Fernando Alonso tops the rich list in motorsports

Fernando Alonso: The richest of them all

Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso is the top earning star in the world of motorsports, according to Forbes. With $28 million as annual salary and prize money, the two-time world champion is the highest paid in the sport. Add to that, the additional $2 million the Spaniard earns from endorsements, he pockets around $30 million a year.

Alonso’s former team-mate Lewis Hamilton is second on the list with a total earning of $26 million.

Other popular motorsport stars in the top ten are Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jimmie Johnson of NASCAR who sit at third and fourth respectively.

Seven-time MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi is fifth on the list.

Alonso’s arch rival Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull Racing is at the eighth place while Jenson Button of McLaren completes the top 10.

Here is the full list:

1. Fernando Alonso F1 – $30m (salary/winnings $28m; endorsements $2m)

2. Lewis Hamilton, F1 – $27.5m (salary/winnings $26m; endorsements $1.5m)

3. Dale Earnhardt Jr, NASCAR – $26m (salary/winnings $13m; endorsements $13m)

4. Jimmie Johnson, NASCAR – $24m (salary/winnings $17.3m; endorsements $6.7m)

5. Valentino Rossi, MotoGP – $22m (salary/winnings $12m; endorsements $10m)

6. Tony Stewart, NASCAR – $18.5m (salary/winnings $12.5m; endorsements $6m)

7. Jeff Gordon, NASCAR – $18.2m (salary/winnings $12.7m; endorsements $5.5m)

8. Sebastian Vettel, F1 – $18m (salary/winnings $17m; endorsements $1m)

9. Danica Patrick, NASCAR – $15m (salary/winnings $6m; endorsements $9m)

10. Jenson Button, F1 – $14m (salary/winnings $14m)