Barrett-Jackson Kicks Off 2025 with Ultimate Automotive Lifestyle Experience in Scottsdale, Surpassing More Than $198 Million in Total Auction Sales with 100% No Reserve Collector Car Docket

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan 27, 2025--

Barrett-Jackson, The World’s Greatest Collector Car Auctions, kicked off 2025 with the ultimate automotive lifestyle experience during the Scottsdale Auction, held Jan. 18-26 at WestWorld of Scottsdale. The Scottsdale Auction, held annually since 1971, featured a 100% No Reserve docket of 2,013 collectible vehicles achieving more than $193 million in auction sales.

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Highlights included the sale of a 2023 Hennessey Venom F5 Roadster ( Lot 1403 ) for $2.2 million during Super Saturday, presented by Gila River Resorts & Casinos. 957 pieces of authentic automobilia were auctioned for more than $5.2 million. Additionally, five vehicles ‒ led by the 2025 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 ( Lot 3005 ) that hammered at $3.7 million ‒ raised a total of $6,205,000 for charity. To date, Barrett-Jackson has raised more than $162 million for charity. In total, the Barrett-Jackson 2025 Scottsdale Auction realized more than $198 million in auction sales.

“Last week’s Scottsdale Auction proved that 2025 will be another banner year for the collector car hobby,” said Craig Jackson, chairman and CEO of Barrett-Jackson. “Starting with our opening night Rock the Block concert headlined by Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Sammy Hagar and continuing through Super Saturday when we lit up the auction block with our top-selling vehicles, we delivered an automotive lifestyle experience that is unequaled. Our nine-day celebration of the collector car hobby was electric from start to finish because of the unprecedented quality of cars we offered. We’re looking ahead to taking this energy to Florida for our 2025 Palm Beach Auction this April.”

The top 10 auction vehicles that sold during the 2025 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction included:

Prior to the start of the event, Sammy Hagar and Friends Michael Anthony, Kenny Aronoff and Vic Johnson headlined the opening weekend with the second annual Rock the Block concert on Friday, Jan. 17. Saturday, Jan. 18, was Coca-Cola Family Day when children 12 and under received free admission and was highlighted by STEM Fest, presented by Honeywell, part of Barrett-Jackson’s Gearing Towards the Future initiative. Fifty world-class custom vehicles were showcased on the auction block on Saturday as part of the Barrett-Jackson Cup Parade presented by Castrol. This year’s Barrett-Jackson Cup winners included a 1968 Dodge Charger that took home the "Ultimate Best in Show” and a 1985 Chevrolet C10 pickup that received the “People’s Choice” award.

“Barrett-Jackson delivered many magical experiences for everyone who joined us in Scottsdale,” said Steve Davis, president of Barrett-Jackson. “From the excitement of the auction block to the thrill rides, exhibits, STEM Fest and live music, there was truly something that everyone in the family could enjoy. We filled our docket with so much diversity that collectors from every walk of life found something they loved. We stay on top of the trends and consign the vehicles that people want, proving once again that the car collector hobby is thriving. Those trends include the growing popularity of Resto-Mods, SUVs and trucks, which are gaining momentum because they appeal to such a broad cross section of people. I’m especially proud of our support for important charities again this year. We not only raised millions of dollars but also critical awareness that will help make a positive impact on so many communities.”

The Scottsdale Auction raised $6,205,000 for charity through the sale of five vehicles, which included:

The weekend kicked off in spectacular style with the Opening Night Gala, a glamorous event that officially marks the beginning of Barrett-Jackson’s auction week. The FDNY Ceremonial Unit, along with the FDNY Emerald Society Pipes and Drums, performed during the auction’s Opening Night Gala in honor of Barrett-Jackson’s commitment to supporting the Tunnel to Towers Foundation in 2025. As part of the charity initiative, longtime Barrett-Jackson friend and renowned car collector Ron Pratte donated his 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse VIN 001 to be sold during the 2025 Palm Beach Auction, with 100% of the hammer price benefiting the Tunnel to Towers Foundation. On Monday, the VIP experiences continued with an invitation-only welcome dinner hosted at Ocean 44.

