Quick answer
Michael Schumacher is the richest F1 driver in 2026, with an estimated net worth of $600 million according to Celebrity Net Worth. Lewis Hamilton is the richest active driver and second overall, with a fortune of £435 million (about $586 million) on the Sunday Times Rich List 2026. Fernando Alonso is third at an estimated $260 million.
Last updated: 30 September 2026. Figures are the latest published estimates; see sources below.
This list of the richest F1 drivers in 2026 ranks active and retired Formula 1 drivers by estimated personal net worth. Hamilton’s figure comes from the Sunday Times Rich List 2026; the others are Celebrity Net Worth or PlanetF1 estimates, as Forbes and Bloomberg do not publish net worth figures for these drivers.
The list changed in 2026 because Lando Norris won the 2025 world title and Charles Leclerc entered the top 10. Hamilton, now at Ferrari, has a new figure from the Rich List. We have also added Forbes’ ranking of the highest-paid drivers of 2025, which measures annual earnings rather than total wealth.
At a glance: richest F1 drivers (2026)
| Rank | Driver | Net worth (est.) | As of | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Schumacher | $600 million (other estimates up to $790 million) | 2026 | Retired, seven-time champion |
| 2 | Lewis Hamilton | £435 million (about $586 million) | 2026 | Ferrari, seven-time champion |
| 3 | Fernando Alonso | $260 million | Aug 2026 | Aston Martin, two-time champion |
| 4 | Kimi Raikkonen | $250 million | 2026 | Retired, 2007 champion |
| 5 | Max Verstappen | $200 million to $210 million | Aug 2026 | Red Bull, four-time champion |
| 6 | Jenson Button | $150 million | 2026 | Retired, 2009 champion |
| 7 | Sebastian Vettel | $140 million | 2026 | Retired, four-time champion |
| 8 | Charles Leclerc | $125 million | Aug 2026 | Ferrari |
| 9 | David Coulthard | $80 million | 2026 | Retired, 13 Grand Prix wins |
| 10 | Lando Norris | $60 million | Aug 2026 | McLaren, 2025 champion |
Who are the richest F1 drivers in 2026?
1. Michael Schumacher: $600 million
Michael Schumacher won seven world titles and topped Forbes’ list of the highest-paid athletes in 1999 and 2000. At his peak he earned roughly $10 million a year from Shell sponsorship alone.
Celebrity Net Worth estimates his career earnings at more than $1 billion and his net worth at $600 million, a figure The Scotsman also cited in March 2026. RacingNews365, using GQ Sports data, puts it higher at $790 million, so treat the figure as a range.
His family sold his Falcon 2000EX jet, reported at $29 million, in 2022.
Known for: Seven world titles and his Ferrari era.
2. Lewis Hamilton: £435 million (about $586 million)
Lewis Hamilton is the richest active F1 driver. The Sunday Times Rich List 2026 valued his fortune at £435 million, about $586 million, making his figure the best-sourced on this list.
He joined Ferrari in 2025 on a reported $70 million salary, and Forbes put his 2025 on-track earnings at $70.5 million. Off the track he owns a stake in the Denver Broncos (bought in 2022), the Almave non-alcoholic tequila brand, and was an executive producer on “F1: The Movie” (2025).
Known for: Seven world titles with McLaren and Mercedes, now racing for Ferrari.
3. Fernando Alonso: $260 million
Fernando Alonso won back-to-back titles in 2005 and 2006 and still races for Aston Martin. Celebrity Net Worth estimates he has earned about $480 million in F1 salaries across his long career.
Forbes put his 2025 earnings at $26.5 million, sixth on the grid. He also owns the Kimoa lifestyle brand.
His estimated $260 million, confirmed by PlanetF1 in August 2026, makes him the richest driver still racing after Hamilton.
Known for: Two world titles and a career still running at Aston Martin.
4. Kimi Raikkonen: $250 million
Kimi Raikkonen won the 2007 championship with Ferrari on a contract reported at about $50 million a year. Ferrari then paid him a reported $25 million buyout in 2009 to make room for Fernando Alonso.
