How does Lewis Hamilton, the highest paid racing driver in Formula One history, spend his fortune?
The six-time world champion spends his money as fast as he drives – on luxury real estate, fancy cars, extreme sports and even a private jet
Six-time world champion Lewis Hamilton is the highest paid sportsman in Formula One history. According to Forbes, the British driver has banked US$489 million in career earnings, topping that of seven-time champion Michael Schumacher. Racing Elite reported that Hamilton made US$57 million from his Mercedes contract in 2019 from salaries and bonuses. He also has lucrative sponsorship deals with Bose, Sony, Tommy Hilfiger and Monster Energy. Hamilton’s net worth ranges from US$285 million to US$340 million, depending on the source. If that’s true, then the 35-year-old racing icon is spending his money as quickly as he drives.
1. Real estate
It was reported in 2019 that Hamilton had bought a US$40 million penthouse in Manhattan, New York City, where “multiple setback terraces grace the building, offering residents spacious outdoor settings from which to enjoy dramatic city, river and sunset views”. Hamilton listed his previous purchase, a five-bedroom apartment in Tribeca for US$57 million in March, 2019. He owns a Victorian mansion in London and an apartment in Monaco, the city-state which several other Formula One drivers also call home.
2. Private jet
Hamilton bought a candy red Bombardier Challenger 605 in 2013 and used to regularly post pictures of himself and his pet bulldogs Coco and Roscoe commuting between London and other cities. The jet was at the centre of the controversial “Paradise Papers” which exposed how Hamilton profited from tax loopholes to get a £3.3 million (US$4.3 million) tax refund on his £16.5 million purchase. While the transaction was legal, the media slated Hamilton’s actions. In October 2019, he sold the jet for £25 million to adopt a greener lifestyle.
3. Cars, and lots of them
Being the lead Formula One racing driver for the Mercedes AMG Petronas team has its perks as Hamilton has driven a slew of top-of-the-line cars from the premium carmaker. From the AMG Project One to the AMG G63 six-wheel drive, Hamilton has driven them all, but we reckon the crown jewel of his Mercedes collection is the sleek Maybach 6.