Anthony Joseph “A. J.” Foyt was born on the 16th January 1935, in Houston, Texas USA, and is a retired automobile auto racing driver who participated in numerous genres of motorsports, but best known for being the most successful driver in the American Championship Racing with 67 wins, and USAC with 159 victories. Thanks to his driving skills, A.J. Foyt significantly increased his net worth. His career started in 1957 and ended in 1993.
Have you ever wondered how rich A.J. Foyt is as of mid-2017? According to authoritative sources, it has been estimated that A.J.’s net worth is as high as $35 million, largely earned through his successful career as a race driver. In addition to being a famous auto driver, Foyt was also a racing car owner which further improved his wealth.
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A.J. Foyt Net Worth $35 Million
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A.J. Foyt grew up in Houston and was educated at Pershing and Hamilton middle schools, and later Lamar, San Jacinto and St. Thomas Catholic high schools, but dropped out because he wanted to be a mechanic not an academic. Foyt started his racing career in 1953 in his father- owned midget car, and had his first race at night before the 500 in Anderson, Indiana. His first win came in 1957 at a 100-lap event at Kansas City, and was impressive enough to move up from midget cars to compete in sprint cars and Championship Cars.
Foyt won the Turkey Night Grand Prix in 1960 and 1961 and also the Hut Hundred in 1961 despite starting last, which only increased his status and net worth. In 1970, Foyt won the Astro Grand Prix in Houston, and in 1975 and 1976, he was victorious at the Australian Speedcar Grand Prix at the Liverpool International Speedway in Sydney. Foyt later competed in Championship car, Sports car, Stock car and NASCAR championships, collecting numerous wins and awards. Some of them were a four-time winner of the Indianapolis 500, Daytona 500, 24 Hours of Daytona, and 24 Hours of Le Mans, a unique combination for racing car drivers.
He also won the International Race of Champions series in 1976 and 1977 and was a USAC National Champion in 1961, 1963, 1964, 1967, 1968 and 1977, and clinched the IROC Championship in 1978 and 1979 increasing further his net worth. He earned numerous awards and recognitions, including being the only driver to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Indianapolis 500 the same year (1967), and the only racer ever to win the Indy 500 with both rear and front-engined vehicles.
In 2000, Foyt was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame following his selection to the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 1990, Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 1989, and National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 1988.
His love towards racing didn’t end with his retirement from driving; Foyt owned A. J. Foyt Enterprises, and his cars competed in the CART, IRL, and NASCAR championships, which also added to his net worth, so he will always be remembered as one of the personalities American car racing history.
Regarding his personal life, A.J. Foyt couldn’t have children, so he and wife Lucy (m. 1956) adopted a boy they named Larry Foyt and has a grandson A. J. Foyt IV who is married to the Indianapolis Colts owner’s daughter, so the Foyts are also part owners of the NFL franchise. He is a great friend with iconic driver Mario Andretti, and is a godfather to Andretti’s son John. When not involved in racing, Foyt spends time at The Foyt Ranches in Hockley, Texas and Brackettville, Texas.
