Net Worth Ranker
What Is Danica Patrick’s Net Worth?
Danica Patrick, the trailblazing American former auto racing driver, model, and spokesperson, has amassed a considerable net worth estimated at $80 million. This impressive figure is a testament to her success both on and off the racetrack, with earnings derived from racing salaries and winnings, lucrative endorsement deals, and savvy business ventures.
Danica Patrick’s Racing Career and Earnings
Danica Patrick’s journey to becoming the most successful woman in American open-wheel racing began in karting at Sugar River Raceway in Brodhead, Wisconsin. Although she crashed into a concrete wall during her first race due to brake failure, this did not deter her. She secured ten regional titles and the World Karting Association Grand National Championship. In 1996, Danica participated in the Lyn St. James Foundation Driver Development program. She eventually dropped out of high school midway through her junior year to pursue racing in England.
Patrick’s three-year stint in the UK racing Formula Vauxhall and Formula Ford saw her finish ninth in the 1999 Formula Vauxhall Championship. In 2000, she achieved second place at the 2000 Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch, earning the Gorsline Scholarship Award as the most aspiring road course competitor. Her return to the U.S. in 2001 was prompted by funding issues.
In 2002, Danica signed with Rahal-Letterman Racing, co-owned by former driver Bobby Rahal and talk show host David Letterman. She was subsequently named Rookie of the Year for both the 2005 Indianapolis 500 and the 2005 IndyCar Series season. Her performance improved over the next two years, and in 2007 she found success with Andretti Green Racing. Patrick’s historic victory at the 2008 Indy Japan 300 marked the only women’s victory in an IndyCar Series race. She finished the season at a career-high third place at the Indianapolis 500 in 2009, which was also the best performance by a woman at the race.
While her overall performance declined in 2010, she managed two second-place finishes at oval tracks before leaving IndyCar after the 2011 season. Her focus shifted towards stock car racing, where she began competing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series (now Xfinity Series) in 2010. In 2011, Patrick achieved a fourth-place finish at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. She also clinched a pole position in 2012 becoming the second woman in history to do so, and placed a career-high tenth in the 2012 season standings.
Driving the #10 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet SS for Stewart-Haas Racing in the 2013 Sprint Cup Series, she became the first female NASCAR driver to win a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series pole, turning in the fastest qualifying lap since 1990 in qualifying for the Daytona 500. After the 2017 season, Danica stopped racing full-time. However, she competed at the 2018 Daytona 500 and the 2018 Indianapolis 500 before officially retiring from racing.
During the peak of her racing career, Danica Patrick earned over $10 million annually. This amount was split roughly evenly between her salary/winnings and endorsements. While exact figures for her racing salaries and winnings are not publicly available, it is clear that her success on the track contributed significantly to her overall net worth.
Endorsement Deals and Business Ventures Contributing to Danica Patrick’s Net Worth
Danica Patrick’s net worth has benefited from several endorsements. At the peak of her career, endorsement earnings equaled her racing salary at approximately $5 million annually. She has secured lucrative endorsement deals with major brands, including Chevrolet, Coca-Cola, Nationwide Insurance, and Tissot.
One of her most prominent partnerships was with GoDaddy, a relationship that lasted for many years and significantly raised her profile both within and outside of the racing world. While the specific details of her endorsement contracts remain confidential, it is understood that these deals contributed substantially to her annual income and overall net worth. Her appearances in numerous GoDaddy commercials, including those aired during the Super Bowl, further amplified her visibility and appeal to a broader audience.
In addition to endorsements, Danica Patrick has ventured into other business opportunities. She owns her own brand of wine called Somnium, with a vineyard located near St. Helena, California. While the financial specifics of her wine business are not public, owning and operating a vineyard in Napa Valley can be a profitable venture, particularly with a celebrity endorsement. Patrick also owns an athleisure collection called Warrior by Danica Patrick. These ventures represent her entrepreneurial spirit and contribute to her diversified income streams.
Danica Patrick’s Public Image and Recognition
Danica Patrick rapidly became a pop culture icon due to her gender and modeling when she hit the IndyCar scene in 2005. She has graced the covers of publications such as “FHM,” “Sports Illustrated,” and “ESPN” magazine. In 2008, “Bloomberg Businessweek” ranked her as the 50th most powerful person in the world of sports. That same year, she was voted Harris Poll’s favorite female athlete. Between 2007 and 2013, she appeared on the “Forbes” list of the 100 highest-paid celebrities four times. Her fan base voted her the IndyCar Series Most Popular Driver from 2005 to 2010 and the NASCAR Nationwide Series Most Popular Driver in 2012. She won the Legend Award at the 2018 Kids’ Choice Sports and was voted the Favorite Female Athlete at the Kids’ Choice Awards in 2008, 2012, and 2013.
Other Pursuits and Media Appearances
Outside of racing, Danica Patrick has made several media appearances. She made her acting debut in a 2010 episode of “CSI: NY,” playing a racing driver suspected of murder. She has also hosted several TV specials on Spike TV and was featured in the 2005 documentary “Girl Racers.” Patrick also voiced herself in “The Simpsons” episode “How Munched Is That Birdie in the Window?” in 2010. She published her autobiography, “Danica: Crossing the Line,” in 2006. In late 2013, she appeared on the Food Network’s competitive cooking show “Chopped” and won against three other celebrities. In 2015, Danica was hired by Fox NASCAR as a booth analyst for Xfinity Series races. In December 2017, her second book, “Pretty Intense,” was released. Patrick has had cameo roles in music videos for artists such as Maroon 5, Cardi B, and Jay-Z. In 2019 and 2020, she was a studio analyst for NBC’s broadcast of the Indy 500. Danica has a weekly podcast called “Pretty Intense” that she launched in August 2019.
These diverse activities contribute to her public profile, and also provide additional income streams that contribute to Danica Patrick’s net worth.
Real Estate, Personal Assets, and Personal Life
Specific details about Danica Patrick’s real estate holdings and other personal assets are not publicly available. However, it is common for high-net-worth individuals to invest in real estate, and it is likely that Patrick owns property, possibly including a residence in Scottsdale, Arizona and/or near her vineyard in St. Helena, California. Specific details about her residence are not available.
Danica Patrick married her physical therapist, Paul Edward Hospenthal, in 2005, after meeting three years prior. They divorced seven years later. She was later romantically involved with fellow Sprint Cup Rookie of the Year candidate Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers, whom she dated from February 2018 to July 2020. In 2021, Danica started dating American businessman Carter Comstock; they ended their relationship in 2022. These personal relationships have occasionally garnered media attention, but have not directly impacted Danica Patrick’s net worth.
