Jenson Button is a former British F1 race car driver. Having started the sport at a young age, he is known to be among the most famous and richest F1 drivers. Over the years, he has raced for various motor racing teams, including Williams, Benetton, Renault, BAR, Honda, Brawn, and McLaren. He finally achieved his dream of winning the World Championship in 2009 when he drove for the Brawn GP team.
What is Jenson Button's net worth?
$ 170.000.000
Jenson Button is one of the richest drivers in F1 history. He has a net worth of $170 million, which he has acquired from his F1 career, along with several endorsements worth $50 million.
| Net worth | $ 170 million |
| Salary from McLaren | $16 million |
| Investments | $16 million |
| Assets | – |
| Loans and liabilities | None |
Jenson Salary
$ 16.000.000
Jenson Button is one of the most famous British F1 race car drivers, who has raced for several teams. As of 2022. He earns an estimated salary of $16 million.
Table of Contents
Watch this video to learn more about Jenson Button’s career.
Jenson Button Endorsements
Jenson Button has endorsement deals with various big names such as Barefoot Wine, 5-hour energy, GM, FitOn, Oral-B, and Armor All.
He has previously done business with
- Hilton
- Hugo Boss
- Santander Bank
- Tag Heuer
- Vodafone.
Jenson is also a brand ambassador for Head & Shoulders.
Key takeaways
- Hailing from Vobster, Mells Jenson Button is a former British race car driver born on 19th January 1980 to parents John Button, a former rallycross driver, and Simone Lyon.
- He began karting at the age of 8 and, at 15, became the youngest runner-up of the Formula A World Championship.
- The talented young driver got his big break in Formula 1 with the popular British racing team, Williams, making him the youngest British driver to compete in Formula 1.
- He made his first victory in the Hungarian Grand Prix in 2006 and won the World Championship title in 2009.
- Over the course of 17 years, he has raced for various teams, including Williams, Benetton, Renault, BAR, Honda, Brawn, and McLaren.
- He has competed in 306 races, winning 15, qualifying in 8 pole positions, taking 50 podium finishes, and scoring 1,235 championship points.
- He won the BRDC Gold Star in 2004 and 2009 and was inducted into the FIA Hall of Fame in 2017.
Learn more about Jenson Button
Hailing from Vobster, Mells Jenson Button is a British race car driver. He was born on 19th January 1980 to parents John Button, a former rallycross driver, and Simone Lyon. He is one of the most well-known names in the Formula 1 industry, having a net worth of $150 million. Over the course of 17 years, he has competed in 306 races, winning 15, qualifying in 8 pole positions, taking 50 podium finishes, and scoring 1,235 championship points. His dream of being a Formula 1 World Champion was fulfilled in 2009.
| Full Name | Jenson Alexander Lyons Button |
| Nationality | British |
| Date of Birth | January 19th, 1980 |
| Height | 5 feet 11 inches |
| Weight | 70kg |
| Salary | $16.000 |
Early life
Jenson Alexander Lyons Button was born on 19th January 1980 in Frome, Somerset and brought up in Vobster, Mells, by parents Simone Lyons and John Button, a former rallycross driver. He was named after his father’s Danish friend Erling Jensen. He has three elder sisters, Natasha, Samantha, and Tanya. As a young kid of 5, he started watching F1 races and was a huge fan of Alain Prost, a four-time world champion. His parents, unfortunately, parted ways when he was 7, after which he moved in with his mother. He had his basic education in Vallis First School before moving on to Selwood Middle School and, finally, Fromes Community College, where he dropped out to pursue his career in Karting.
Early Career
In 1987, he received a 60cc go-kart as a Christmas present from his father, after which, at the age of 8, he began karting at the Clay Pigeon Raceway in May 1988. Young Jenson won the British Super Prix in 1989 and all 34 races and the title of the British Cadet category in 1991. After his successful wins, he became a big name in the Karting world. Moreover, he achieved three British Open Kart Championship winnings when he was 11.
At 15, he became the youngest runner-up of the Formula A World Championship. He later won the Ayrton Senna Memorial Cup by taking the second position in the 1997 Japanese World Cup. That year, he became the youngest driver and first Britisher to win the European Super A Championship.
Jenson moved on towards single-seater racing at the age of 18 by competing in Formula Ford in 1998. He won the British Formula Ford Championship with nine wins. In 1999 he competed in the British Formula 3 International Series and finished the season as the top rookie driver and second runner-up.
Formula 1 Career (2000 - 2017)
Williams (2000)
At 20, the talented young driver got his big break in Formula 1 with the popular British racing team, Williams, making him the youngest British driver to compete in Formula 1. At the Brazil Grand Prix, the season’s second race, he took sixth place and became the youngest driver in history to score a point. He surprised the Formula 1 paddock by qualifying third for the Belgian Grand Prix and finishing fourth in the German Grand Prix in Hockenheim.
However, Button was replaced mid-season and was loaned to the F1 Benetton team on a two-year contract with a right to call him back to Williams in 2003.
Benetton (2001)
In 2001, Button drove for the Formula 1 team, Benetton. It was an overall low season for him, with his only best at the German Grand Prix taking fifth place. He finished the season 17th in the Drivers’ Championship and scored only two points.
