Red suits him: Winless Hamilton tops Forbes F1 rich list

Lewis Hamilton has struggled to emerge from F1’s midfield since joining Ferrari, but the seven-time world champion’s star power in the sport, which extends far beyond the race track, is still unrivalled.

According to Forbes’ freshly published list of the World’s Highest-Paid Athletes for 2025, Hamilton has reclaimed his crown as Formula 1’s top earner – fending off his old foe and reigning world champion Max Verstappen.

Thanks to a jaw-dropping new contract with Ferrari, Hamilton is laughing all the way to the bank with an estimated $80 million in earnings this year, leaving his Red Bull rival eating his dust in second place.

According to Forbes’, that total includes a $60 million retainer and performance bonuses from the Maranello squad, plus another $20 million in endorsements, thanks to partnerships with Dior and Electronic Arts, among others.

Apparently, looking good in Ferrari red and dominating virtual races pays handsomely.

That figure lands Hamilton in 22nd place globally on Forbes’ list, tied with Mexican boxing star Canelo Álvarez, and making him obviously the highest-paid motorsport athlete in the world.

Close behind – but not quite drafting past – is Verstappen. The Dutchman slides down to 24th on the list, with total earnings pegged at $78 million, including $72 million in salary and bonuses from the energy drink empire, plus $6 million in sponsorship deals.

No other F1 drivers made the cut, with Forbes stating that a minimum haul of $53.6 million was needed to even crack the top 50.

That leaves the likes of Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, and George Russell watching this particular podium from the sidelines.

The Billion-Dollar Club, With a Footnote

Let’s be real: with the secretive nature of athletes contracts, Forbes’ figures are more “guesstimates” than gospel. But hey, even a rough count of millions is still... millions.

At the top of Forbes’ overall list is none other than Cristiano Ronaldo, who seems to be making more money than the GDP of some countries.

The Portuguese football legend brought in a staggering $275 million, combining his eye-watering salary at Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr with commercial deals.

That figure is the third-highest single-year total ever recorded by Forbes, trailing only Floyd Mayweather’s mega-hauls in 2015 and 2018.

Altogether, the top ten highest-paid athletes in 2025 banked a combined $1.4 billion!

• Read also: Hamilton admits Ferrari transition 'as challenging as it could ever be'

The elite group underscores the financial might of global sports stars, where Hamilton’s $80 million, while impressive, is just a drop in the bucket compared to Ronaldo’s draw.

Hamilton, meanwhile, may not be dominating on the track, but he’s still proving one thing for sure: when it comes to income, he’s not just a driver – he’s Ferrari’s most lucrative investment in years.

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