Ranking the Richest F1 Drivers of All Time
Speed pays big, and Formula 1 proves it. Drivers sign massive contracts, land multi-million-dollar endorsements, and invest their earnings to build generational wealth. Some dominate the track, while others turn their fame into business empires. These racers turned speed into fortune, and their wealth keeps growing.
Let’s find out who makes the most money!
13. Nico Rosberg ($50 Million)
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Winning the F1 title is hard. Walking away right after? Even harder. Nico Rosberg, the 2016 Formula 1 World Champion, retired immediately after securing his title with Mercedes. Post-retirement, he has transitioned into a successful entrepreneur and investor who focuses on sustainability and green technologies. In 2024, his investment fund, Rosberg Ventures, surpassed $100 million in assets under management, adding to his net worth.
12. Daniel Ricciardo ($96 Million)
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Daniel Ricciardo’s career has been a rollercoaster, but his bank account isn’t complaining. Known for his charismatic personality and fearless driving style, Ricciardo has eight race wins and 32 podium finishes to his name. After stints with Renault, McLaren, and AlphaTauri, he’s back with Red Bull Racing in 2024. Despite career ups and downs, his net worth keeps him among the wealthiest in F1.
11. Alain Prost ($100 Million)
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Four world titles, one legendary rivalry, and a business brain to match. Alain Prost didn’t stop at dominating the track; he became a team owner, Renault F1 consultant, and investor. His strategic mind, both in racing and finance, has made him one of the wealthiest F1 legends. Prost bought the Ligier team in 1997 and renamed it to Prost Grand Prix. Sadly, it went bankrupt in 2002 and was shut down. If it wasn’t for this move, Prost probably would have been even richer today.
10. Eddie Irvine ($120 Million)
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After earning millions racing alongside Michael Schumacher, Eddie Irvine built his real wealth through luxury property investments in Ireland and the U.K. He understood that cars lose value over time and his investment in prime real estate paid off. Today he is worth $120 million, but this number will continue to grow as his assets appreciate in value.
9. Mario Andretti ($130 Million)
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Mario Andretti is an Italian—although American by birth—racing icon in every motorsport imaginable. He didn’t just win the 1978 F1 Championship; he also won the Indianapolis 500 in 1969 and the Daytona 500 in 1967. His wealth stems from team ownership, brand endorsements, and decades in motorsport commentary. Few drivers have remained so relevant and wealthy across generations, and rightfully so. After all, he was the last American driver to have won the F1 Grand Prix.
8. Sebastian Vettel ($140 Million)
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At his peak, Vettel was earning $50 million per year at Ferrari, becoming the youngest world champion in 2010 in the history of Formula 1. His dominance at Red Bull, major sponsorships with Shell and Casio, and smart investments have further increased his wealth. Post-retirement, he focuses on environmental activism and business ventures. He isn’t just one of the richest drivers on this list; he was also ranked #32 on the Forbes’ list of highest-paid athletes in 2020.
7. Jenson Button ($150 Million)
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Jenson Button is so rich that his Santa Monica estate alone is worth $5.8 million. He is among the most decorated racers in motorsports history with 15 Grand Prix wins. Button’s racing days are far from over—he’s still driving for the NASCAR Cup Series and is among the richest F1 drivers in history despite retiring in 2016. His financial strategy is as smooth as his driving style—fast, smart, and calculated.
6. Niki Lauda ($200 Million)
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From surviving a fiery crash to owning airlines, Niki Lauda built a business empire after winning three F1 titles. He launched two airline companies, consulted for Mercedes, and worked in media. His wealth legacy remains unmatched in both racing and business.
5. Max Verstappen ($210 Million)
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Max Verstappen isn’t just racing—he’s rewriting the record books. With three consecutive world championships (2021-2023) and a career total of 54 Grand Prix wins, Verstappen is on a trajectory few can match. His current contract with Red Bull Racing makes him the highest-paid F1 driver ever, raking in $60 million annually. At just 26, his financial dominance is just getting started.
4. Kimi Räikkönen ($250 Million)
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Räikkönen, known as The Iceman, once held F1’s highest salary—$51 million in a single season. The Finnish driver raced for four different teams including McLaren and Ferrari, and eventually won the world championship in 2017. His fortune comes from racing contracts, high-end endorsements, and property investments in Finland and Thailand. He retired in 2021 with 21 Grand Prix wins.
3. Fernando Alonso ($270 Million)
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Alonso is one of the oldest F1 racers to date at 43 years old, earning $18 million per year at Aston Martin. But that’s only a small chunk of his 2024 annual earnings of $40 million. With that salary, I wouldn’t want to retire either. The Spaniard is two-time world champion, and the only racer to have won both F1 World Drivers’ Championship and the FIA World Endurance Championship. He’s one of the few drivers who has been featured on Forbes’ list of highest-paid athletes twice (once in 2012 and then again in 2018).
2. Lewis Hamilton ($300 Million)
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Lewis Hamilton is probably the most renowned name in motorsports, thanks to his unorthodox personality. He has also won the most world championship titles, a record that he shares with Michael Schumacher. His most recent money move was joining Ferrari in 2025, with an annual salary of $76 million. And endorsements with Tommy Hilfiger, Puma, and Monster Energy have further pushed his earnings to $100 million annually. While his career is still going strong, you have to admit that retirement is definitely in the cards for Hamilton.
1. Michael Schumacher ($600 Million)
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Michael Schumacher holds the record for the most Grand Prix victories, a title previously held by Alain Prost. He also holds the most world titles along with Lewis Hamilton, with an iconic spell at Ferrari, where he won the team five consecutive titles from 2000 to 2004. At the peak of his career, he was making $100 million annually in salaries and sponsorships. Schumacher’s career came to a tragic end after a skiing accident in 2013. Ever since, his family has been very private about his health.