Car racing is not for the faint-hearted. Only the most passionate in this sport can handle it.
This is a very competitive sport involving a lot of emotions from the audience. Excitement and fear take precedence as the competition comes to an end.
Professional car drivers are paid millions in this sport. It is among the high-paying sports in the world.
Top 20 richest race car drivers in the world 2021
Car racing has been around for years. With it comes financial gains not just from winning money but also lucrative deals.
Keep reading to find out the richest race car drivers in 2021.
20. Jody Scheckter – $100 million
Jody Scheckter is the first racing car driver to start us off. He is a successful former South African auto racing driver.
His net worth is at $100 million as of 2021. After retiring, Jody began his company FATS Inc.
19. Alexis Dejoria – $100 million
Joining the richest car driver’s list is female drag racer Alexis Dejoria. She has managed to gather a net worth of $100 million.
Alexis has built a successful car racing career over the years. Her father is billionaire John Paul Dejoria, founder of Patron, a tequila company.
18. Alain Prost – $100 million
Alain Prost is an established name in car racing. He has a net worth of about 100 million dollars.
He is a four-time Formula One Driver’s Champion. Also, Alan has the highest number of Grand Prix victories, standing at a record of 51.
17. Eddie Irvine – $120 million
Former racing driver Eddie Irvine has a net worth of $120 million. He has been successful in the racing career with four prominent wins.
Eddie has managed 148 races in his career. He has made significant investments in properties over the years.
16. Mario Andretti – $130 million
American race car driver Mario Andretti’s net worth is $130 million. Mario established his name by having outstanding speed.
From the beginning of his racing career, Mario raised the bar in car racing. He is among the most successful race car drivers in history.
15. Sebastian Vettel – $140 million
Sebastian Vettel is among the highest-paid Formula One racing drivers. His net worth is about $140 million as of 2021.
He has managed to win the world championship consecutively from 2010 up to 2013. After racing for Red Bull, he joined Ferrari in 2015.
14. Jenson Button – $150 million
Jenson Button has an estimated net worth of $150 million. He is a successful British Formula One driver.
He joined Formula One in 2000 and later on McLaren from 2010 to 2017. Jenson has also driven for Honda, Benetton, BAR, Williams, and Renault.
13. Jimmie Johnson – $160 million
Jimmie Johnson’s net worth is at $160 million as of 2021. As a NASCAR driver, Jimmie has made more than $150 million purely from winnings.
He has endorsement deals that earn him $10 million annually. Jimmie is among the highest-paid NASCAR drivers.
12. Johnny Dumfries – $165 million
Johnny Dumfries is a former Scottish racing driver. He has amassed a net worth of $165 million.
In 1984, Johnny won 14 races. He received the crown of British Formula Three champion.
11. Ken Block – $200 million
Ken is a prominent rally driver driving for the Hoonigan Racing Division. He has an estimated net worth of $200 million.
He has made a name for himself in the rallying industry. Ken is best known for his D.C. Shoes, which he co-founded and is the Chief Brand Officer.
10. Jeff Gordon – $200 million
Retired car racing driver Jeff Gordon has an estimated net worth of $200 million. During his racing career, Jeff drove the No.24 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports.
Jeff Gordon was a NASCAR racing driver, but he is an announcer for NASCAR. Additionally, Jeff has made more than $500 million from endorsements and winnings.
9. Connie Kalitta – $200 million
Connie Kalitta is among the wealthiest race car drivers with a net worth of 200 million dollars. He is a renowned drag racer, racing from the 50s up to the 90s.
In 1992, Connie was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America. He is a business guru who owns and runs Kalitta Air, in addition to owning Kalitta Motorsports.
8. Fernando Alonso – $240 million
Former Formula One racing driver Fernando Alonso has a net worth of roughly $240 million. He is among the best Formula One drivers in racing history.
Fernando has made money over the years as a driver for McLaren, Ferrari, Renault, and Minardi. He has also competed in Grand Prix’s all over the world.
7. Kimi Räikkönen – $250 million
Finnish racing driver Kimi Räikkönen joins the list with a net worth of $250 million. During the peak of his career, he made more than $50 million annually.
Kimi is known to be one of those drivers who are always cool despite the pressure. Over the years, Kimi has won 21 Grands Prix.
6. Richard Childress – $250 million
Richard Childress is a former NASCAR driver with a net worth of $250 million. He was not such a successful driver; hence he decided to manage the drivers.
He owns Richard Childress Racing (RCR) which manages racing drivers. Richard may not have made a lot of money from racing but is doing pretty well managing his team.
5. Lewis Hamilton – $285 million
Lewis Hamilton is a prominent British racing driver. He has been racing in Formula One team for Mercedes AMG Petronas.
In one racing year, Lewis earns $50 million. Most of this money is from his contract with Mercedes, which stands at $40 million annually.
4. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. – $300 million
Dale is the son of the late NASCAR legend, Dale Earnhardt, Sr. His father died at the Daytona Speedway crash in February 2001.
Dale Jr.’s racing career commenced at only 17, competing with his father. He has managed to amass a net worth of $300 million as of 2021.
3. Don Schumacher – $350 million
As of 2021, Don Schumacher’s net worth is approximated at 350 million dollars. He began his racing career way back in the 60s.
He became quite prominent in the racing industry and retired after eleven years. Currently, Don Schumacher in charge of Don Schumacher racing.
2. Eddie Jordan – $475 million
Coming in as number two is Irish former car driver Eddie Jordan. He has amassed a net worth of approximately 475 million dollars.
He is a business guru who owns the Jordan Grand Prix. Additionally, he is the lead analyst on BBC for F1 coverage.
1. Michael Schumacher – $780 million
Michael Schumacher is the world’s most affluent race car driver. His net worth is estimated to be $780 million as of 2021.
Michael is retired but used to race for Jordan Grand Prix in Formula One. He won many of the World Championship titles from his 15 years career.
He also had lucrative endorsement deals with big brands, including Vodafone, Mercedes-Benz, and Shell.
Conclusion
Car racing is among the adrenaline-rising sports in the world. Only the strong-hearted can withstand that.
Even with that, car racing attracts a massive fortune. That is evident from the drivers we have outlined.