HE’S come a long way since 2008.
When Lewis Hamilton was crowned world champion at the tender age of just 23, the youngest F1 driver to ever achieve such a feat, he could’ve been forgiven for enjoying his new-found wealth and fame.
Lewis Hamilton’s come a long way since his 2008 F1 World Championship winCredit: PA:Press Association
Since becoming a sports superstar Hamilton has enjoyed the jet-set lifeCredit: Instagram @LewisHamilton
He accrued friends in high places, struck up friendships with the likes of the Kardashians, attended fashion parties, and increased his carbon footprint with a staggering fleet of gas-guzzling motors worth £13m.
And least we mention, splashing £25m on his own plane, a Bombardier Challenger 605 and a £5m Sunseeker 90 super yacht.
But most recently, Hamilton, now 34 and worth around £240m, seems to have turned over a new leaf.
The racing legend, closing in on his sixth F1 world championship that’ll put him within one title win of all-time record holder Michael Schumacher, has decided he wants to be carbon-neutral by the end of the year.
He’s on the verge of transforming from jet-setting party boy to fashionista eco-warrior.
MCCLAREN BOY WONDER
In his debut season in 2007, Hamilton gave us a taste of what to expect when he finished runner-up to Kimi Räikkönen.
He set numerous records too – including most consecutive podium finishes from a debutant (9), the joint most wins in a debut season (4) and the most points in a debut season (109).
A year later, he was crowned F1 world champion winning the title in dramatic fashion on the last corner of the last lap in the last race of the season.
That same year, Hamilton had signed a £10m-per-year contract with McClaren that tied him to the team till 2012.
As soon as Hamilton hit the big time he scored a £10m-per-year contractCredit: Instagram @LewisHamilton
Hamilton has a net worth of £240m
It was a salary at the time that eclipsed any Premier League star and instantly made him one of the world’s best paid sportsman – all before he turned 24.
WELCOME TO THE HIGH-LIFE
A motor-car enthusiast, Lewis once said: “I don’t know anything about wine. I don’t know a huge amount about art. But what I do know is cars, and I’m very particular about them.”
Over the years, he spent around £13m on some of the world’s most expensive cars.
His collection includes fancy motors like a £1.6 Pagani Zonda 760 LH, a £1m LaFerrari, as well as a vintage 1966 Shelby 427 Cobra that’s said to be worth £4m.
And he didn’t stop at cars either.
Up until this year Hamilton had his own jet – a Bombardier Challenger 605 that was worth £25m.
He would use the private plane to cart around his beloved English bulldog Coco to London.
Through the years Hamilton built up an extensive car collection worth £13m, including a vintage ShelbyCredit: Twitter
Hamilton also drives a rare £1.6m Pagani ZondaCredit: Rex Features
Before Hamilton became an eco-warrior he had his own private plane Bombardier Challenger 605 worth £25m
But what he can’t do in the air, Lewis can still do by sea. The Stevenage-born star owns a £5m Sunseeker 90 yacht, and he regularly entertain his pals Bella Hadid and Kendall Jenner on it, when he’s enjoying some downtime.
PROPERTY MAGNATE
As for somewhere to lay his head, Hamilton boasts a property portfolio that’ll leave you envious.
First, there’s a four-storey mansion in an affluent area of West London worth £25m that was formerly owned by Burberry chief designer Christopher Bailey.
The house that’s worth £20m has six bedrooms, as well as a 200ft lush garden.
In Monaco, Hamilton has a luxury apartment in the exclusive Fontvieille district that has four bathrooms, a steam room and a 300 sq ft sun terrace. It is believed he paid around £12m for it.
Whenever Lewis is Stateside, he drops by his New York penthouse worth a staggering £35m.
The 8,900 square foot is in a building in Greenwich, Tribeca where celebrities like Justin Timberlake, Jake Gylenhaal, Bella Hadid and Meg Ryan all live.