With over 957 authentic pieces of automobilia auctioning for more than $5.2 million, the top three sales included:

During the week, entertainment icons, professional athletes and titans of industry joined auction guests to indulge in the world’s most immersive automotive lifestyle event. Celebrities in attendance during this year’s auction included Sammy Hagar, Mike Rowe, Rick Henrick, Adam Ferrara, John Staluppi, Ron Pratte, Drew Brees, Reggie Jackson, Jesse James, Jeff Gordon, Kurt Busch, Tony Stewart, Mark Martin, Casey Mears, Kyle Larson, Chuck Zito, Jacoby Ellsbury, Kenny Dillingham, Peter Brock, Dave Kindig, Chip Foose, Camilo Pardo, Aaron Shelby, Chip Ganassi and Cody Walker.

Barrett-Jackson returns to Palm Beach for its next collector car auction Apr. 24-26, 2025. For advance tickets click here. Barrett-Jackson Experience packages for the 2025 Palm Beach Auction are available here. Consignments for the 2025 Palm Beach Auction are being accepted here.

Barrett-Jackson will host its 2025 Scottsdale Fall Auction Oct. 15-18, 2025, at WestWorld of Scottsdale.

Join Barrett-Jackson’s online conversation with #BarrettJackson and #BJAC on Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.

About The Barrett-Jackson Auction Company

Established in 1971 and headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, Barrett-Jackson, The World’s Greatest Collector Car Auctions, is the leader in collector car auctions and automotive lifestyle events, which include authentic automobilia auctions and the sale of private collections. Welcoming hundreds of thousands of attendees per year, Barrett-Jackson produces several live collector car auctions where thousands of the most sought-after, unique and valuable automobiles cross the block in front of a global audience. With broadcast partner A+E Networks, Barrett-Jackson features live television coverage of their events on FYI and The HISTORY Channel, as well as all the cars, all the time via their produced livestream on Barrett-Jackson.com. Barrett-Jackson also endorses a one-of-a-kind collector car insurance for collector vehicles and other valued belongings.

In August 2022, IMG, an Endeavor company and global leader in events, media, sports and fashion, acquired a majority stake in Barrett-Jackson and serves as the auction company’s strategic partner in building on its world-class automotive event experiences. For more information about Barrett-Jackson, visit www.barrett-jackson.com, or call 480-421-6694.

Barrett-Jackson Kicks Off 2025 with Ultimate Automotive Lifestyle Experience in Scottsdale, Surpassing More Than $198 Million in Total Auction Sales with 100% No Reserve Collector Car Docket (Photo: Business Wire)

HONG KONG (AP) — A Hong Kong court began hearing arguments Monday about the sentencing of democracy advocate and onetime-media magnate Jimmy Lai and his co-defendants, whose convictions under a national security law could land them in prison for life.

Lai, 78, is the founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper and an outspoken critic of China’s ruling Communist Party. He was arrested in 2020 under the law imposed by Beijing following massive anti-government protests that rocked Hong Kong the year before.

In December, he was found guilty of conspiring with others to collude with foreign forces and conspiracy to publish seditious articles.

His conviction raised concerns about the curtailing of press freedom in the former British colony, which returned to Chinese rule in 1997.

His case could also be a test for Beijing's diplomatic ties. The verdict drew criticism from foreign governments, including the U.S. and Britain. After the verdict, U.S. President Donald Trump, who had raised Lai’s case with China, said he felt “so badly.”

Lai, alongside other co-defendants involved in the case, appeared in court for the four-day mitigation hearings. The maximum penalty for their convictions is life imprisonment. Sentencing will come later.

The court Monday morning heard arguments concerning two activists’ sentences. Lawyers representing them suggested the starting points of their clients’ sentences should be 10 years and 10 to 15 years respectively, but they should receive reductions in part due to their assistance in the case.

Lai’s lawyer Robert Pang will deliver his arguments in the afternoon.

When Lai entered the courtroom, he pressed his palms together, an apparent gesture to express gratitude, and smiled at those sitting in the gallery. The media tycoon appeared to be in good spirits and greeted a convicted Apple Daily editor who was also sitting in the dock.

