Who in F1 is a billionaire

Formula 1 practically screams money, but honestly? Only a handful of people in the paddock have actually hit that billionaire mark. Lawrence Stroll's probably the big name you hear about—he's the executive chairman over at Aston Martin F1 Team. Then you've got the folks who own the whole shebang, Liberty Media, plus some team bosses and drivers who turned their success into serious cash. Let's break down who these people are, where their money came from, and what it means for F1.

Who is the billionaire owner of an F1 team?

Lawrence Stroll — yeah, he's the billionaire you see running a team day-to-day. Back in 2018, he put together a group to rescue Force India, turned it into Racing Point, then Aston Martin. Forbes says he's worth over $3 billion, mostly from fashion investments like Tommy Hilfiger and Michael Kors. That cash lets Aston Martin throw money at a new factory, a wind tunnel, and big names like Adrian Newey.

There are others too:

• Dietrich Mateschitz (passed away): The Red Bull co-founder was a billionaire who bankrolled Red Bull Racing and AlphaTauri (now RB).
• Roger Penske: He owns McLaren Racing — billionaire, sure, but his main gig is that automotive empire.
• John C. Malone: Chair of Liberty Media, the company that holds F1's commercial rights. He's a multi-billionaire, no question.

How did Lawrence Stroll become a billionaire?

Stroll's story is basically a fashion and venture capital fairy tale. He started importing fancy clothes to Canada. Then he got in early on Polo Ralph Lauren before it went public — made a killing. Bought Tommy Hilfiger for next to nothing, sold it for over a billion. Then Michael Kors, which exploded globally. The guy's got a knack for spotting undervalued fashion brands and scaling them up. After that, he chased his passion: motorsport. Used his fortune to get his son Lance into F1 and eventually own a whole team.

Are any current F1 drivers billionaires?

Nope, not a single one. Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen? They're sitting on hundreds of millions — Hamilton's around $300-400 million, Verstappen over $200 million — but not billions yet. They earn from huge salaries, endorsements, some investments, but they haven't built those billion-dollar business empires. Though Hamilton's talked about wanting to hit that mark through fashion, music, and film stuff.

What is the net worth of the richest person in F1?

That'd be John C. Malone, Liberty Media's chairman. Forbes pegs him at $9.5 billion. Made his money in cable and telecom, building Liberty Media into a global giant. He's not hands-on with F1 day-to-day, but his ownership stake makes him the richest person in the whole ecosystem. After him come Dietrich Mateschitz's heirs — their family trust is worth billions — and Lawrence Stroll, whose net worth bounces around with fashion markets.

Data Table: Billionaires in F1 (2025)

Expert Insight: How billionaire ownership changes F1

"Billionaire owners have totally shifted how F1 works," says Dr. Mark Jenkins, professor of business strategy at Cranfield School of Management. "Teams like Aston Martin aren't just racing teams anymore — they're marketing platforms for the owner's brand and investments. That means they can spend big, long-term money that sponsor-dependent teams just can't match. You end up with a two-tier system where billionaire-backed teams outspend everyone else, and financial sustainability becomes the real differentiator."

Checklist: How to spot a billionaire in the F1 paddock

• Private jet presence: They almost never fly commercial and sometimes have dedicated hangars at tracks.
• Team ownership or major stake: Either they own the team outright or they're the main investor.
• Personal branding: They use the team to push their other business interests — like Stroll's fashion links.
• Long-term vision: They invest in infrastructure like factories and wind tunnels, not just driver salaries.
• Philanthropy: Lots have foundations backing motorsport development or sustainability stuff.

Frequently Asked Questions