Rick Ravon Mears was born on the 3rd December 1951, in Wichita, Kansas USA, and is a retired race car driver, best known to the world as one of the three racers who have won the Indianapolis 500 four times, while he also holds the record for most pole positions in the same race, with six. His career started in the 1970s, and ended in the early ‘90s.
Have you ever wondered how rich Rick Mears is, as of mid- 2017? According to authoritative sources, it has been estimated that Mears’ net worth is as high as $15 million, an amount earned largely through his successful career as a race car driver.
Rick Mears Net Worth $15 Million
Although born in Wichita, Kansas, Rick grew up in Bakersfield, California. His first experience in racing came in the way of off-road racing, but he soon switched to Indy Car racing, debuting as a member of the Art Sugai team in the Eagle-Offenhauser. His performance was noted by Roger Penske who brought him into his Penske Racing team, despite already having two successful drivers, Tom Sneva, and Mario Andretti. However, Andretti had other engagements, and Rick was used as his substitute. In his first season in Indy Car, Rick competed in nine races, which included the Indianapolis 500, and although he didn’t finish, he actually qualified on the front row.
Nevertheless, he won three races in his first season, which was enough to share the Rookie of the Year award with Larry Rice.
In 1979, Rick was promoted to a full-time member of the Penske Racing and won his first Championship, with three race wins and recording four second places. He also won his first Indianapolis 500. The next year wasn’t so successful for Rick, as he finished only fourth in points with one win, recorded in Mexico City. However, he won two championships in a row in 1981 and 1982, making ten wins over the course, but a second win at the Indy 500 eluded him. In 1984 he won his second Indy 500, but his other results weren’t enough for the championship, as he finished fifth. From then his performance began to decline, and he was often marred by injuries, however, he did manage to win two more Indy 500 races, which made him one of three racers to win the Indianapolis 500 four times.
Rick retired in 1992, with the last race won at Michigan in 1991.
Since retiring, he has worked as a consultant and spotter for several drivers in Penske Racing – currently Helio Castroneves and, which also improved his wealth.
Thanks to his successful career, Rick was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1997, and the next year he became a part of the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America. Most recently, he was inducted into the Team Penske Hall of Fame in May 2017.
Regarding his personal life, Rick has two marriages behind him; his first wife was Dina Lynn Hogue, with whom he has two children. They were married from 1972 until 1983. In 1986 he married Christyn Bowen, but the two divorced in 2002.