What is Lewis Hamilton’s Net Worth, Career, Biography, Facts, Age, Life Story

Lewis Hamilton is a British Formula One racing driver for the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team who has a net worth of $285 million. Hamilton is widely regarded as one of the greatest drivers in the history of the sport. Lewis is one of the highest-paid F1 drivers in the world. In a typical year, he makes $50 million, the majority of which comes from his Mercedes contract that pays $40 million per year.

Early Life

Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton was born on January 7, 1985, in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, England. His mom, Carmen, is caucasian and his father, Anthony, is black. Hamilton self-identifies as black. His parents separated when he was two and he lived with his mom and half-sisters until he was 12. Hamilton then went to live with his dad, stepmother, and half-brother Nicolas. Hamilton took up karate as self-defense when he was five. He was bullied at school. When he was six, his dad bought him a radio-controlled car. The following year, Hamilton finished second at the British Radio Car Association championship. When he was six, he received a go-kart for Christmas from his dad. Anthony Hamilton promised to support his son’s burgeoning racing career as long as he stayed in school and worked hard at his academics. Lewis attended the Catholic secondary school The John Henry Newman School in Hertfordshire. He also played football (soccer) in school. He studied at Cambridge Arts and Sciences starting in early 2001.

Career

In 1998, Hamilton signed up with the McLaren young driver program. He became an official Formula One McLaren driver in 2007. He is the first and only black racecar driver in the sport. He finished as the runner up to Kimi Räikkönen in the 2007 season. In 2008, Hamilton won the F1 World Championship for the first time, securing the victory in the last race of the season. He signed to drive for Mercedes in 2013. Starting in 2014, Hamilton won five more World Championships including back-to-back titles in 2014 and 2015. Hamilton won consecutive titles for the second time in his career in 2017 and 2018 and then again in 2019. He’s won six World Championships as of this writing. His wins are second only to seven-time World Drivers’ Champion Michael Schumacher.

In 2018 Hamilton launched a clothing line, TOMMYXLEWIS, during New York Fashion Week with American fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger alongside models Winnie Harlow and Hailey Baldwin.

During his career, Lewis Hamilton has courted controversy for maneuvers on the track and remarks off of it. He is very much in the public spotlight and his words are often closely scrutinized.

While racing in Spain, he was the victim of racial abuse from some Spanish supporters. His close rivalry with Spanish driver Fernando Alonso was responsible for encouraging Spanish supporters to direct abuse at Hamilton. He admits he is very competitive and this sometimes caused tension with other drivers.

The week before the 2018 German Grand Prix, Hamilton signed a two-year contract extension with Mercedes. It was reported to be worth nearly $50 million per year.

In June 2020, Hamilton revealed that he would be racing in a brand new, all-black Mercedes in support of Black Lives Matter. Hamilton has been vocal about the lack of diversity in Formula One racing. The car, called the Black Arrow, was designed by Hamilton and made its debut in Austria over the 4th of July weekend as the delayed Formula One season finally got in gear.

Personal Life

In November 2007, Hamilton started dating Nicole Scherzinger, the lead singer of the American girl band the Pussycat Dolls. They broke up to focus on their respective careers in early 2010 but were spotted together at that year’s Turkish and Canadian Grands Prix. The couple split up and reunited several times between 2011 and 2015, before finally splitting up for good in February 2015.

After his split from Scherzinger, he was rumored to have dated long-time friend Rihanna for awhile. He’s also rumored to have dated Rita Ora, Miss Finland Lotta Hinsa, Miss Grenada 2007 Vivian Burkhardt, model Winnie Harlow, Hungarian model Barbara Palvin, and Sofia Richie. He was romantically linked to Nicki Minaj as well. The two took a romantic vacation to Dubai together.

Hamilton is vegan.

Lewis Hamilton has been criticized by some MPs for avoiding paying U.K. taxes by living out of the country.

Hamilton was named after Olympic sprint champion Carl Lewis.

Hamilton, an Arsenal fan, said that if he didn’t have a career in Formula One he would have been a footballer or a cricketer — he played both in high school.

Salary Highlights

Between June 2016 and June 2017, Lewis Hamilton earned around $50 million from endorsements and prize money. Between June 2017 and June 2018, he earned $51 million. In the following 12-month period he earned $55 million.

In 2015, Hamilton was the wealthiest British sportsperson. He is the best-paid driver in the history of Formula One. 

Real Estate

In 2019, Hamilton listed his New York penthouse for $57 million. Located in the same Tribeca building that Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel, Meg Ryan, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Bella Hadid live in, the 8,900-square-foot unit is the largest penthouse loft in the building. Hamilton bought it for $43.9 million in 2017. In December 2021 he sold this property for $50 million. He reportedly never lived in unit… possibly because he ALSO owns a penthouse located not far away at 70 Vestry Street which he ALSO acquired in 2019 for $40.7 million.

Hamilton owns a four-story mansion with six bedrooms in Kensington, West London that was built in 1860 and is worth $25 million.

Hamilton also owns apartments in Nyon, a suburb of Geneva, Switzerland, and in Monaco.