Quick Links
Brazil has been a pioneer in giving the world some of the most important figures in football's history. Over the last few years, Neymar Jr. has taken the reins as one of the most sought-after players. Neymar Jr.’s pure talent amassed him a $200 million fortune with a struggling start growing up in a low-income family. In 2017, he was transferred to Paris Saint-Germain for a record fee of $270 million, the highest for any athlete, and in May 2021, the club announced the extension of its contract until 2025. As the soccer star earns $90 million a year, the footballer spends a fortune on luxury. One of his recent purchases was a stunning $15 million helicopter.
Neymar Jr. has a deep-rooted passion for Batman and has gone the extra mile to incorporate The Dark Knight into everything in his life. When he purchased his newest chopper, it didn’t come as a shock when it resembled the dark and gritty theme of his favorite comic book character. Let’s take a look at Neymar Jr.’s Batman Helicopter.
A Helicopter Of Everyone’s Choice
The world saw the first glimpse at his valuable purchase when he showed up at practice for Copa America in 2019. Even though Neymar was injured and couldn’t play, the team managed to win the series. The photos stirred his followers, and people quickly noticed that it was a customized Airbus H145 with the initial ‘NJR’ printed on the tail. He gave another look at the chopper while uploading a photo posing in front of it in July 2021, as noted by El Futbolero.
The personalized Airbus H145 was made in collaboration with Mercedes-Benz, and the color is midnight black, given the footballer’s passionate love for Batman. The Airbus H145 is one of the best-selling helicopters with its large cabin space and small footprint, making it an ideal choice for military and civil missions. Military services in Germany, the USA, and Serbia have used this aircraft for their missions.
An Agile Dark Knight-Copter
Since the helicopter was built for aircraft missions, Airbus ensured that its range was prioritized above anything else. Neymar Jr.’s Bat Copter has a twin-engine and can travel 351 Nautical Miles or 404 Standard Miles on a full tank. The top speed of the H145 is 130 Knots or 150 MPH. The reputation of the chopper is so good that even the second-hand models are priced at $7.8 million.
According to Airbus, the helicopter can seat ten people and two pilots at once. Similar to the Dark exterior of the H145, the interior is also splashed in Dark themes. The seats have been reportedly stitched with Batman’s famous logo on the headrests. Neymar Jr. truly wanted an authentic Batman experience for his ride on this chopper. While the standard price of the Airbus H145 is $14 million, the customizations made by Neymar Jr. cost an additional $1 million, which hikes the price to $15 million.
However, this isn’t the only helicopter owned by the PSG star. In 2013, Neymar Jr. purchased an Airbus 130 that cost $3.8 million and unsurprisingly in a jet black color. In 2016, he was not allowed to sell his chopper since the Brazilian government had imposed serious tax evasion charges. His charges were later dropped when a new President was elected into office.
A Love That Goes Beyond Helicopters
Neymar Jr. has been open about growing up and reading comics of superheroes, particularly Batman and Spiderman. He has showcased his love for Batman in several ways before buying the infamous Batman helicopter. As mentioned by Mirror, in 2016, the footballer attended a party with his then-girlfriend Bruna Marquezine. Neymar had worn a Batman cowl while the actress was dressed in a Catwoman cowl with a Batman pendant around her neck.
A year later, he celebrated his 25th birthday, and the theme was Batman. The party took place in the Ivy Restolounge that saw stars like Lionel Messi. The cake had the Batman logo perched everywhere with his initials painted in large.
In 2018, the star hired a famed tattoo artist Thieres Paim to ink more tattoos on his body. Neymar Jr. kept it classy and decided to go with Batman and Spiderman tattoos on his upper back, as reported by BBC. He sent the internet into a frenzy with the unusual Marvel and DC crossover. However, fans were delighted to know that the football star is passionate about The Caped Crusader.
Neymar Jr. has genuinely embraced his love for the Dark Knight with his mega purchases and choices, a childhood love that was transformed into a lifestyle. From getting the Batman inked to throwing similar themed parties, Neymar Jr. has shown a passion for his favorite superhero. With a helicopter already under the bag, everyone is keen to see what Batman-themed memorabilia Neymar Jr. is eying next.
Sources: El Futbolero, Airbus, Mirror, BBC