- Racing is a motorsport involving the racing of automobiles for competition.
With multiple world championship titles and lucrative brand endorsement deals, the richest racing drivers in the world have shattered records and helped bring motorsports to an international audience.
Read on to learn more about the track’s iconic victories and other business ventures that helped these titans of racing earn their enormous fortunes.
The Top 10 Richest Racing Drivers in the World
This complete guide to the richest racing drivers explores their career winnings, team memberships, and other business ventures that have contributed to their net worth.
Our list of the top 10 richest racing drivers in the world:
10. Valentino Rossi
Net Worth: $200 Million
Valentino Rossi is a former professional motorcycle road racer from Italy, widely regarded as the greatest racer of all time, with many championships to his name.
He’s won nine Grand Prix World Championships and holds the record for the most premier-class victories in the history of the sport.
A huge fan of soccer, he was congratulated by Diego Maradona after competing in the Argentine Grand Prix in 2015.
As of September 2023, Valentino Rossi’s net worth is estimated to be $200 million.
Rossi appears in 10th place on this list of the richest racing car drivers.
9. Tony Hulman George
Net Worth: $200 Million
Tony Hulman George is the former Chairman, President, and CEO of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Hulman & Company and the founder of the Indy Racing League.
A former driver for the Indy Lights, he’s also the co-owner of Vision Racing and comes from a family tradition of motorsports investment.
Previously serving on the CART board of directors, George was responsible for attracting key talent to both NASCAR and Formula One.
As of September 2023, Tony Hulman George’s net worth is estimated to be $200 million.
8. Jeff Gordon
Net Worth: $200 Million
American former professional stock car racing driver Jeff Gordon is known for his career spanning from 1993 to 2015 for the NASCAR Cup Series.
Gordon, the youngest driver to win the NASCAR title, has also won the Daytona 500 on three occasions.
An iconic figure of popular culture, he’s appeared in the comedy movie Talladega Nights with Will Ferrell and John C Reilly and provided voices for Pixar’s Cars movies.
As of September 2023, Jeff Gordon’s net worth is estimated to be $200 million.
7. Connie Kalitta
Net Worth: $200 Million
Connie Kalitta is a former drag racer and owner of Kalitta Motorsports who raced professionally for several decades.
Beginning his career in the 1950s, Kalitta became the first Top Fuel dragster to hit 200mph in the 1960s.
In 1992, he was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, and in 1989 broke his previous top speed record, hitting 290mph.
As of September 2023, Connie Kalitta’s net worth is estimated to be $200 million.
6. Kimi Raikkonen
Net Worth: $250 Million
Kimi Raikkonen, also known as “The Iceman”, is a Finnish racing driver who competed in Formula One between 2001 and 2021.
Racing for teams including McLaren, Lotus, and Alfa Romeo, he racked up a total of 103 podium finishes and won the World Championship in 2007.
In addition to his Formula One activities, he’s also been involved in the Motocross World Championship, founding the Ice 1 Racing team in 2011.
As of September 2023, Kimi Raikkonen’s net worth is estimated to be $250 million.
5. Fernando Alonso
Net Worth: $260 Million
Spanish racing driver Fernando Alonso has driven in multiple racing categories, including Formula One, 24 Hours of Le Mans, and 24 Hours of Daytona.
He’s won 32 Grand Prix with 22 pole positions and is the only Spanish driver to have won the World Championship.
Fernando Alonso’s net worth has been increased through his many brand endorsement deals, including for Tag Heuer, Adidas, and Bang & Olufsen.
4. Lewis Hamilton
Net Worth: $285 Million
Lewis Hamilton is a British racing driver who has broken many records in Formula One, including a joint-record seven world championship titles along with Michael Schumacher.
Known for driving some of the most expensive cars in the world, Hamilton has helped catapult the sport into the public eye with his influential persona.
In 2021 he was offered a role as a pilot in the Tom Cruise blockbuster, Top Gun: Maverick, but declined the offer due to his commitments to racing.
As of September 2023, Lewis Hamilton’s net worth is estimated to be $285 million.
3. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Net Worth: $300 Million
Dale Earnhardt Jr. is one of the richest athletes in the world, having worked as a stock car driver before becoming a team owner and media analyst for NBC.
His success as a racer on the Daytona International Speedway earned him the nickname “Pier Piper”, and he has won the Most Popular Driver award fifteen times.
Earnhardt’s iconic car appeared in the Michael Bay action blockbuster Transformers: Dark of the Moon, with Mark Wahlberg in the starring role.
As of September 2023, Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s net worth is estimated to be $300 million.
2. Michael Schumacher
Net Worth: $600 Million
Iconic Formula One champion Michael Schumacher is a German racing driver who has won seven Championship titles over the course of his impressive career.
He maintains the record for 77 of the fastest laps and competed in Formula One for Mercedes, Benneton, Jordan, and Ferrari.
The recipient of dozens of honors, Schumacher has been voted German Sports Personality of the Year twice and was the first driver to receive the Golden Steering Wheel.
As of September 2023, Michael Schumacher’s net worth is estimated to be $600 million.
1. Eddie Jordan
Net Worth: $600 Million
Irish businessman, team owner, and television personality Eddie Jordan began his career as a driver in the 1970s, competing with Formula Ford in 1974.
Much of his net worth has come from his role as the founder of and owner of the Jordan Grand Prix, with additional income derived from his many entrepreneurial activities.
He’s worked as a pundit for the BBC and holds investments in real estate, oil, entertainment, and the gaming industry.
As of September 2023, Eddie Jordan’s net worth is estimated to be $600 million.
