Did $90M worth Tony Stewart earn his first-ever paycheck from a School Corporation? Exploring the NASCAR legend’s first official job

Former NASCAR driver and former team co-owner of Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR), Tony Stewart, earned his first-ever paycheck from a Bartholomew County School Corporation, marking an interesting early step in his career before his NASCAR fame. During his high school days, he worked at an auditorium of his school in his hometown of Columbus, Indiana.

His job was used to handle lights and sound. This job, however, had no connection with what he has done later in his career but nonetheless played a role in shaping his work ethic and discipline.

Tony Stewart, who had a net worth of $90 million (according to Celebrity Net Worth) during an interview with USA Today in 2015, revealed his first-ever paycheck was from a school corporation, and he earned $12.70 for a show.

When asked where his first paycheck came from, Stewart said:

“My first official paycheck came from the Bartholomew County School Corporation. I worked at the school auditorium, and it was like $12.70 for working a show. Lighting and sound. I'd have probably been a junior in high school.’ It was just a job while I was in school. Actually, I'd had jobs before that, but that was the first job where I got an official paycheck.”

Tony Stewart is one of the most successful and versatile drivers in motorsports history, with a storied NASCAR career complemented by success in other racing disciplines. Over his NASCAR career, he claimed three Cup Series championships and 49 wins, which ranks him 15th on the all-time wins list.

The 53-year-old Columbus, Indiana, native showed his versality as a driver when he won maiden IndyCar Series Championship in 1997.

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Tony Stewart once revealed how he deals with angry drivers after the race

Former NASCAR Cup Series champion had been involved in several feuds during his career. In the aforementioned interview, Stewart revealed how he deals with on-track feuds after the race. His preferred method to deal is to “get out and argue for a minute.”

“My preferred method is to get out and argue for a minute, and if they don't get the point, then you do like you do in the old short track days and swing it out. Normally by the time that would be finished, it was settled and done,” Stewart said.

Tony Stewart will return to NHRA Top Fuel racing for the 2025 season as his wife Leah Pruett focuses on being a mom next year. He had an impressive rookie year that earned him the Rookie of the Year honor.