Forbes has published its annual list of the richest people in the world… including its ranking of the world’s highest-paid athletes. And what would you know, it includes a number of racing drivers, chief among them the current reigning Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton.
With salary and prizes amounting to $42 million, and another $4 million in sponsorship, Hamilton rakes in a combined take of $46 million per year.
That’s enough to make him the 11th highest-paid sports figure in the world, behind the likes of soccer players Cristiano Ronaldo (1) and Lionel Messi (2), basketballers LeBron James (3), Kevin Durant (5) and Kobe Bryant (10), tennis stars Roger Federer (4) and Novak Djokovic (6), NFL player Cam Newton (7), and golfers Phil Mickelson (8) and Jordan Spieth (9).
To put the value of Hamilton’s achievements into perspective, his team-mate (and chief rival) Nico Rosberg also made it onto the list, but just barely at #98. Rosberg’s combined earnings come to $21 million, or less than half of what his more accomplished wingman earns. But then he’s also the only one on the list who hasn’t won a world championship (yet), let alone multiple titles. The overall picture also gives you an idea of how much Mercedes spends on salaries to stay at the top of its game.
The Mercedes duo aren’t the only racing drivers on the list, though. Joining Hamilton in the top twenty is Sebastian Vettel, who earns $40 million from Ferrari and another $1 million in sponsorship to place him at $19, followed by his predecessor Fernando Alonso who takes in a combined $36.5 million at McLaren. NASCAR’s Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Jimmie Johnson also appear on the list at spots 71 and 82, respectively, with earnings in excess of $20 million each.
Notably absent are former F1 champs Kimi Raikkonen and Jenson Button, who didn’t make the list. Neither did any drivers from other motor racing disciplines, including Indy, Le Mans, or rally, where drivers evidently earn far less than their grand-prix and stock-car compatriots.
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