Emerson Wojciechowska Fittipaldi is an esteemed former Brazilian automobile racing driver renowned for having won the Formula One World Championship. He’ve also won the Indianapolis 500 twice as well as the CART championship once in his illustrious career. He was active in the sport from 1970 to 1980, racing for teams such as Lotus, McLaren and Fittipaldi Automotive.
So, it is no surprise that after such an illustrious career, Emerson Fittipaldi has amassed a huge net worth. In this article, we will explore Emerson Fittipaldi’s net worth in December 2022 and how he accumulated his wealth. We’ll also look at his personal life, his career and other investments he has made.
What is Emerson Fittipaldi net worth?
$ 1-5.000.000
Emerson Fittipaldi is estimated to have earned a net worth ranging from $1 to 5 million dollars. His primary source of wealth has been his career as a race car driver, and it is believed that his value and assets will continue to grow with age.
| Net worth | $ 1-5 million |
| Salary | unknown |
| Investments | unknown |
| Assets | Fittipaldi Motors Pininfarina |
| Loans and liabilities | – |
Table of Contents
Watch this video to learn more about Emerson Fittipaldi’s net worth.
Emerson Fittipaldi endorsements
Being a racing legend, Emerson Fittipaldi has had many endorsements and sponsorships over the years. Some of his most prominent ones include:
- Brand Institute
- Bell Racing
- Garia Luxury Golf Cars
- Celsius
These have all contributed to increasing his net worth.
Key takeaways
Here are some key aspects that you should know about Emerson Fittipaldi’s net worth in December 2022:
- He is estimated to have a net worth ranging from $1 to 5 million dollars.
- He enjoyed a long and successful career as a racing driver and has earned various titles including two Formula One World Championships and two Indianapolis 500s.
- His primary source of wealth has been his career as a race car driver.
- He has had numerous endorsements over the years which have contributed to increasing his net worth.
- He owns Fittipaldi Motors and a stake in Pininfarina.
Lean more about Emerson Fittipaldi
Now that we know about Emerson Fittipaldi’s net worth in December 2022, let’s take a look at his life and career.
| Full Name | Emerson Fittipaldi |
| Nationality | Brazilian |
| Date of Birth | December 12th, 1946 |
| Height | 1.74m |
| Weight | 70kg |
| Salary | – |
Early life
Emerson Fittipaldi stepped into the world in São Paulo, Brazil on December 12, 1946. As the son of Wilson Fittipaldi, a motorsport journalist, it is no surprise that Emerson and his older brother developed a passion for the sport. The brothers even went as far as to build car parts and accessories, along with karts, in which Emerson earned the Brazilian Kart title.
With his success in racing karts, Emerson decided to further pursue a career in motorsport and joined the Formula Vee series powered by Volkswagen Beetle engines that the Fittipaldi family built. Emerson quickly excelled in this series, ultimately winning the championship in 1967
To take his career even further, Emerson left his home in Brazil and traveled to Europe with a Formula Ford he had purchased. It was here that Emerson found success and earned a spot in the Formula Three series. His on-track performance was noticed by Colin Chapman, the Lotus F1 Team boss, who offered Emerson a Lotus seat in the 1970 Formula Two season.
As Emerson progressed in the lower Formulas, he earned a spot as Lotus’ third driver behind Jochen Rindt and John Miles. Sacrifices were made, as Emerson had to drop out of university, where he was studying to become a mechanical engineer, in order to pursue his career. Despite this, Emerson had found success and was on the path towards becoming one of the greatest racing drivers of all time.
Career
Emerson Fittipaldi’s Formula 1 career spanned over 10 years, beginning in 1970 when he joined Lotus and competing until 1980 with the Copersucar-Fittipaldi team. During that time, he won two World Drivers’ Championships (WDC) – in 1972 with Lotus and 1974 with McLaren – as well as six pole positions and thirty-five podium finishes.
In 1972, Fittipaldi won the championship in commanding fashion. He finished second at the first race of the season in South Africa, before taking wins at Spain and Monaco. His teammate Denny Hulme also added points to Lotus’ tally by winning the inaugural race of the season at South Africa and finishing fifth at Monaco. The Brazilian’s last win of the year was in Holland, where he sealed his first world title with two races to spare.