He retired at the end of 2021. His estimated $250 million, from Celebrity Net Worth, puts him just behind Alonso, the driver who replaced him at Ferrari.
Most of his wealth dates from his salaries in the 2000s, when his Ferrari contract made him one of the best-paid drivers on the grid.
Known for: The 2007 world title with Ferrari.
5. Max Verstappen: $200 million to $210 million
Max Verstappen won four straight titles from 2021 to 2024 and was Forbes’ highest-paid F1 driver of 2025, earning $76 million in salary and bonuses. His Red Bull contract runs to the end of 2028.
Estimates of his wealth differ slightly: Celebrity Net Worth says $200 million and PlanetF1 said $210 million in August 2026. He lives in Monaco and owns a Dassault Falcon 900EX jet.
His $76 million in 2025 made him the only driver to out-earn Hamilton on track that year.
Known for: Four consecutive world titles with Red Bull.
6. Jenson Button: $150 million
Jenson Button won the 2009 championship with Brawn GP, then earned a reported $16.5 million a year at McLaren from 2010 to 2017.
Since retiring he has invested in California real estate, ran the JBXE team in the Extreme E electric off-road series and works as a Sky Sports pundit. Celebrity Net Worth estimates his net worth at $150 million.
His mix of broadcasting and investments keeps him ahead of several drivers who won more titles.
Known for: The Brawn GP title of 2009.
7. Sebastian Vettel: $140 million
Sebastian Vettel won four consecutive titles with Red Bull from 2010 to 2013. Celebrity Net Worth documents career earnings of about $367.8 million, peaking at $60 million in 2018 during his Ferrari years.
He retired after the 2022 season with Aston Martin. His estimated net worth of $140 million, from Celebrity Net Worth, is well below that career earnings total.
His Ferrari years, including that $60 million peak in 2018, account for a large share of what he earned.
Known for: Four straight world titles with Red Bull.
8. Charles Leclerc: $125 million
Charles Leclerc has driven for Ferrari since 2019 and is on a long-term contract with the team. Forbes put his 2025 earnings at $30 million, all salary.
He co-founded the LEC ice cream brand in 2024. PlanetF1 estimated his net worth at $125 million in August 2026, which brings him into the top 10 for the first time.
His 2025 Forbes earnings came entirely from salary, with no bonus recorded, unlike the McLaren drivers who finished above him on that list.
Known for: Leading Ferrari’s line-up since 2019.
9. David Coulthard: $80 million
David Coulthard won 13 Grand Prix races between 1994 and 2008 before moving into broadcasting with the BBC and Channel 4.
His business interests explain much of his wealth. He co-owns Whisper, the TV production company that makes F1 coverage, and owns hotels in the UK. Celebrity Net Worth estimates his net worth at $80 million.
He and Charles Leclerc are the only drivers in this top 10 without a world title.
Known for: 13 Grand Prix wins and his TV production business.
10. Lando Norris: $60 million
Lando Norris won the 2025 world championship at the Abu Dhabi season finale on 7 December 2025, McLaren’s first drivers’ title since 2008.
Forbes put his 2025 earnings at $57.5 million, including a $39.5 million bonus, the largest bonus on the grid. He also runs the Quadrant gaming and lifestyle brand. PlanetF1 estimated his net worth at $60 million in August 2026.
He is the newest name on the list and the only driver in it to have won his first title in 2025.
Known for: The 2025 world championship with McLaren.
Highest-paid F1 drivers of 2025 (Forbes)
Net worth measures total wealth. Forbes’ annual list measures what drivers earned on track in a single year, counting salary and bonuses but not endorsements. The latest edition, published on 9 December 2025, covers the 2025 season; the 2026 list usually appears in December.
| Rank | Driver | Total 2025 | Salary | Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Max Verstappen | $76 million | $65 million | $11 million |
| 2 | Lewis Hamilton | $70.5 million | $70 million | $0.5 million |
| 3 | Lando Norris | $57.5 million | $18 million | $39.5 million |
| 4 | Oscar Piastri | $37.5 million | $10 million | $27.5 million |
| 5 | Charles Leclerc | $30 million | $30 million | $0 |
| 6 | Fernando Alonso | $26.5 million | $24 million | $2.5 million |
| 7 | George Russell | $26 million | $15 million | $11 million |
| 8 | Lance Stroll | $13.5 million | $12 million | $1.5 million |
| 9 | Carlos Sainz | $13 million | $10 million | $3 million |
| 10 | Kimi Antonelli | $12.5 million | $5 million | $7.5 million |
Driver salaries are excluded from F1’s cost cap, which is why the top contracts can exceed $50 million a year.
