Net Worth Ranker
What Is Michael Waltrip’s Net Worth?
Michael Waltrip, a former professional stock car racing driver, racing commentator, and racing team owner, has accumulated a net worth of $35 million as of 2025. This figure reflects his earnings from a multi-faceted career spanning driving, broadcasting, and team ownership within the NASCAR world.
Early Racing Career and Initial Earnings
Born on April 30, 1963, in Owensboro, Kentucky, Michael Waltrip’s journey began with go-kart racing at local carnivals and clubs. While specific early earnings from go-kart racing aren’t documented, his success quickly led to recognition from stock car driver Dale Earnhardt. Waltrip’s breakthrough came with a Mini-Modified division track championship at Kentucky Motor Speedway. In 1983, he secured the Goody’s Dash Series championship, a significant achievement early in his career, although precise financial details for this championship aren’t publicly available.
Waltrip made his NASCAR Cup Series debut in 1985 at the Coca-Cola 600, driving for Dick Bahre. He finished 28th, while his brother Darrell Waltrip won the race. While the exact payout for a 28th-place finish in 1985 isn’t readily accessible, it marked his entry into the highest level of NASCAR. He improved his performance in 1986, taking 11th place at both Martinsville and Pocono. In 1987, Waltrip recorded his first career top-ten finish at Martinsville. In 1988, Waltrip started participating in Busch Series events and making starts for his brother’s team. He posted his first career top-five finish the next year.
NASCAR Career: Wins, Contracts, and Sponsorships
The 1990s were a mixed bag for Waltrip, marked by a severe crash at Bristol Motor Speedway. He rebounded in 1991, winning the Winston Open and claiming his first two career pole positions. Specific monetary awards for the Winston Open aren’t available, but pole positions typically come with bonuses from sponsors and the racing organization. Waltrip continued with the Bahari team until the end of 1995, then joined Wood Brothers Racing, winning the 1996 Winston Select. The financial terms of his contracts with Bahari and Wood Brothers haven’t been publicly disclosed. After leaving Wood Brothers at the end of 1998, he drove for Mattei Motorsports and recorded three top-ten finishes.
Joining Dale Earnhardt’s team in 2001 marked a significant turning point. Waltrip won the Daytona 500, ending a 462-race winless streak. The Daytona 500 victory is one of NASCAR’s most lucrative races, with the winner typically earning several hundred thousand dollars, plus substantial bonuses from sponsors. However, the victory was overshadowed by Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s death. In July, Waltrip finished second behind Earnhardt Jr. in the Pepsi 400. In 2002, he won the Gatorade Duel and the Pepsi 400 and came in second at Talladega. The next season, Waltrip won his second career Daytona 500 and the EA Sports 500 in Talladega. While precise earnings for each race vary and are confidential, these victories significantly boosted his income.
Waltrip’s 2004 season saw him involved in a major crash at the Daytona 500, without any wins. In 2005, he secured seven top-ten finishes and one pole. After that season, Waltrip joined Bill Davis Racing, leading to the creation of Waltrip-Jasper Racing with Doug Bawel. Specific contract details and ownership percentages for Waltrip-Jasper Racing haven’t been publicly revealed. Waltrip failed to record any top-ten finishes in 2006.
Team Ownership, Sponsorship Deals, and On-Track Performance
For the 2007 season, Waltrip moved his Busch Series team to the Cup Series full-time, with drivers like Dale Jarrett and David Reutimann. NASCAR inspectors discovered an illegal oxygenate fuel additive during the Daytona 500 qualifying, resulting in a 100-point deduction for Waltrip, Jarrett, and Reutimann. Penalties of this nature can also affect team sponsorships, though any specific financial repercussions are not publicly known. He improved by finishing tenth in the Citizens Bank 400 and winning the pole for the UAW-Ford 500. In 2008, Waltrip finished second in the Lenox Industrial Tools 301 and made his 1,000th NASCAR touring series start at Atlanta. In 2009, Reutimann won the Coca-Cola 600, marking Waltrip’s first win as an owner in the Sprint Cup Series. He also had top-ten finishes at Daytona and Talladega.
In 2010, Waltrip ran six races, including the Daytona 500, Food City 500, and Aaron’s 499. In 2011, he ran four races: the Daytona 500, Aaron’s 499, Quaker State 400, and Good Sam Club 500. He also achieved an emotional win in the NextEra Energy Resources 250. In 2012, Waltrip participated in the FIA World Endurance Championship’s inaugural season and entered the Rolex 24 at Daytona. The following year, he drove in the Daytona 500 and Great American Race, finishing fourth at Talladega. Controversy arose when NASCAR penalized Michael Waltrip Racing for manipulating the Federated Auto Parts 400, resulting in a $300,000 fine for the team and loss of driver and owner points. Specifics of how this affected Waltrip’s individual earnings are unavailable.
In 2014, Identity Ventures Racing began a satellite team for Michael Waltrip Racing, with Waltrip running four races. After the season, Identity Ventures shut down. Waltrip returned to his team in 2015, participating in Daytona and Talladega races in the spring and Talladega in the fall. He followed a similar schedule in 2016. In 2017, Waltrip’s final season, he drove the No. 15 Aaron’s, Inc. Camry for Premium Motorsports in the Daytona 500, finishing eighth. The prize money for an eighth-place finish in the Daytona 500 is substantial, though the exact amount is not publicly disclosed.
Broadcasting Career and Television Appearances
Beyond racing, Michael Waltrip has worked as a racing commentator, providing analysis for the NASCAR Cup Series and color commentary for the Xfinity Series and the Craftsman Truck Series on Fox Sports. While specific salary details for his broadcasting work are not publicly available, such roles are generally well-compensated, adding to his overall income. He also acted in a two-part episode of the television sitcom “My Name is Earl” in 2009. Later, in 2014, he competed in the 19th season of “Dancing with the Stars,” paired with Emma Slater. Waltrip appeared in a 2019 episode of “WWE Raw,” helping Kyle Busch defeat R-Truth for the WWE 24/7 Championship. Earnings from these television appearances would contribute to his overall Michael Waltrip’s Net Worth but the amounts are not released.
Book Publication and Documentary
In 2011, Waltrip published “In the Blink of an Eye: Dale, Daytona, and the Day that Changed Everything,” which was later adapted into the 2019 documentary film “Blink of an Eye.” While royalties from book sales and potential earnings from the documentary would add to his income, the specific amounts are not publicly available. Waltrip resides in Huntersville, North Carolina.
