Lewis Hamilton Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What is Lewis Hamilton’s Net Worth?

A British Formula One racing driver, Lewis Hamilton boasts a net worth of $300 million. He began his F1 career with McLaren, claiming his first F1 Championship in 2008, which made him the youngest Formula One World Champion at that time. In 2013, he transitioned to Mercedes, where he secured six more Championships (2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020). On February 1, 2024, it was announced that Lewis would leave Mercedes to join rival Ferrari following the 2024 season.

Salary & Contracts

Lewis ranks among the highest-paid F1 drivers globally and is also one of the top-paid athletes overall. In an average year, he earns between $70-90 million, predominantly from his Mercedes contract, which provides $60 million annually.

In July 2023, Lewis inked a two-year agreement with Mercedes, guaranteeing him $60 million annually for the 2024 and 2025 seasons. However, after just one season, Lewis chose to break the contract and will instead join Ferrari for the 2025 season. Reports indicate that he could earn up to $107 million per year racing for Ferrari.

Between June 2016 and June 2017, Lewis Hamilton raked in approximately $50 million from endorsements and prize winnings. From June 2017 to June 2018, his earnings rose to $51 million, and in the next 12 months, he garnered $55 million.

Early Life

Born on January 7, 1985, Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton hails from Stevenage, Hertfordshire, England. His mother, Carmen, is Caucasian, while his father, Anthony, is black, and Hamilton identifies as black. After his parents separated when he was two years old, he lived with his mother and half-sisters until the age of 12, after which he moved in with his father, stepmother, and half-brother Nicolas. At five, Hamilton began practicing karate for self-defense due to bullying at school. At six, his father gifted him a radio-controlled car. The following year, he achieved second place in the British Radio Car Association championship. Hamilton’s father then surprised him with a go-kart for Christmas when he was six, vowing to support his son’s racing aspirations on the condition that he excelled in school. Lewis attended The John Henry Newman School, a Catholic secondary school in Hertfordshire, where he also played soccer. He began his studies at Cambridge Arts and Sciences in early 2001.

Career

Legend has it that a young Lewis Hamilton approached Ron Dennis, then the principal of the McLaren racing team, and confidently declared, “I want to race for you one day… I want to race for McLaren one day.” Such a bold statement is remarkable for any aspiring driver, especially when made by a ten-year-old.

In 1998, Hamilton joined the McLaren Young Driver program, officially entering the world of Formula One.

One McLaren driver emerged in 2007, marking the moment when he became the first and only black racecar driver within the sport. In that very season, he secured the runner-up position, finishing behind Kimi Räikkönen. The following year, in 2008, Hamilton clinched his first F1 World Championship title, achieving victory in the season’s final race. In 2013, he joined Mercedes. Hamilton achieved back-to-back World Championship titles in 2014 and 2015. For the second time in his career, he won consecutive titles in 2017, 2018, and once more in 2019. As of this writing, he has seven World Championships to his name, tying him with Michael Schumacher for the record.

In 2018, Hamilton debuted his clothing line, TOMMYXLEWIS, during New York Fashion Week, collaborating with American designer Tommy Hilfiger alongside models Winnie Harlow and Hailey Baldwin.

Throughout his career, Lewis Hamilton has sparked controversy with on-track maneuvers as well as off-track comments. He often finds himself in the public eye, where his statements are meticulously analyzed.

While racing in Spain, he faced racial abuse from several Spanish fans, a situation exacerbated by his rivalry with Spanish driver Fernando Alonso which incited some supporters to target Hamilton. Admitting to being highly competitive, he acknowledges that this trait can sometimes lead to friction with other drivers.

Just a week prior to the 2018 German Grand Prix, Hamilton extended his contract with Mercedes for another two years, reportedly valued at nearly $50 million annually.

In June 2020, Hamilton announced he would be driving a brand-new all-black Mercedes to show support for Black Lives Matter. He has been outspoken about the lack of diversity within Formula One. The vehicle, dubbed the Black Arrow, was designed by Hamilton and made its inaugural appearance in Austria over the 4th of July weekend as the delayed Formula One season commenced.

The 2022 season brought substantial changes in technical regulations, leading to new car designs, in which Hamilton struggled throughout most of the year. Although he achieved nine podium finishes, it was the first time in his Formula One career that he did not win a race or secure a pole position.

Personal Life

In November 2007, Hamilton began a relationship with Nicole Scherzinger, the lead vocalist of the American girl group the Pussycat Dolls. They temporarily ended their relationship in early 2010 to concentrate on their careers but were later seen together during that year’s Turkish and Canadian Grands Prix. Between 2011 and 2015, the couple experienced multiple breakups and reconciliations before ultimately parting ways for good in February 2015.

Following his breakup with Scherzinger, rumors circulated that he had a brief romance with long-time friend Rihanna. Additionally, he has been linked to several other celebrities, including Rita Ora, Miss Finland Lotta Hinsa, Miss Grenada 2007 Vivian Burkhardt, model Winnie Harlow, Hungarian model Barbara Palvin, and Sofia Richie. He was also romantically associated with Nicki Minaj, with the two enjoying a getaway together in Dubai.

Hamilton follows a vegan diet.

Some MPs have criticized Hamilton for avoiding UK taxes by residing outside the country.

He was named in honor of Olympic sprint champion Carl Lewis.

An Arsenal fan, Hamilton mentioned that without a career in Formula One, he would have pursued a different path.

He played both football and cricket during his high school years.

Lewis announced in 2022 that he was in the process of legally incorporating his mother’s maiden name, Larbalestier, as a middle name.

In June 2022, Hamilton was granted honorary citizenship of Brazil following the passing of a proposal in the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies by politician Andre Figueiredo.

In September 2022, Hamilton founded Team X44 to participate in Extreme E, an all-electric SUV off-road racing series. The team took second place in the first Extreme E championship and earned the Extreme E Sustainability Award in January 2022, ultimately winning the 2022 Championship by defeating RXR, who were disqualified.

Additionally, in 2022, Hamilton became part of the newly formed ownership group for the Denver Broncos.

Real Estate

In 2019, the New York penthouse owned by Hamilton was listed at $57 million. This property, the largest penthouse loft in the Tribeca building where Justin Timberlake, Jessica Biel, Meg Ryan, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Bella Hadid reside, spans 8,900 square feet. Hamilton purchased it in 2017 for $43.9 million and sold it for $50 million in December 2021, reportedly without ever living in it… likely due to his other penthouse nearby at 70 Vestry Street, which he acquired in 2019 for $40.7 million.

Hamilton possesses a four-story mansion in Kensington, West London, built in 1860, valued at $25 million and featuring six bedrooms.

Additionally, Hamilton owns properties in Nyon, a suburb of Geneva, Switzerland, as well as an estate in Colorado where he intends to reside post-retirement.

Personal Car Collection

Lewis Hamilton’s car collection is valued at a minimum of $40 million, based on vehicles showcased on social media or confirmed as owned. His 1995 McLaren F1 is valued at approximately $20 million alone. Here are some key cars from his collection:

• 1995 McLaren F1 – $20 million
• Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta – $4.1 million
• Ferrari LaFerrari – $4 million
• Mercedes-AMG One – $2.7 million
• McLaren P1 – $1.8 million
• 1967 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 – $1.4 million
• Mercedes-AMG SLS Black – $270,000
• AC 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 – $100,000

The total value of these eight vehicles amounts to: $34.4 million