Jenson Button, a British Formula One driver, boasts a wealth of $150 million. Throughout his career, he’s steered for prestigious teams including Williams, Benetton, Renault, BAR, Honda, Brawn GP, and McLaren.
Button concluded his Formula One tenure in 2017 after seven years with McLaren, earning an annual salary of $16.5 million.
Presently, he’s engaged in the NASCAR Cup Series, representing Rick Ware Racing in the No. 15 Ford Mustang, supported by Stewart-Haas Racing and sponsored by Mobil 1.
Quick Facts
| Category | Richest Athletes › Race Car Drivers |
|---|---|
| Net Worth | $150 Million |
| Birthdate | Jan 19, 1980 (44 years old) |
| Birthplace | Frome |
| Gender | Male |
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.822 m) |
| Profession | Race car driver |
| Nationality | United Kingdom |
Early Life
Jenson Alexander Lyons Button was born on January 19, 1980, in Frome, Somerset, England.
Button began kart racing at the age of eight and achieved early success before progressing to car racing in the British Formula Ford Championship and the British Formula Three Championship.
Racing Career
Jenson Button started racing in Formula One in 2000 with Williams F1. Later, he drove for teams like Benetton, which became Renault, and BAR.
He did well and finished 3rd in 2004. In 2006, he won his first race in Hungary.
In 2009, he became World Champion with Brawn GP. Then he joined McLaren and had some good seasons. Jenson won 15 races out of 258 and got 50 podium finishes.
He was praised for his smooth driving style, which helped him in different conditions. He retired from Formula One in 2017.
Outside of Formula One, he raced in events like the Race of Champions and did eSports during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, he started a team called JBXE for off-road racing.
He also tried NASCAR in 2023. Button’s smooth driving style helped him win races, but sometimes he struggled with tire temperature. Still, he was known for making smart decisions during races.
Personal Life
Button was going to marry Louise Griffiths, who is an actress and singer from England, but they broke up in 2005 after being together for five years.
Later, Jenson got married to his Japanese girlfriend and model Jessica Michibata in 2014, but their marriage lasted only until 2015. In 2022, he married an American model named Brittny Ward, and they now have a son and daughter.
In August 2015, while Jenson and Jessica were married, they had over $375k worth of stuff taken from them, including Jessica’s engagement ring, which cost $300k.
Thieves took these things from their home in Saint-Tropez.
Besides racing, Button enjoys mountain biking, bodyboarding, and competing in triathlons. He also likes collecting cars and supporting Bristol City Football Club.
Read more: Michael Schumacher net worth and career earnings
Real Estate
In 2017, Jenson bought a house in Brentwood, LA, for $6.1 million. Two years later, he sold it for a bit more money.
Then in 2019, Jenson bought a big house in Bel-Air that was still being built, paying nearly $9 million. He put it up for sale in August 2020 for $10.5 million, but it sold for $8.9 million in October 2021.
In May 2020, Jenson bought a smaller house in Palm Springs for just under $1 million. After fixing it up, he sold it in early 2022 for $3.55 million. In September 2021, he bought another place in Palm Springs. He wanted to sell it in November 2023 for $2.3 million.
Also in 2021, Jenson bought a $3.7 million house in Calabasas. He did a lot of work on it and put it up for sale in January 2024 for $8 million.
Back in August 2015, burglars stole more than $375k worth of stuff from Jenson and his wife in Saint-Tropez. That included his wife’s $300k engagement ring.
Jenson has other hobbies too, like mountain biking, bodyboarding, and doing triathlons. He collects cars and cheers for Bristol City Football Club.
Real Estate
In 2017, Jenson bought a $6.1 million home in LA’s Brentwood, selling it two years later. In 2019, he acquired a mid-construction mansion in Bel-Air for just under $9 million, selling it in 2021 for $8.9 million.
He also bought a Palm Springs home for under $1 million in May 2020, flipping it in early 2022 for $3.55 million.
In September 2021, he bought another Palm Springs property and listed it in November 2023 for $2.3 million. Additionally, in 2021, he purchased a Calabasas home for $3.7 million, renovating it and listing it in January 2024 for $8 million.