The richest F1 drivers in 2026: estimated net worth

Few questions generate as many searches as "who is Formula 1's richest driver?". The short answer is Lewis Hamilton, at least among those still active. The long answer is that any net-worth figure is an outside estimate, made with different methods and with results that can differ by more than 100%. Here we collect those published by media and reference lists in 2026 and explain why they do not match.

Hamilton: from $250 to $586 million

Lewis Hamilton's range is the widest. HITC puts him between $250 and 300 million; another list cites 450; and The Scotsman, based on the Sunday Times Rich List, speaks of £435 million, about $586 million, which would make him the richest active driver and the second in history, after Michael Schumacher, whose wealth is estimated at around 600 million.

Alonso and Verstappen

Fernando Alonso appears in most lists at about $260 million (Celebrity Net Worth), with one list raising him to 400, and is usually third. Max Verstappen clusters around 200-210 million, with some estimates up to 250. His base salary of about 70 million a year suggests his wealth will keep growing quickly.

The rest of the grid

For Charles Leclerc HITC publishes between $50 and 125 million; for Carlos Sainz, around 50; and for Lando Norris and George Russell, between 20 and 40 each. Yahoo notes that Norris, despite being the reigning champion, is only the fifth-best paid on the 2026 grid. These are younger drivers whose fortune depends mainly on the salaries of recent years.

Why the lists do not match

There are three reasons. The first, what is counted: some estimators add up only what was earned in F1 and others add investments, sponsorships, image rights and businesses. The second, who estimates: the Sunday Times, Celebrity Net Worth and F1Salaries use different methods and data. The third, the date: a figure from a year ago does not include later pay rises or revaluations. That is why the figures of different lists should not be compared carelessly.