Woolf Barnato: the millionaire with many hats

A businessman, top athlete and considered the best racing driver of the interwar period, Woolf Barnato left his mark on his time. Born in 1895 in London, he was the first driver to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans three times in a row.

Bentley's heir becomes chairman

Very sporty by nature, Woolf Barnato devoted himself throughout his life to several activities: boxing, cricket, golf… while having a particular sensitivity for beautiful cars. This passion is a luxury that Woolf Barnato can afford, because he inherited at a very young age the immense fortune bequeathed by his father, a diamond mine operator in South Africa.

A close friend of Walter Owen Bentley, creator of the Bentley brand, Barnato was quickly informed of the financial difficulties that the car manufacturer was facing in 1926. That same year, he decided to come to his friend's aid, by financing Bentley and thus preventing the company from filing for bankruptcy. Two years later, by becoming the majority shareholder, Woolf Barnato took the reins of Bentley.

A renowned driver accumulating victories

Since everything was going well for him on the business side, Woolf Barnato set himself a new challenge in 1928: winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans. He did so and that year marked the beginning of three consecutive victories at Le Mans.

In 1929, Barnato also won the Brooklands 6 Hours and in 1930, the 2x12 Hours of Brooklands, again at the wheel of a Bentley.

Woolf Barnato in the spotlight in the Luc Kieffer X Le Mans collection

In his recent collection, designer Luc Kieffer paid tribute to this iconic character by creating cufflinks , tie clips , collar whales and some scented candles , in the colors of the Bentley stable and bearing the first name “Woolf”.