the luxury. His contract, the second largest in NFL history, guarantees him nearly $30 million this season, with his salary reaching over $68 million in the final year, according to Sportrac. So while the Batmobile might have been a costly acquisition, it’s nothing compared to the payday Burrow is receiving for his on-field performance.
For Burrow, this Batmobile is just another sign of how his star power extends beyond the football field.
