A Dutch entrepreneur who once made his fortune selling computer keyboards and mice is now the man behind the most exclusive Bugatti ever built, the Brouillard. Michel Perridon, 62, is a name well-known in the Netherlands for transforming everyday gadgets into a global business success. Through Trust International B.V., a company he steered from its early years into a household name, he sold home and office peripherals, gaming accessories, and smart home devices in over 50 countries.
The products ranged from humble computer mice to high-end gaming gear, all distributed through major retailers and online stores. Along the way, Trust’s logo appeared in the high-speed world of motorsport, sponsoring teams from Minardi in Formula 1 to Red Bull Racing in 2009. That sponsorship hinted at a deeper connection to speed, a passion that would eventually take Perridon far beyond the corporate boardroom.
A collector who preserves more than cars
Perridon’s relationship with Bugatti is unlike that of most wealthy buyers. While others might see a Bugatti as a trophy, he approaches the brand as a historian and guardian. His collection spans more than just automobiles.
Inside his private galleries are exquisite pieces of furniture designed by Carlo Bugatti, father of the company’s founder Ettore, along with delicate bronze sculptures of animals by Ettore’s brother, the artist Rembrandt Bugatti. This depth of interest has led to what is believed to be the largest collection of Bugatti memorabilia in the world, with more than 1,000 individual items. Perridon is not only gathering status symbols, he is curating the creative output of an entire family whose influence bridged art, design, and engineering.
His automotive stable reflects the same careful curation. From the early pre-war models such as the Type 30, the elegant Type 57, and the supercharged Type 57C to the iconic Type 57G Tank racer, his collection traces Bugatti’s evolution from a motorsport powerhouse to a builder of modern hypercars. It includes the EB110 Super Sport that revived the marque in the 1990s, several Veyrons in Grand Sport and Grand Sport Vitesse form, and multiple Chirons, including the blisteringly fast Super Sport. Each machine is preserved as part of a continuous narrative that ties together more than a century of automotive artistry.
The Brouillard, his ultimate statement
The centerpiece of Perridon’s collection is set to be the Bugatti Brouillard, a one-off creation commissioned through the company’s new Programme Solitaire. This bespoke hypercar carries the final form of the 1,600 horsepower quad-turbocharged W16 engine, a mechanical swan song for an era that is drawing to a close. True to Bugatti’s heritage, the car incorporates subtle equestrian touches, a nod to Ettore Bugatti’s love of horses. It will take years to complete, but once it is delivered it will represent a fusion of engineering excellence and artistic craftsmanship rarely seen in the automotive world.
Perridon’s journey with Bugatti has not been without its moments in the spotlight. In 2010, one of his Veyrons, reportedly the first in the Netherlands, was seized by police after his son was caught driving it at twice the speed limit near Rotterdam Airport. The incident became national news, yet it did nothing to slow his pursuit of rare and historically significant cars. If anything, it underscored his place in the public eye as one of the country’s most passionate car collectors.
When the Brouillard finally joins his stable, it will not be just another expensive addition. It will be the culmination of decades of collecting, preserving, and celebrating Bugatti’s legacy.
For Michel Perridon, the car will stand as both a mechanical masterpiece and a cultural artifact, a testament to a life spent turning technology into fortune and passion into history.
