The net worth of the best F1 drivers rivals that of any highest-paid athlete in the world, and these drivers have amassed more wealth over the years than anyone else.
While some take huge paychecks, others combine it with business acumen and turn millions of dollars into tens or even hundreds of millions – and even contribute through philanthropic activities at the same time.
Here's the F1 driver who reportedly has the highest net worth (in dollars) in the sport's history in the Hot Engine program
Former Ferrari driver Eddie Irvine excelled in the paddock and came closest to a title in 1999 against McLaren's "Flying Finn" Mika Hakkinen, while Michael Schumacher was relegated to a support role after breaking his leg mid-season.
While he could earn a good salary at Scuderia Ferrari, much of his wealth was amassed through a series of real estate investments.
Mario Andretti is a legend in interdisciplinary motorsport who has seen the corners that bear his name and is a hit in any paddock in the world.
All of these successes have led to huge prize money, with Andretti winning the F1 and IndyCar titles, as well as the Daytona and Indianapolis 500 races, becoming one of only three drivers to win F1, IndyCar, NASCA, and the World Sportscar Championship.
Four-time F1 World Champion Sebastian Vettel, known for staying away from the track, didn't make his first post on social ** announcing his retirement until he created an Instagram account.
Due to his success on the track, his salary to date is one of the highest in the sport, and he is known to have a collection of several historic F1 cars - which has been added to by the strong support of brands such as Shell.
Jenson Button was reportedly one of the highest-paid drivers in Formula 1 before winning the World Championship in 2009, and a year later, he moved to McLaren for a handsome pay.
He now has an investment real estate portfolio, Mobil 1 sponsorship allows him to drive in selected races, and in addition to his work as a TV commentator, he serves as a senior advisor to the Williams team, which brought him his F1 debut.
Kimi Raikkonen earned one of the sport's highest salaries at his peak, and it is believed that he also invested in real estate in his native Finland and abroad.
He is now helping his son Robin start his motorsport journey, and he began his dabble in karting in 2023, while Raikkonen's net worth will be the result of competing at the highest level in nearly two decades.
It's a shame that now Niki Lauda is no longer with us, he's still a very shrewd business acumen and a world-class race car driver.
The three-time world champion went on to found and subsequently founded two different airlines as part of his commercial deals, while staying in the F1 paddock by serving as a Ferrari consultant, Jaguar team principal and highly successful non-executive director. Mercedes President – Convincing Lewis Hamilton to sign with the team.
He also wrote five books and was no stranger to strange cameos on TV or in movies until his death in 2019 at the age of 70.
According to the business magazine, Max Verstappen is among Forbes' highest-paid athletes in the world in 2023 and has been named the highest-paid driver in F1 for the past two years due to his unprecedented success at the time.
Coupled with a huge deal with Red Bull, his salary can last until 2028, which already makes him one of the highest-paid people in the sport, with him reportedly earning $70 million in bonuses in 2023 alone.
In addition to this, Verstappen is an ambassador for EA Sports, has numerous individual sponsors, and is investing in the creation of his own GT team.
He also wrote five books and was no stranger to strange cameos on TV or in movies until his death in 2019 at the age of 70.
Fernando Alonso has established himself as one of the most expensive drivers to hire in F1, and for good reason, given his driving ability.
He wanted to give back to motorsport in any way he could, and opened the Fernando Alonso complex in his hometown of Asturias, Spain, where a museum and go-kart track were named after him.
He also acts as an agent for the next generation of A14 Management, hoping to bring as talented drivers as possible into Formula 1.
Lewis Hamilton has been one of the highest-paid people in F1 since moving to Mercedes, and there's a reason why he's close to the top of the table – and his seven World Championship titles are proof enough.
He has reinvested through initiatives such as the launch of Mission 44 and the Hamilton Commission, which aims to increase the representation of traditionally underrepresented backgrounds in motorsport.
As one of the most marketable riders in the sport, his income will be supplemented by high-profile deals over the years with a plethora of other companies such as Tommy Hilfiger, IWC, Bose and others.
In addition to revenue, Hamilton was fifth on the Sunday Times' "Giving List" in 2022, where he reportedly made 67% (about £20 million) was donated to charities around youth, education and employment.
In 1999 and 2000, Forbes ranked Michael Schumacher as the world's highest-paid athlete, and in 2005 European Business magazine** he was the world's first billionaire athlete (yes, yes b).
Known for his huge donations to charities and those in need, as well as his high income, Schumacher was later listed by Forbes in 2017 as the fifth-highest-paid athlete ever in his career.