Hamilton, Vettel fall in Forbes rich list

Lewis Hamilton's earnings may have jumped up between 2017 and 2018, but the Formula 1 world champion slipped in Forbes' annual run-down of the richest athletes in the world. Sebastian Vettel was the only other F1 driver to make the list.

Hamilton ranked 12th on the 2018 athletes rich list, but drops to 13th a year on.

According to Forbes, Hamilton's earnings totalled $55million in 2018, with $0m in endorsements supplementing his annual salary from Mercedes.

Similarly to last year, Vettel's endorsements rank among the lowest on the whole list, with Forbes estimating his extra income at just $300K, added to a salary of $40m.

Hamilton is level in 13th place with Anthony Joshua, forcing him into the share for the UK's richest athlete, an distinction he held solely last year.

The Briton may well be on the rise in next year's list, having signed a new contract with Ferrari, which came into effect in the current season. According to reports, Hamilton's salary jumped to $50m with his new deal.

Vettel was ranked as the 18th-best paid athlete in 2018, but has fallen to 30th a year on, with growing salaries in America's top sports – basketball, baseball and football – bumping him down the charts.

Lionel Messi reclaims top spot, with Floyd Mayweather Jr having taken top spot last year by dint of his Las Vegas mega fight with Conor McGregor, who also drops out of the leading places.

Boxer Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez, NFL quarterbacks Russell Wilson, Aaron Rodgers and Ben Roethlisberger and resurgent golfing icon Tiger Woods have climbed above Hamilton since last year's list.

Hamilton and Vettel are motorsport's sole representatives in the top 100. They were also joined by Fernando Alonso last year.

Related

More F1 news

Latest F1 news

Lewis Hamilton crashes at Spanish Grand Prix as red flag stops running

• 5 minutes ago

Former Sky Sports F1 star returns for Spanish Grand Prix

• 56 minutes ago

F1 2026 Spanish Grand Prix weather forecast - latest from Madrid

• 1 hour ago

Channel 4 F1 highlights today: How to watch the 2026 Spanish Grand Prix FREE in the UK

• 2 hours ago

Fresh images raise fears F1 teams could risk disqualification at Spanish Grand Prix

• 3 hours ago

F1 star Charles Leclerc makes big admission after Lewis Hamilton peace talks

• Today 09:15