HGTV star defends buying $150K BMW for his 16-year-old daughter: ‘She deserved it’

Tarek El Moussa insisted his 16-year-old daughter “earned” the luxury car he gifted her.

The “Flip or Flop” alum defended coming together with ex-wife Christina Haack, as well as current wife Heather El Moussa, to get his and Haack’s daughter Taylor a $150,000 BMW X5.

El Moussa shared Taylor’s accomplishments during his appearance on the “Money Rehab” podcast Wednesday, which including her getting a 4.2 GPA and being MVP of her freshman soccer team.

“She’s an absolutely fantastic kid and didn’t just get it. She actually earned it and, if you ask me, she deserved it because she worked really, really hard and didn’t even ask for that car,” Tarek said.

Tarek El Moussa defended giving his 16-year-old daughter, Taylor, a $150,000 BMW while appearing on the “Money Rehab” podcast Wednesday (as seen here). Money Rehab with Nicole Lapin
The HGTV star said Taylor “earned” the car because she got a 4.2 GPA and is the MVP of her freshman soccer team. Money Rehab with Nicole Lapin

The television personality noted Taylor would have “been happy with a used Honda,” but the BMW was actually more for his peace of mind.

“That thing is built like a tank,” he marveled, adding, “She’s in a safe car, and she loves it.”

Tarek insisted that his daughter was not “a spoiled brat,” and that he was already being responsible about her financial future by investing her in stocks and real estate her whole life.

“She was flying in private jets when she was like, 1 years old, OK, so this kid, she’s grown up around things,” he pointed out. “So when I grew up, I didn’t have anything, right? So I’m obsessed with things because I never had things.”

“She’s always had things,” he continued. “So, she looks at things different than I look at things.”

El Moussa said his daughter (pictured above in August when he surprised her with the luxury vehicle) would have been happy with a used Honda, and didn’t ask for the car. Heather Rae El Moussa/Instagram
El Moussa posted video in August of him and Taylor’s mom, Christina Haack, and her stepmom, Heather El Moussa, coming together to surprise the teen with the new silver BMW. Heather Rae El Moussa/Instagram
Taylor was ecstatic about her new wheels. Heather Rae El Moussa/Instagram

It turns out this isn’t the first time Tarek’s been generous about gifting a car. Host Christina Lapin was incredulous when he recalled buying Heather a white Ferrari on their second date, after she told him it was her dream car.

“Third date she moved in,” he bragged.

Back in August, Tarek posted video on Instagram surprising Taylor with the pricey silver SUV alongside Heather and Haack.

Taylor reacted in shock, wiping away tears as she exclaimed, “Oh my God!”

Tarek captioned the video, “What’s more of a surprise… the car for Taylor or the fact that the three of us actually pulled this off? 😂 The car is so well deserved, we love you so much Tay.”

Taylor wiped away tears of joy as she exclaimed, “Oh my God!” Heather Rae El Moussa/Instagram
Taylor (center) later posed for pics with her dad (second from right), her mom (second from left), her stepmom (far right) and brother Brayden (far left). Heather Rae El Moussa/Instagram

Tarek, 45, and Haack, 43, also share son Brayden, 11. The two were married for seven years before they split in 2016.

Even after their split, they continued to co-host their HGTV show, “Flip or “Flop,” until the show ended in 2022 after 10 seasons.

Tarek married Heather, 39. in October 2021. He and the “Selling Sunset” star welcomed son Tristan, 3, in 2023.

In July, Heather clapped back at a “rude” social media follower who asked her how it felt to never have to worry about money.

“We didn’t come from money,” she said of her and her husband. “Tarek and I, both separately and together, have worked very hard to get where we are today.”

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