The organization My Plates estimates that the 33 plates on auction went for a grand total of $138,650. Of that amount, My Plates estimates that $78,422.50 goes to the state general revenue fund—on average, 60 to 65 percent of each plate price goes to the state.

 

“FERRARI” topped the Texas auction at $15,000, according to a press release, with the winner asking not to be interviewed.

 

“COWBOYS” was the second highest-priced plate at $11,500, followed by “GOHORNS” at $10,500 and “RANGERS” at $10,000.

 

Salman Waheed is a Dallas physician who purchased four plates: “PORSCHE,” “T STARS,” “T DALLAS” and “AMERICA,” which he says is particularly special to him.

 

“I came to this country 16 years ago and became a naturalized citizen, and I believe that it is an honor to be an American citizen.”

 

Jill Potts of North Richland Hills bought “DIAMOND” for herself, “AGGIES1” as an investment she plans to sell, and “BIG TEX” for her husband, “because he’s a big man, he wears a big hat, and he just is Big Tex.”

 

The plate “PORSCHE” went for $7,500 at auction and “NASC4R” went for $2,500.

 

Each plate is good for 25 years, with an option to renew every 10 years after that. Unlike other Texas license plates, auction plates can be sold legally to someone else, so there’s the chance winners could take the plate they won at auction and sell it for a profit at any time.

 

All plate messages are subject to approval by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles. Texans have bought more than 34,000 My Plates since November 2009, putting more than $2.6 million in the state general revenue fund, according to the release.

 

Here are the 33 auction plates and what they sold for:

 

“FERRARI” ($15,000); “COWBOYS” ($11,500); “GO HORNS” ($10,500); “RANGERS” ($10,000); “DRAGONS” ($7,750); “PORSCHE” ($7,500); “MUSTANG” ($7,000); “BELIEVE” ($6,250); “???????”—bidders choice ($6,000); “FT WORTH” ($5,000); “COOL DAD” ($4,500); “SOONERS” ($4,500); “BEST MOM” ($3,750); “MY TEXAS” ($3,500); “2FAST 4U” ($3,000); “AMERICA” ($3,000); “AGGIES 1” ($2,750), “FREEDOM” ($2,500); “GIDDY UP” ($2,500); “NASC4R” ($2,500); “T BIGTEX” ($2,500); “DIAMOND” ($2,000); “FORD4U” ($2,000); “RAIDERS” ($2,000); “HUNTING” ($1,500); “MILLION” ($1,500); “RANCHER” ($1,500); “T DALLAS” ($1,500); “FISHING” ($1,400); “MAVS FAN” ($1,200); “TEX4NS” ($1,000); “T STARS” ($1,000); and “MICHAEL” ($800).