In a celebration of sorts of the Christmas holiday, 'Dancing on the Ceiling' singer Lionel Richie bought a special Christmas present for himself --- as many as seven brand new Mercedes cars!

About his Mercedes as a Christmas gift, Lionel, 63, told the New York Post newspaper that he had gone to the Mercedes dealership to buy himself "a Mercedes - or two!" In his own description of the incident, Lionel said: "In blue jeans and T-shirt, I walked into a Montgomery, Alabama, dealership and said, `I'll buy seven Mercedes'."

When Lionel announced his decision to buy seven brand new Mercedes, the salesman at the Montgomery dealership was apparently shocked because he did not recognize the singer. He thought that Lionel was just joking; and, as per Lionel's account to the newspaper, said: "Son, you got some proof?"

According to the New York Post, Lionel then asked the salesman to call LA's Bank of America president to check out his credentials; and upon hanging up the phone after the substantiation, the salesman reportedly segued from `Son' to `Mr. Richie;' and guided him through with the purchase.

In addition to treating himself to seven new Mercedes this Christmas, Lionel also spared a kind thought for the under-privileged children, by working with Scottish charity Cash for Kids which is a non-profit organization that aims to break the vicious circle of poverty for the children in the country.