Renault (2002)
In 2000, Benetton was rebranded and became Renault. This year Button vowed to improve his social image by changing his lifestyle and focusing on his training. With a new zeal, he set out to win his first podium at the season’s second race in Malaysia; however, he took the fourth position due to a mechanical issue. He finished the season by scoring 14 points and taking seventh place in the Driver’s Championship. Even though he wanted to remain with Renault for the next season, he was told that test driver Fernando Alonso would replace him.
British American Racing (2003–2005)
(2003)
In 2003, BAR agreed to hire him as one of their drivers. The Birton scored eight points in the first six races, including a fourth position at the Austrian Grand Prix. He got a chance to rebuild his fallen reputation by outnumbering his team-mate, Jacques Villeneuve, who was later replaced by Takuma Sato. He finished the season by scoring 17 points and finishing ninth in the World Driver’s Championship.
(2004)
He started the 2004 season with an ambition to win podiums and score more points. He took his first podium finish by taking third place in the Malaysian Grand Prix. With this new confidence, he managed to take another third place in the Bahrain Grand Prix. For the 2004 F1 season, Button took ten podiums in 18 races, taking third place in the World Driver’s Championship and helping BAR take the runners-up title in the Constructors’ Championship.
(2005)
At the end of 2004, Button wished to leave BAR and return to Williams; however, after many legal disputes, he was declined and was made to drive for BAR for the 2005 season. Although he was optimistic about racing, it was a mixed season, and he ended the season in ninth place on 37 points.
He had signed a contract with Williams and was now doubting his choice. He wanted to stay with BAR for the upcoming season, which resulted in legal disputes again. After many weeks of talks, Williams agreed to release Button in exchange for an estimated £18 million in compensation.
Honda (2006–2008)
(2006)
Bar was rebranded and became Honda. Jenson was partnered with Rubens Barrichello for the 2006 season. Button scored points in five of the first eleven races, finishing third in the second round, the Malaysian Grand Prix, and took a pole position in the Australian Grand Prix. He made his first victory in the Hungarian Grand Prix, and during the last six races, he managed to outnumber all the other drivers.
(2007 – 2008)
This was one of Button’s worst years in F1. His best for the whole season was finishing fifth at the Chinese Grand Prix. He ended the season scoring only six points and finishing 15th in the World Driver’s Championship.
The 2008 season was more stressful for Jenson as he wasn’t sure of racing the following year due to Honda’s decision to dissolve their team and withdraw from the sport. This added pressure and low-performance gear resulted in him finishing with only three points.
Brawn GP (2009)
In March 2009, Honda was bought by Brawn and renamed Brawn GP. Out of the season’s first seven races, Button won six and took four pole positions. Throughout the remaining season, he accumulated enough points to win the World Driver’s Championship and helped secure the Constructors’ Championship for Brawn GP.
McLaren (2010–2017)
(2010 – 2012)
He joined McLaren to start the season in 2010, partnering with 2008 world champion Lewis Hamilton. Although he began the season with a great start taking wins in Australia and China, he took the Fifth position in the World Driver’s Championship.
In 2011, the British race car driver won the Canadian Grand Prix with an amazing performance. He continued to deliver and ended the season as a runner-up in the World Driver’s Championship with three victories, 12 podiums, and scoring 270 points.
2012 proved to be more competitive; however, he managed to achieve similar success as 2011, winning the Australian GP, Belgium GP, and Brazil GP. He ended the season fifth in the WDC, scoring 188 points.
(2013 – 2017)
Highlights from his stay with McLaren from 2013 to 2016 are:
- Jenson partnered with Sergio Pérez in 2013.
- He gave a weak performance throughout the 2013 season and finished the season scoring 73 points and taking ninth place in the World Driver’s Championship.
- Button was partnered with Kevin Magnussen for the 2014 season and finished third in the season-opening in the Australian Grand Prix.
- He finished the 2014 season with an eighth position in the WDC, scoring 126 points.
- Button struggled in 2015 due to an unreliable and underpowered Honda engine, taking over 16th place in the WDC, scoring 16 points.
- He finished 15 of the 21 races in 2016, qualifying a season-high third at the Austrian Grand Prix, and ended the season by scoring 21 points and taking the 15th position in the World Driver’s Championship.
- Jenson raced just once more for McLaren-Honda in 2017 at the Monaco Grand Prix, which ended in a collision with Sauber driver Pascal Wehrlein, making it the end of his F1 driving career.
- At the end of 2017, he signed a contract with Honda to race in the 2018 Japanese Super GT series.
Jenson Button is one of the richest drivers in F1 history. He has a net worth of $170 million, which he has acquired from his F1 career, along with several endorsements worth $50 million.
Highlights
- Jenson started his racing career with karting and won the British Super Prix at the age of 9.
- He won all the races in the British Cadet Kart Championship in 1991 and achieved the title of Junior TKM Champion in 1992.
- At the age of 17, he became the youngest driver to win the European Super A Championship.
