Top 10 richest NASCAR Drivers of all time
Here are the top 10 richest NASCAR drivers, they worked hard to reach this level of success.
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Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon (Via IMAGO)
NASCAR is the premier stock car racing championship in the world. It is the most-watched racing league in the United States. Hence, it is a huge business as well. According to the television ratings, NASCAR and NFL are the top two big sports leagues. Almost three million fans are watching every race. NASCAR drivers, just like every other motorsports athlete, work twice as hard to be the front-runner.
NASCAR is a physically intense sport and needs talent and concentration. Not everyone can become successful in this stock car racing series. It requires immense skills. It is also a dangerous sport, and the drivers are mostly risk-takers.
The NASCAR drivers earn a lot of money in the sport as they are willing to be the daredevils. The richest drivers are usually the most successful. This is due to their wins, cash prizes, and other endorsements with major brands. Let’s take a look at the top 10 richest NASCAR drivers of all time.
Here is the list of Richest NASCAR drivers ever
10. Carl Edwards -$70 Million
Ex-Joe Gibbs Racing driver Carl Edwards has one of the biggest what if career in the sport history. He retired from the sport early, in 2017 after heart breaking championship finale result. But his 13-year Cup career was enough to earn him a $70 Million fortune.
He won the Xfinity Series title in 2007 and has missed out on four titles, after finishing P2 in the championship chase. But his 38 wins in the second division makes the career special. His Cup career went in the same path that saw him win 28 races but failed to convert four top 4 runs in the championship to title.
9. Kurt Busch- $70 Million
Kurt Busch is one of the best drivers in NASCAR. With the 2004 Cup championship win and 38 top tier race wins to his name, he is on his way towards a first ballot Hall of Fame entry. Over the years he has amassed a $70 Million fortune.
He retired from the sport in 2023, after suffering a career ending concussion in 2022. The veteran is now enjoying his retirement life with his life partner and family, with occasional appearance on TV as a broadcaster.
8. Kevin Harvick- $70 Million
Kevin Harvick has a net worth of $70 million. This makes him one of the richest NASCAR drivers. Most of his wealth comes from the race wins. Harvick has 60 Cup Series wins. He also has two Xfinity Series championships and 47 race victories in the series.
Former US president Barack Obama awarded Harvick the 2014 NASCAR Cup Series championship. He also won ESPN’s sports award for best driver. He owns the stock racing team Kevin Harvick Incorporated, which now races in the CARS Tour, a series he co-owns.
7. Mark Martin- $70 Million
Mark Martin has a net worth of approximately $70 million. Though most of it is from racing, his business ventures also have contributed to it. He owns five car dealerships. Martin is known as a living legend. His career included 880 races in a span of 30 years. Very few drivers race in their later years, Mark Martin was one among them as he raced in 2013. In 2017, Martin was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
6. Danica Patrick- $80 Million
Danica Patrick is the most successful female driver ever in NASCAR. She broke several records. Patrick has a net worth of approximately $80 million. However, she did not accumulate wealth only with her performance on the track. She earned as a model, spokeswoman, and also as the face of major brands. Danica Patrick had a strong start to her Cup Series career.
She is also the first woman to finish in fourth place after leading 19 laps in her first Indy 500 race. Patrick also won her first NASCAR Cup Series pole in 2013. She became the first woman to do so. Danica Patrick is a great role model for many women, and she has paved way for other women to get into the sport.
5. Kyle Buch- $80 Million
Kyle Busch has a net worth of $80 million. He made most of his money from racing. In 2020, he was listed as the highest-paid NASCAR driver in Forbes. He also has a motorsports racing company which was founded in 2010, called “Kyle Busch Motorsports,” which is successful. His 60 NASCAR Cup wins, and 2 NASCAR Cup Series championships contributed to his wealth.
4. Tony Stewart -$90 Million
Tony Stewart holds a record that no one else does. He is the only person to win an Indycar and NASCAR championship. Stewart is very popular for his successful career record. He ran 600 races over his career and has 49 race wins.
A significant portion of his money comes from endorsement deals. Tony Stewart also holds three NASCAR Cup Series titles. He is the founder of Tony Stewart Racing and Eldora Speedway. He co-owns the Cup team Stewart Hass Racing. He has a net worth of $90 million.
3. Jimmie Johnson ($160 Million)
Jimmie Johnson is undoubtedly one of the richest NASCAR drivers ever. His total net worth is around $160 million. His hard work and success on the track made it possible for him to make it to the list. Johnson won the NASCAR Cup Series seven times and is the only driver to win the titles consecutively. He holds the record for most Cup Series championships alongside fellow legends Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt.
He also made cameo appearances in television shows, movies, music videos, and games. Not many racers have been as marketable as him. He also has successful business ventures. That makes him the third wealthiest NASCAR driver. He co-owns the Cup team Legacy MC.
2. Jeff Gordon – $210 Million
Jeff Gordon has a net worth of a staggering $200 million. His popularity on the race track helped him earn money. He was a vital part of NASCAR’s rise to mainstream success. Jeff Gordon is a four-time Cup Series champion and a three-time Daytona 500 winner.
He has 93 Cup Series win in his career. Though Gordon retired from racing, he is still a part of the sport. He is the vice-chairman of Hendrick Motorsports. Jeff Gordon is a popular household name in the US. He is also a smart businessman.
1. Dale Earnhardt Jr.- $300 Million
The Earnhardt name is royalty in NASCAR. And everyone knows it. Dale Earnhardt Jr has an estimated worth of $300 million. His father’s legacy helped him reach heights. However, he worked hard to live up to his father’s name and achieve success in the sport. Earnhardt Jr. was voted NASCAR’s popular driver 13 consecutive times from 2003 to 2015.
Dale Jr. also won 2 NASCAR Xfinity titles. He retired from racing in 2017 after his last Daytona 500 race. Dale Jr. is one of the most popular athletes worldwide. He has his ventures, racetracks, auto dealerships, a media production company, and a bar. He co-owns the Xfinity Series team JR Motorsports and also owns the NASCAR podcast production company Dirty Mo Media.
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Sugantha Meena
(493 Articles Published)