The following season was not as successful for Fittipaldi; however, he still managed to secure fourth place in the WDC. At the end of the 1974 season, Fittipaldi was in a tight battle for the WDC with Jody Scheckter, Clay Regazzoni and Niki Lauda. He needed to finish fourth or better at the final round of the season in Watkins Glen for McLaren to secure its first title.
Ultimately, Fittipaldi finished fourth in a tragic race that took the life of Helmuth Koinigg. With Regazzoni out of the points and with Scheckter having no chances, Fittipaldi gave McLaren its first Formula 1 World Drivers’ Championship. Emerson also helped McLaren defeat Ferrari in the Constructors’ Championship.
In 1975, Fittipaldi won the first race of the season at Argentina and took another victory at Great Britain. Four other podiums helped him finish a distant second in the WDC behind Niki Lauda.
Fittipaldi suddenly left McLaren to join the family team, the Copersucar-Fittipaldi and the Fittipaldi Automotive squad, in 1976. Despite the move not producing outstanding results, Emerson did manage to score two podiums – one at Brazil and another at the United States Grand Prix West. He retired from Formula 1 racing at the end of 1980.
American racing
After his retirement from Formula 1, Fittipaldi had a successful career in American racing, winning the 1989 Indianapolis 500 and CART/Indycar Championship. He continued racing in the US until 1996 when a plane crash left him with back injuries which forced him to retire from motorsport altogether.
Fittipaldi is still connected to motorsports through his grandson’s Pietro and Enzo Fittipaldi, who are both racing drivers. He has also manufactured a sportscar. His legacy still lives today in the F1 paddock, making Emerson Fittipaldi one of the most successful and beloved drivers ever in Formula 1 history.
Piquet made Formula One debut in 1978 with the Brabham team and scored his first podium finish in his second race. He went on to win his first race at the 1980 British Grand Prix.
Highlights
Here are some of Emerson Fittipaldi’s career highlights:
- Stepped up from Formula 2 to Formula 1 in 1970.
- Won two World Drivers’ Championships (1972 and 1974).
- Six pole positions and thirty five podium finishes.
- Led McLaren to its first Constructors’ Championship in 1974.
- Won the 1989 Indianapolis 500 and CART/Indycar Championship.
- Has two grandsons, Pietro and Enzo Fittipaldi, who are racing drivers.
- Manufactured a sports car.
Favorite quotes from Emerson Fittipaldi
Here are some of Emerson Fittipaldi’s most famous quotes:
“The racing driver’s mind has to have the ability to have amazing anticipation, coordination, and reflex. Because of the speed the car goes”
“Sports is a way of entertainment, to people who are in different backgrounds, and for people who dedicated their lives to achieve the best in sports”
“You had to decompress the pressure before the race. I taught my heart to relax. I lay down before the race. It gave me more energy just before the race”
“I wanted to be the best in the world”
“I do not speak the English so good, but then I speak the driving very well”
His quotes reveal his determination, passion for motorsports, and his sense of humor. He strived to be the best in the world, pushing himself and his abilities to their limits.
He also had the ability to keep his cool and stay focused during intense moments of competition, relying on relaxation techniques to make sure he was at the top of his game. No matter the language barrier, he was able to show us that his driving skills spoke louder than words.
What else does he own?
Now that we know about Emerson Fittipaldi’s career, you may have wondered what else he owns and how he spends his wealth.
Emerson Fittipaldi cars
Emerson Fittipaldi owns a collection of luxury cars, including some of the most expensive cars in the world. He has a Lotus Evija, Rolls Royce Dawn, and a Ferrari F12 Berlinetta which are all valued at high costs.
Emerson Fittipaldi house
It is without a shadow of a doubt that Emerson Fittipaldi has accumulated great wealth from his illustrious racing career. One of the things he owns is a luxurious Key Biscayne mansion, which he bought in 1992 for $1,775,000.
Constructed in 1983, this six-bedroom, six-and-a-half bathroom house boasts an open-plan design and has plenty of windows to let in the Florida sunshine. It also features a chef’s kitchen, a media room, a home gym, and a self-cleaning pool.
