Lewis Hamilton isn’t just a Formula One legend—he’s one of the highest-paid athletes in the world. With a net worth of $300 million, the seven-time World Champion has built an empire on and off the track.
From record-breaking wins to luxury car collections and multimillion-dollar real estate, Hamilton’s success extends far beyond racing.
His bold career moves, including a high-profile switch to Ferrari in 2025, keep him in the spotlight.
But how did he amass such wealth, and what fuels his fortune? Let’s dive into Hamilton’s incredible journey.
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Exploring Lewis Hamilton Net Worth
Lewis Hamilton, a British Formula One driver, has a net worth of $300 million. He began his F1 career with McLaren and won his first championship in 2008, becoming the youngest-ever Formula One World Champion.
In 2013, he joined Mercedes and went on to win six more championships in 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020.
On February 1, 2024, news broke that Lewis would leave Mercedes for Ferrari at the end of the season.
Contracts and Earnings
Lewis is one of the highest-paid F1 drivers and athletes in the world. He typically earns $70-90 million per year, with most of his income coming from his $60 million annual Mercedes contract.
In July 2023, he signed a two-year deal with Mercedes, agreeing to earn $60 million per season in 2024 and 2025. However, he chose to leave after just one season and will join Ferrari in 2025.
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Reports say Ferrari will pay him up to $107 million per year. Between June 2016 and June 2017, Lewis made about $50 million from endorsements and prize money.
The following year, he earned $51 million. From June 2018 to June 2019, his earnings rose to $55 million.
Early Life
Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton was born on January 7, 1985, in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, England.
His mother, Carmen, is Caucasian, and his father, Anthony, is Black. Lewis identifies as Black.
When he was two, his parents separated. He lived with his mother and half sisters until he was 12, then moved in with his father, stepmother, and half brother Nicolas.
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At five, he took up karate for self-defense because he was bullied at school. When he was six, his father bought him a radio-controlled car.
The next year, he finished second in the British Radio Car Association championship. For Christmas at age six, his father gave him a go-kart.
Anthony Hamilton promised to support his racing dreams as long as he stayed in school and worked hard.
Lewis attended The John Henry Newman School, a Catholic secondary school in Hertfordshire. He also played football (soccer).
In early 2001, he studied at Cambridge Arts and Sciences.
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Professional Career
When Lewis Hamilton was ten years old, he walked up to Ron Dennis, the McLaren racing team principal, and said, “I want to race for you one day… I want to race for McLaren one day.”
In 1998, he joined the McLaren Young Driver program. By 2007, he became an official Formula One McLaren driver, making history as the sport’s first and only Black racecar driver. That year, he finished as the runner-up to Kimi Räikkönen.
In 2008, Hamilton won his first F1 World Championship, securing victory in the final race of the season. In 2013, he signed with Mercedes.
He won back-to-back World Championships in 2014 and 2015, then repeated the feat in 2017 and 2018, and again in 2019.
As of now, he has won seven World Championships, tying Michael Schumacher for the most titles.
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In 2018, he launched his clothing line, TOMMYXLEWIS, during New York Fashion Week. He collaborated with American designer Tommy Hilfiger and models Winnie Harlow and Hailey Baldwin.
Throughout his career, Hamilton has faced controversy both on and off the track. His aggressive racing style and outspoken nature have often put him in the spotlight.
While racing in Spain, he suffered racial abuse from Spanish fans. His rivalry with Spanish driver Fernando Alonso fueled the hostility. Hamilton admits his competitive nature sometimes causes tension with other drivers.
Before the 2018 German Grand Prix, he signed a two-year contract extension with Mercedes, reportedly worth nearly $50 million per year.
In June 2020, he announced he would race in a new all-black Mercedes to support Black Lives Matter.
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Hamilton has been vocal about the lack of diversity in Formula One. The car, called the Black Arrow, debuted in Austria during the delayed F1 season in early July.
In 2022, Formula One introduced new technical regulations that led to major car design changes.
Hamilton struggled throughout the season. Despite securing nine podium finishes, he failed to win a race or take pole position for the first time in his career.
Lewis ranks among the highest-paid F1 drivers and athletes worldwide. He earns $70-90 million annually, with $60 million coming from his Mercedes contract. [Photo/Courtesy]
Real Estate
In 2019, Lewis Hamilton listed his New York penthouse for $57 million. The 8,900-square-foot unit, the largest in the building, is in Tribeca, where Justin Timberlake, Jessica Biel, Meg Ryan, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Bella Hadid also own homes.
He bought it for $43.9 million in 2017 and sold it for $50 million in December 2021. Reports say Hamilton never lived there—possibly because he also owns another penthouse nearby at 70 Vestry Street, which he bought in 2019 for $40.7 million.
In London, he owns a four-story, six-bedroom mansion in Kensington, built in 1860 and valued at $25 million.
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He also owns apartments in Nyon, Switzerland, and Monaco. Additionally, he has an estate in Colorado, where he plans to live after retiring.
Lewis Hamilton Net Worth and Personal Car Collection
Lewis Hamilton’s car collection is worth at least $40 million, based on the cars he has shared on social media or confirmed owning.
His 1995 McLaren F1, valued at $20 million, is the most expensive in his collection.
Here are some of his most significant cars:
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
Personal Life
In November 2007, Lewis Hamilton began dating Nicole Scherzinger, lead singer of the Pussycat Dolls.
They broke up in early 2010 to focus on their careers but were seen together at the Turkish and Canadian Grand Prix that year.
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Between 2011 and 2015, they split and reunited multiple times before ending things for good in February 2015.
After their breakup, rumors linked Hamilton to Rihanna, 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 connected to Nicki Minaj, with whom he took a vacation to Dubai.
Hamilton is vegan.
Some UK MPs have criticized him for avoiding UK taxes by living abroad. His parents named him after Olympic sprint champion Carl Lewis.
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An Arsenal fan, Hamilton once said that if he hadn’t pursued Formula One, he would have become a footballer or cricketer, both of which he played in high school.
In 2022, Hamilton announced he was legally changing his name to include his mother’s maiden name, Larbalestier, as a middle name.
That same year, Brazil granted him honorary citizenship after politician Andre Figueiredo‘s proposal passed in the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies.
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