Hamilton has invested his money in propertyCredit: Vestry
Hamilton owns a stunning New York apartment worth around £35mCredit: Vestry
The New York property Hamilton owns is in a prestigious building where celebrities including Justin Timberlake and Bella Hadid also liveCredit: Vestry
Hamilton has reportedly recently listed the apartmentCredit: Vestry
Although it was reported that Hamilton recently listed the property for sale.
Finally, there’s his Geneva abode – an apartment located on top of a 6-storey building in Luins village, Nyon.
Three spacious bedrooms, a stunning view of Geneva lake and a private gym are just some of its stunning features.
PLAYBOY TAG
Being an international jet-setter, Hamilton has been accused of living the life of a playboy.
He has dated a string of high-profile beauties including Pussycat Dolls stunner Nicole Scherzinger, supermodel Barbara Palvin, Rihanna, Rita Ora, and Sofia Richie.
And Lewis has regularly been seen dining at the world’s best restaurants, like LA’s exclusive Italian eaterie Cecconi’s and enjoying trendy nightclubs like New York’s 1 Oak.
On top of that, Hamilton isn’t a stranger to fashion – regularly attending Paris Fashion Week and London Fashion Week with pals like Brazilian football star Neymar, the Kardashians and the Hadids.
His love of clobber earned him three lines with American designer Tommy Hilfiger, who he is a global ambassador for.
But Hamilton’s physio Angela Cullen defended his lifestyle last year.
He is not a party boy. If he has a three-week recovery between races he might have a drink to celebrate a race win, but if there is a race meeting the next week, he won’t drink at all.”
Angela Cullen, a physio for Lewis Hamilton
During his career Hamilton has often been called a playboy for his lavish lifestyleCredit: Splash News
Hamilton has been linked to pop star Rita OraCredit: Getty – Contributor
Rihanna was also said to have had a fling with HamiltonCredit: Splash News
Hamilton made friends with the Kardashians
Tommy Hilfiger, second from the right, made Lewis Hamilton his muse and the F1 ace has released three lines through the American designerCredit: Instagram @lewishamilton
Hamilton often goes to London Fashion Week and has a fashion pal in NeymarCredit: INSTAGRAM/LEWIS HAMILTON
“I have spent the whole year with him and we partied maybe four times,” she revealed.
“He is not a party boy. If he has a three-week recovery between races he might have a drink to celebrate a race win, but if there is a race meeting the next week, he won’t drink at all.
“He occasionally does crazy things but no more than any normal person. He is the most amazingly talented and dedicated athlete.”
A VEGAN & ECO-WARRIOR
Today, at the age of 34 and with a more grown-up outlook on life, Hamilton wants to do his bit for the planet.
Two years ago, he switched to a plant-based diet.
“I stopped eating red meat two years ago,” he revealed.
“I have generally been pescatarian for the majority of the year and now I’ve cut fish.
“As the human race, what we are doing to the world… the pollution [in terms of emissions of global-warming gases] coming from the amount of cows that are being produced is incredible.
“They say it is more than what we produce with our flights and our cars, which is kind of crazy to think.
In terms of the changing of the things I’m doing in my life, I’m trying to make sure that by the end of the year I’m carbon neutral.”
Lewis Hamilton
Hamilton has now turned over a new leaf and is concerned about the environmentCredit: Getty – Contributor
Hamilton has launched a vegan burger chain called Neat BurgerCredit: Getty – Contributor
By the end of the year Hamilton also hopes to be carbon neutral and has started driving eco-friendly carsCredit: Instagram @LewisHamilton
“The cruelty is horrible and I don’t necessarily want to support that and I want to live a healthier life.”
He even launched a vegan burger chain called Neat Burger on London’s Regent Street, with restaurants in the US and Europe in the pipeline too.
And Hamilton now wants to be carbon-neutral by the end of the year.
“In terms of the changing of the things I’m doing in my life, I’m trying to make sure that by the end of the year I’m carbon neutral,” he said.
“I don’t allow anyone in my office, but also within my household, to buy any plastics. I want everything recyclable, down to deodorant, down to toothbrush, all these kind of things.
“I’m trying to make as much change as I can in my personal space. I sold my plane over a year ago. I fly a lot less now. I’m trying to fly less through the year.”
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Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