The outdoor space is just as lavish, with a deck containing a boatlift and plenty of space to soak up the sun. It’s no wonder why Emerson Fittipaldi chose this stunning home to be his go-to for leisure and relaxation.
Emerson Fittipaldi boat/yacht
Emerson Fittipaldi also owns a motor yacht called JOANA II, which was built by Inace in Brazil and delivered in 1996. This 26.21m yacht is powered by two Detroit Diesel engines and can reach a top speed of 23 knots.
This Fittipaldi 86 model can accommodate up to six guests in three staterooms, with four crew members waiting on their every need. Her gross tonnage is 85 GT and she features an aluminum and teak deck, hull, and superstructure.
Designed by Emerson Fittipaldi himself, the JOANA II is a stand-out beauty that is sure to turn heads. With its impressive speed and luxurious amenities, it’s no surprise why this yacht is one of Emerson Fittipaldi’s prized possessions. It is a testament to his wealth and success in the motorsport industry.
Frequently asked questions
How much did Emerson Fittipaldi earn in a year in F1?
How rich is Emerson Fittipaldi?
Why is Emerson Fittipaldi so rich?
Where did Emerson Fittipaldi get his money?
Is Emerson Fittipaldi a billionaire?
Emerson Fittipaldi net worth compared to active Formula 1 drivers
If we compare Emerson Fittipaldi’s wealth to the current active Formula 1 drivers, it is clear that he has a much lower net worth than them. For example, Lewis Hamilton is estimated to have a net worth of $325 million, while Emerson Fittipaldi’s wealth is estimated to be around $5 million.
However, this is understandable given the fact that he retired from professional racing in 1980 and has since been focusing on other business ventures. Therefore, it is safe to say that his wealth does not reflect the success he achieved during his time in Formula 1.
This difference in net worth can also be attributed to inflation and advancements made in technology throughout the past four decades. Nowadays, Formula 1 cars are much faster and more efficient than they were during Emerson Fittipaldi’s time, and the cost of maintaining and running them is much higher. This means that Formula 1 drivers now earn much more than they did in the past.
| # | Read more about the drivers salary and net worth | Team | Salary (USD $) | Salary (EUR €) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | $55m | €51.67m |
| 2 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | $35m | €32.88m |
| 3 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | $24m | €22.5m |
| 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren | $20m | €19m |
| 5 | Carlos Sainz | Ferrari | $12m | €11.27m |
| 6 | Sergio Perez | Red Bull | $10m | €9.39m |
| – | Valtteri Bottas | Alfa Romeo | $10m | €9.39m |
| 8 | George Russell | Mercedes | $8m | €7.5m |
| 9 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine | $6m | €5.63m |
| 10 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | $5m | €4.69m |
| – | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | $5m | €4.69m |
| – | Kevin Magnussen | Haas | $5m | €4.69m |
| 13 | Alex Albon | Williams | $3m | €2.8m |
| 14 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | $2m | €1.9m |
| – | Nico Hulkenberg | Haas | $2m | €1.9m |
| – | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | $2m | €1.9m |
| – | Nyck De Vries | AlphaTauri | $2m | €1.9m |
| – | Zhou Guanyu | Alfa Romeo | $2m | €1.9m |
| 19 | Logan Sargeant | Williams | $1m | €950,00 |
| – | Yuki Tsunoda | AlphaTauri | $1m | €950,00 |
Emerson Fittipaldi net worth compared to former Formula 1 drivers
Australian Formula 1 Champion, Alan Jones, has a networth of $9 million. Compared to other former Formula 1 drivers, he falls pretty low in the grid. When compared to Nigel Mansell, who has a net worth of $90 million, and Nelson Piquet, who has a net worth of over $200 million, Jones’s net worth is very low.
Conclusion
If we compare Emerson Fittipaldi’s wealth to the former Formula 1 drivers, it is clear that he has a a bit lower net worth than some of the other drivers. For example, Mario Andretti and Jackie Stewart both have net worths of $130 million and $50 million respectively, while Emerson Fittipaldi’s wealth is estimated to be around $5 million.
However, if we compare him to drivers from the same era, then his net worth is in line with other drivers. For example, Carlos Reutemann has a net worth of $5 million, which is the same as Emerson Fittipaldi.
