Charles Leclerc is one of the richest drivers currently on the F1 grid. The Ferrari driver has a reported net worth of $40 million (according to Celebrity Net Worth). Leclerc was born on 16th October, 1997 in Monte Carlo, Monaco. Despite being raised in one of the most expensive cities in the world, the Monegasque’s family are not very wealthy. At numerous occasions, the 27-year-old has opened up about the sacrifices his family has made for his racing career.
In 2017, Leclerc shared how his family was able to afford his racing career. Growing through the ranks of the motorsports world is expensive. Starting from karting, and then eventually moving up to single seaters, racing is a cost-intensive career to go into. Since many racers start at a young age, it’s up to the parents to finance their starts. The Ferrari driver explained that he didn’t come from a wealthy family, but his grandparents were doing well enough to support any staying costs, but would not invest in the racing aspect of his life.
“My parents aren’t’ particularly rich, my grandparents were a little bit, so they were helping us pay for the hotels and all that but they never wanted to invest in anything in racing.” [via Scuderia Fans]
Charles isn’t the only driver in the Leclerc family. His younger brother, Arthur, is also pursuing a career in the Formula series. Although the younger Leclerc has had an opportunity to race seasons in F2 and F3, there was a point in his career where he had to step away from his passion. In December of last year, Arthur got a chance behind the wheel of Ferrari’s F1 car. During the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend, the young Leclerc participated in FP1 with other rookie drivers, and while his brother was elated, he also spoke about the journey they have had getting to that point.
“It’s very special because I also know the whole background of how did he get there, how did we get there,” Charles Leclerc said. “Obviously our parents have done a lot of sacrifices for both of us to pursue our dream.
“He had to stop that dream for three or four years because my father couldn’t withstand the investment that was required for him to continue. I was the only one to continue in the family.”
“And I have seen how hurt my father was when he had to say to Arthur that he had to stop racing because we didn’t have the finance behind it.” [via F1]
Unfortunately, Leclerc’s father, Herve, passed away in 2017 before he saw both his sons achieve their success.
How did Charles Leclerc amass his $40-million Net Worth?
Despite his humble background, Charles Leclerc is now worth $40 million. One of the major ways that he has amassed his fortune is through his salary with the Prancing Horses. According to Spotrac, the Monegasque is currently being paid a salary of $34 million, which is a $15 million more than his 2023 earnings. In 2024, he signed a new contract with Ferrari that reportedly states an increase in salary over the upcoming seasons. While his new contract term hasn’t been shared, BBC reports that it will be till the 2029 season.
Apart from the salary he recieves from the team, Leclerc is also a recipient of many endorsements. He has partnered with brands like Giorgio Armani, Celsius, Puma, Peroni and Richard Mille. Leclerc also spends his time off-track modelling for the fashion brands he works with, promoting them on his social media channels.
A third source of income for the 27-year-old has come from his real estate investments. Leclerc has put in money into a venture striving to create an apartment complex in Monaco. He has also invested money in tech companies. Specifically, firms dealing with virtual reality and blockchain technology.
The Ferrari pilot also has two enterprises of his own. CL Karting, which he started in collaboration with Birel ART, is his own karting brand that builds kart chassis. He’s also a part owner of LEC, an ice-cream company that manafactures low-calorie ice creams.