Also notable
- Lance Stroll: personal net worth of about $50 million (Celebrity Net Worth and PlanetF1), just outside the top 10. His father, Aston Martin executive chairman and part-owner Lawrence Stroll, is worth $3.7 billion per Forbes (September 2026).
- Niki Lauda: excluded from the ranking as an estate; he died in 2019.
- Alain Prost and Eddie Irvine: left out because no current estimate could be found.
What changed in 2026
- Lando Norris enters at No. 10 after winning the 2025 world championship.
- Charles Leclerc joins the top 10 on a $125 million PlanetF1 estimate.
- Lewis Hamilton’s figure is now based on the Sunday Times Rich List 2026 (£435 million), and he is listed at Ferrari.
- Niki Lauda (died 2019) is removed as an estate, and Alain Prost and Eddie Irvine drop out for lack of a current source.
- Lance Stroll moves to a note because his family wealth, not his own, is what reaches billionaire level.
How we ranked this list
We ranked drivers by estimated personal net worth, using the Sunday Times Rich List 2026 where it covers a driver and PlanetF1 or Celebrity Net Worth estimates elsewhere, with Celebrity Net Worth treated as a secondary source. Earnings figures come from Forbes (December 2025). Sterling is converted at the rate used in published reports. Figures are not audited and change with contracts and markets.
Related reads
- Forbes highest-paid athletes of 2026
- Top 25 richest athletes in the world by net worth
- Top 10 richest cricketers in the world 2026
Frequently asked questions
Who is the richest F1 driver in 2026?
Among all drivers, Michael Schumacher, with an estimated $600 million (Celebrity Net Worth). Among active drivers, Lewis Hamilton, whose fortune the Sunday Times Rich List 2026 put at £435 million (about $586 million).
Who is the highest-paid F1 driver?
Max Verstappen, with $76 million in 2025 salary and bonuses (Forbes, December 2025), ahead of Lewis Hamilton at $70.5 million.
Who won the 2025 F1 world championship?
Lando Norris of McLaren, who sealed the title at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on 7 December 2025. It was McLaren’s first drivers’ title since 2008.
How much does Lewis Hamilton earn at Ferrari?
Forbes estimated his 2025 on-track earnings at $70.5 million, made up of a $70 million salary and a $0.5 million bonus.
Is Lance Stroll a billionaire?
No. His personal net worth is about $50 million; his father, Aston Martin executive chairman Lawrence Stroll, is worth $3.7 billion per Forbes (September 2026).
Do F1 driver salaries count against the budget cap?
No. Driver pay is excluded from F1’s cost cap, which is why top salaries such as Hamilton’s $70 million can exceed $50 million a year.
Sources
- Forbes, Formula 1’s highest-paid drivers 2025 (9 Dec 2025)
- PlanetF1, F1 driver net worth 2026 (14 Aug 2026)
- PlanetF1, Forbes 2025 highest-paid drivers summary
- tio.ch, Hamilton on the Sunday Times Rich List 2026 (21 Aug 2026)
- Crash.net, Lando Norris crowned 2025 F1 champion
- RacingNews365, richest drivers in F1 history (Dec 2025)
- The Scotsman, Formula One rich list 2026 (Mar 2026)
- Celebrity Net Worth, Michael Schumacher
- Wikipedia (citing Forbes), Lawrence Stroll
Featured image: Photo: Ank kumar / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Net worth figures are estimates based on public data and change with contracts and markets; they are not audited. Forbes earnings figures cover on-track pay only.
