Pebble Beach Concours Raises $50M Milestone for Kids

The Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance just wrote a check for hope, pushing its all-time charitable giving past $50 million to support children across Monterey County.

The prestigious classic car show raised more than $4.3 million this year, topping last year's record of $4 million. The funds will flow through the Pebble Beach Company Foundation to over 130 local nonprofits focused on children's education, health, and well-being.

Here's what makes this milestone even more remarkable: more than half of that $50 million total has been raised in just the past decade. The momentum keeps building.

This year's event showcased 218 stunning automobiles from 30 U.S. states and 14 countries. A 1935 Duesenberg SSJ Special Speedster, originally owned by Hollywood legend Clark Gable, took home the coveted Best of Show award.

Owner Harry Yeaggy of Cincinnati had previously won the top prize in 2007 with another Duesenberg. "I won once before, 19 years ago, but I appreciate it a lot better now," Yeaggy said. "People don't realize how hard it is, how special it is, to win this award."

The auction action matched the charitable spirit. Gooding Christie's sold a 1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe for nearly $43 million, making it the most valuable American car ever sold at auction. The 75th anniversary event became the auction house's highest grossing sale ever, realizing over $159 million with a 94% sell-through rate.

The Ripple Effect

Every polished chrome bumper and gleaming hood ornament at Pebble Beach represents something bigger than automotive history. The money raised supports real kids facing real challenges, from classroom supplies to medical care to after-school programs that keep young people safe and engaged.

The event has quietly become one of California's most generous recurring charitable events. While car enthusiasts admire rare Ferraris and vintage Duesenbergs, the real story unfolds in classrooms and clinics across Monterey County, where more than 130 nonprofits stretch every donated dollar to maximum impact.

With momentum accelerating and giving growing faster than ever, the path to $100 million looks shorter every year.