The Whopping Details Making Lewis Hamilton the Highest Earning F1 Driver

Lewis Hamilton has long been one of the highest-paid athletes in the world for some time now. He had been featured on Forbes’ annual top 10 highest-paid athletes a couple of times in the past decade.

But the question arises: how did the Billion Dollar Man reach where he stands today? According to Forbes.com, the Mercedes driver earned around $65 million in the past year, which, as for now, ranks him #17 on the list of highest-paid athletes. He had a salary of $57 million, courtesy of his new contract with Mercedes, and earned an additional $8 million from endorsements.

Coming to his endorsements, his name has been associated with quite a lot of brands through the years, including the likes of Tommy Hilfiger, Gran Turismo Sport, MV Agusta Motorcycles, Monster Energy, IWC, Sony, Bose, Petronas, etc. Other than the ‘highest-paid athletes in the world’, he has also been featured on various other lists, such as the most marketable athletes in the world and the world’s highest-paid celebrities.

The Stevenage-born racing driver has majorly reached this stature because of his performances on the track. His raw talent has enabled him to get some of the biggest contracts in F1 history in terms of income.

READ MORE: Lewis Hamilton’s net worth: Is he a billionaire?

As things stand, Hamilton would most probably feature on the Forbes list in the coming year as well. He signed a bumper new contract with Mercedes in 2021, which will keep him at the Brackley camp until 2023.

Lewis Hamilton reflects on his time with Mercedes after signing a new contract

In 2021, there was much anticipation as to when the 7-time world champion would sign his new deal with Mercedes. But there was never any doubt that he would extend his stay with them in Formula One. After signing a new deal with the Silver Arrows, he mentioned he was grateful to be racing with them.

“We’ve accomplished so much together, but we still have a lot to achieve, both on and off the track. I’m incredibly proud and grateful of how Mercedes has supported me in my drive to improve diversity and equality in our sport,” said Lewis.

“They have held themselves accountable and made important strides in creating a more diverse team and inclusive environment. We’re entering a new era of the car, which will be challenging and exciting, and I can’t wait to see what else we can achieve together,” said Hamilton.

WATCH THIS STORY: F1 Driver Salaries Revealed: How Much Do Lewis Hamilton & Co. Earn?

Despite not being in the top 10 list of Forbes this year, the Mercedes driver remains the highest-paid driver in Formula 1. However, eventually, it’ll be his performances on the track that will define his legacy rather than the money he made with his contracts or endorsements.