- In 1993, he won the British Formula Ford Championship and received the McLaren Autosport BRDC Young Driver Award.
- At 20, the talented young driver got his big break in Formula 1 with the popular British racing team, Williams, making him the youngest British driver to compete in Formula 1.
- At the Brazil Grand Prix in 2000, the season’s second race, he took sixth place and became the youngest driver in history to score a point.
- Button took his first pole position in San Marino in 2004.
- He took his first podium finish by taking third place in the Malaysian Grand Prix in 2004.
- He made his first victory in the Hungarian Grand Prix in 2006.
- He won 6 out of 7 first races in 2009, ultimately winning the World Championship title.
- Wins first race for McLaren in Australian Grand Prix 2010.
- He started from last to win Canada Grand Prix in 2011.
- He won his 15th and last win in the Brazil Grand Prix 2012.
- Over the course of 17 years, he competed in 306 races, winning 15, qualifying in 8 pole positions, taking 50 podium finishes, and scoring 1,235 championship points.
- He won the BRDC Gold Star in 2004 and 2009 and was inducted into the FIA Hall of Fame in 2017.
Favorite Quotes from Jenson Button
The British former F1 star has some wise words to say. Some of his favorite quotes are:
- “I might live in the States, but I’m definitely trying to be an English gentleman.”
- “It’s kind of a dangerous place to put yourself… I came into Formula 1 at 20, and when I left at 36, I hadn’t really learned a lot about life… I had to do a lot of growing up”.
- “I felt like I’d completed everything I set out to do.There was nothing else to learn.”
- “But when you wake up in the morning, you think, ‘Damn, I’m a world champion,” you don’t think about the race wins. So the world championship lives with you forever. And I’ll never be a former world champion. I hate it when people say that. I am a world champion, you can’t take that away from me!”
- “Atmosphere always changes when you’re fighting for wins. That’s normally when you go from being best buddies to fierce competitors.”
- “To understand the intensity of driving an F1 car, you have to be in it. When you’re driving a 750hp machine at 200mph, the noise and the vibrations are incredible. The G-force when you take big corners is like someone trying to rip your head off. You hit the brakes, and it feels as if the skin is being pulled off your body.”
- “It doesn’t matter how much money you’ve got or how many connections, there’s always something you want that’s out of reach.”
- “To drive an F1 car you have to be a little mad. On the morning of a race, there’s a mix of excitement and fear.”
- “Resting for me is fitness training.”
Jenson Button’s Wife
The 2009 World Champion, recently married Brittny Ward, his fiance of 4 years, in March 2022. They have a son Hendrix, two, and a daughter Lenny Monrow, 14 months. The 42-year-old former F1 driver was previously married to long-time Japanese girlfriend and model Jessica Michibata, but their one-year marriage ended in 2015.
What else does he own?
Jenson Button is the owner of the JBXE team, running the Swedish pairing of Kevin Hansen and Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky. Rosberg and Hamilton also own teams.
Jenson Button cars
Owing to his love for cars, Jenson owns many luxury cars, for instance:
- a Nissan GT-R
- a 1956 VW Campervan
- a Honda S600
- and a Mercedes C63 AMG.
He also has a McLaren 675LT Spider, McLaren P1, several Ferraris, and his championship-winning Brawn BGP 001. He recently bought a Lotus Evija, which he uses as a daily driver on the streets of LA.
He formerly owned:
- a Honda NSX Type R,
- Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet,
- and a Bugatti Veyron.
Jenson Button House
Like many other Formula 1 drivers, the 39-year-old British World Champion, Jenson Button, has an apartment in Monaco. He also owns an apartment in London and has luxury mansions in LA and Bahrain.
Jenson Button Boat/Yacht
Along with his amazing car collection, the former British F1 driver also owns a 72-foot yacht moored in Monte Carlo.
Jenson Button Charity
Jenson Button, the former F1 star, supports several charities, including
- Great Ormond Street Hospital
- Make-A-Wish Foundation
- Prince’s Trust
- Sport Relief
- St Mungo’s
Frequently asked questions
How much did Jenson Button earn in a year in F1?
How rich is Jenson Button?
Why is Jenson Button so rich?
Where did Jenson Button get his money?
Is Jenson Button a billionaire?
Jenson Button's net worth compared to active Formula 1 drivers
Jenson Button, a former British race car driver, has a net worth of $170 million and an annual salary of $16 million, which, compared to current F1 drivers, makes him amongst the top 5 highest paid F1 drivers.
Jenson Button's net worth compared to former Formula 1 drivers
Jenson Button, the 2009 World Champion, has a whopping net worth of $170 million which makes him amongst the top 10 richest F1 drivers amongst other big names like Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen; however, his net worth is lower than other F1 legends like Kimi Räikkönen who has a net worth of $250 million and the seven-time World Champion, Michael Schumacher who has a net worth of over $1 billion.
Conclusion
Jenson Button started his racing career with karting, and in 2000 the talented driver got his big break in Formula 1 with the popular British racing team, Williams, making him the youngest British driver to compete in Formula 1. He achieved his dream of winning the World Championship in 2009 with Brawn GP. His name remains one of the stars of Formula 1 history.