In August, his lawyers told the court that he suffered from heart palpitations. Hong Kong’s government said no abnormalities were found in a subsequent medical exam.

Prosecutor Anthony Chau said Lai’s health was stable. Chau said Lai had lost just 0.8 kg (about 1.8 pounds) over five years of detention, weighing 79.2 kg (about 175 pounds) when it was last measured this month. Lai is still considered obese as an Asian adult, Chau said. The obesity comment drew chuckling from some members sitting in the public gallery, and Lai also smiled in the dock.

Before sunrise, dozens of people had already lined up outside the court building to secure a seat in the public gallery. Retiree Simon Ng, a former Apple Daily reader, said he arrived and waited in line since Friday morning, hoping to see Lai.

“I want to let him know that he’s not alone," Ng said. “Many people support him."

Lai was convicted of two counts of conspiracy to commit collusion with foreign forces to endanger national security, in addition to one count of conspiracy to distribute seditious publications. Lai pleaded not guilty to all charges.

A conviction on the collusion charge under the security law results in a sentence ranging from three years in jail to life, depending on the offense’s nature and his role in it. The sedition charge under a separate, colonial-era law carries a maximum of two years’ imprisonment.

Three government-vetted judges wrote in their December verdict that Lai spearheaded the conspiracies and took issue with what they called his “constant invitation” to the United States to bring down the Chinese government with the excuse of helping Hong Kongers.

Lai’s lawyers admitted during the trial that he had called for foreign sanctions before the national security law took effect, but insisted he dropped these calls to comply with the law. They also argued on freedom of expression grounds.

But the judges said that Lai had never wavered in his intention to destabilize the ruling Chinese Communist Party. After the enactment of the law, he intended to continue, though less explicitly, they said. They emphasized that Lai was not on trial for his political views.

Beijing has opposed what it called the smearing of Hong Kong's judiciary “by certain countries,” saying the judicial authorities perform duties according to the law.

Six ex-Apple Daily senior executives and two activists involved in Lai's case had entered guilty pleas, admitting that they had conspired with Lai and others to request foreign forces to impose sanctions, blockades or engage in other hostile activities.

The executives were publisher Cheung Kim-hung, associate publisher Chan Pui-man, editor-in-chief Ryan Law, executive editor-in-chief Lam Man-chung and editorial writers Fung Wai-kong and Yeung Ching-kee. Some of them, alongside the two activists Andy Li and Chan Tsz-wah, served as prosecution witnesses during the 156-day trial.

A guilty plea usually can lead to a sentence reduction. Under the security law, a reduced penalty may be granted to those who report on the offense committed by others.

Chan Pui man's husband, Chung Pui-kuen, a former top editor of Stand News who had been sentenced to 21 months in jail in a separate sedition case, was among those sitting in the public gallery.

After the verdict, Lai's daughter, Claire, said Lai would devote himself to God and his family rather than political activism if he were released.

Trump said after the verdict that he spoke to Chinese President Xi Jinping about Lai and “asked to consider his release." British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said his government has made it a priority to secure the release of Lai, a British citizen.

People line up behind the barricades to attend the hearing about the upcoming sentence for pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai, outside the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts, in Hong Kong, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/May James)

Correctional Services Department vehicles arrive at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts, ahead of a hearing to hear arguments about the sentencing of democracy advocate and onetime media magnate Jimmy Lai, in Hong Kong, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/May James)

Members of foreign councils arrive at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts to attend a hearing to hear arguments about the sentencing of pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai, in Hong Kong, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/May James)

Robert Pang, center, lawyer for pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai arrives to the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts, ahead of a hearing to hear arguments about the sentencing of Lai, in Hong Kong, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/May James)

Teresa Lai, wife of pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai arrives to the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts to attend a hearing to hear arguments about the sentencing of Jimmy Lai, in Hong Kong, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/May James)

FILE- Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai is escorted by Correctional Services officers to get on a prison van before appearing in a court in Hong Kong, Dec. 12, 2020. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, File)