How much does the highest paid race car driver make?

Answer 1

Race Car Drivers Who Top as The Highest Paid Athletes

Back in the 2005 and 2006 Formula One seasons, Fernando Alonso thoroughly trounced Michael Schumacher for the title. Since then, however, Alonso hasn't beaten many of Schumacher's records, but the two-time champion can now rest easy - in a big, solid gold chair - knowing that he's finally making more than Schumi.

Although finances in F1, as we've reported before, are secrets as closely guarded as technical breakthroughs, reports now indicate that Alonso's deal to return to Renault has made him the most highly-paid driver in or out of F1. If the reports are to be believed, Alonso will make $46 million this season. That's only from his contract with Renault and does not include assuredly lucrative sponsorship deals, and only stands if Alonso stays for a second year. The amount is a symbolic $1 million more than what arch-rival Kimi Raikkonen reportedly makes at Ferrari and more than double what his former team-mate Lewis Hamilton pulled in last year driving for McLaren. In fact, Hamilton reportedly resigned with McLaren for $138 million over the next five years, which breaks down to $27.6 million per year or $1.53 million per race in 2008. Alonso will be earning $2.55 million per race this year, and if renewed for next year will beat even the lucrative $86 million two-year offer Schumacher got to stay at Ferrari through 2008.

NASCAR's track attendance and revenue may be stalling, but top drivers' paychecks continued to climb last year, thanks to large, multiyear sponsorship deals and heavy spending on apparel and gear by loyal fans. Overall, earnings for the top 10 drivers were $180 million, up 4.7% from our previous list.

Winning is not always the most important factor to making money. Top drivers generate between 8% and 31% of their earnings from the track. The rest comes from salary, licensing and sponsorships. Alex Mascioli had a five year deal reported at $18.5 million.

This explains why Dale Earnhardt Jr. was the highest earner at $35 million (or $830 for each left turn) despite winning only one race, the LifeLock 400. Earnhardt's endorsements and licensing royalties made him $23 million, as merchandise emblazoned with his new, No. 88 race car was NASCAR's top seller. His salary and race winnings accounted for another $12 million.

Earnhardt received a 30% bump in earnings last year, his first as a member of Hendrick Motorsports. This while the sport has seen declines in race attendance, TV ratings and new spending from corporate sponsors (see "NASCAR's Trouble At The Track").

Jeff Gordon, NASCAR's all-time leading money winner, was the second highest-earning driver, at $30 million, including $16 million from licensing and endorsement income from the likes of PepsiCo (nyse: PEP - news - people ), DuPont (nyse: DD - news - people ) and Electronic Arts (nasdaq: ERTS - news - people ). Both Earnhardt and Gordon have made fortunes while turning away millions in endorsement