James Simon Wallis Hunt was born on 29 August 1947, in Belmont, Surrey, England, and was a race driver, best known for winning the Formula One World Championship in 1976. After retiring from the sport, he also became a well-known commentator for the BBC. All of his efforts helped put his net worth to where it was prior to his passing in 1993.
How rich was James Hunt? As of mid-2016, sources estimate a net worth that is at $40 million, mostly earned through a successful career as a race driver. He won numerous races with several teams over the course of his career. All of these ensured the position of his wealth.
James Hunt Net Worth $40 million
At an early age, Hunt showed skill at several sports and played with various teams at his schools. He attended Westerleigh School where he showed proficiency in cricket, soccer and tennis. After matriculating, he enrolled at Wellington College, originally planning to become a doctor, but then found a passion for racing after witnessing his friend join a race event. He then started practicing to race after getting his driver’s license.
Hunt started his career in a racing Mini but encountered numerous problems after discovering that his company was making modifications that were deemed illegal, so left this team and move up to Formula Ford in 1968. He started winning races, and moved to Formula Three during the next year, earning more wins and sponsorships. He raced for STP-March team in 1972 but was suddenly dropped a few months later, after a few more problems with the team, he left and joined Hesketh.
James started to race in Formula One with Hesketh in 1973, and they were originally underestimated by a lot of other teams. Hunt proved them wrong with high placed finishes in their first season, which earned him a Campbell Trophy. The following year, Hesketh was starting to earn recognition as a car without sponsorship markings, and it was topped off by Hunt winning the BRDC International Trophy non-Championship race. After several problems that led him to drop-out of several races in 1975, he finally scored a win at the Dutch Grand Prix, but with Hesketh losing sponsorship money, Hunt left to join McLaren on a $200,000 contact.
Hunt and McLaren immediately started competing for the top spot, most notably battling against his rival Niki Lauda who was almost killed and badly burnt in a crash at the German Grand Prix. Hunt won six races, but the rivalry still culminated at the last race in Japan, where Hunt would get third place and win the World Championship by just one point making it one of the most exciting Formula One championships in history. The following year, he encountered numerous problems and was having controversies once again for not appearing at podium ceremonies and clashing with other racers. He ended at fifth place in the World Drivers’ Championship. The following year, he only scored a few world championship points as he was greatly affected by the death of his friend Ronnie Peterson who died in a crash. In 1979, he left McLaren and joined the Walter Wolf Racing Team hoping to get another championship. However, the team’s car was uncompetitive and Hunt lost any motivation for winning in what was his last Formula One season. However, his net worth was well established.
After retiring, Hunt became a television commentator for the BBC program “Grand Prix”. He also did the guest commentary at several Grand Prix events, but clashed a lot with his co-commentator Murray Walker and often criticized drivers who according to him, were not trying hard enough. Still, his dry sense of humor, knowledge and insights earned him a lot of fans.
For his personal life, it is known that Hunt married Suzy Miller in 1974 but divorced a year later when she left him for actor Richard Burton. In 1983, he married Sarah Lomax and they had two children. They divorced in 1989 apparently due to adultery by Hunt. He proposed to Helen Dyson just a day before his death. James died in his sleep at the age of 45 in 1993, as a result of a heart attack.
