Inside Daniel Ricciardo’s $156m rise to fame and fortune as F1 star prepares for track return

Daniel Ricardo’s track-related antics have had F1 fans gripped for more than a decade, but the Aussie driver has also built his wealth in more ways than one.

Australian F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo made his return to the track this weekend in the US, where countless fans waited with bated breath.

The 34-year-old from Perth has amassed a vast following and fortune since bursting onto the racing scene more than a decade ago.

But a broken hand sustained during a practice session at the Dutch Grand Prix in August has left him sidelined since.

Daniel Ricciardo of Australia and Scuderia AlphaTauri presents Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing with the Number 1 for the Wings for Life World Run 2024 during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of United States. Picture: Getty

The injury came after Ricciardo began the F1 season as a reserve driver for Red Bull before replacing Nyck De Vries at Alpha Tauri.

Ricciardo, who has just signed a two-year extension with F1 team Alpha Tauri, admitted he enjoyed the “less stressful” and more comfortable pace of road tripping as he recovers from a broken hand.

Daniel Ricciardo of Australia rides a scooter on track during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of United States at Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas. Picture: Getty

He is believed to be worth more than $A156 million, according to the Australian Financial Review’s Young Rich List which put Ricciardo in 38th position in October last year. It includes the $18 million payout to he received to leave McLaren in 2022.

As Ricciardo looks towards the next stage in his career, take a look at his success and fortune.

Daniel Ricciardo was in hospital after surgery to have a metal plate put in his hand. Picture: Supplied

The star has been out of action since becoming injured in the Netherlands on August 25. Picture: Lars Baron/Getty Images

SPORT

The Aussie star first entered the F1 conversation a test driver for Toro Rosso in 2010 and into the first half of 2011.

His Sicilian-born father Joe estimates it cost about $350,000 to initially get his son to Europe, where he raced after finishing high school in 2009.

This effort evolved in 2012 to 2013, when Ricciardo drove for Toro Rosso alongside Frenchman Jean-Éric Vergne.

His first podium finish came for Red Bull in 2014, but he was disqualified for exceeding the maximum allowed fuel flow into the car.

Ricciardo’s dad Joe estimated it cost $350,000 to get his son first racing in 2009. Picture: Mark Thompson/Getty Images

This was finally achieved four races later at the Spanish Grand Prix followed up at the 2014 Hungarian Grand Prix and the 2014 Belgian Grand Prix.

His fourth, fifth and sixth wins came in consecutive years at the 2016 Malaysian Grand Prix, 2017 Azerbaijan Grand Prix and 2018 Chinese Grand Prix.

Ricciardo took out his first double at the Monaco Grand Prix that same year.

From 2018 to 2020 he drove with Renault in a contract that was worth $A40 million per season.

Ricciardo nabbed several wins in 2014 including at the Canadian Formula One Grand Prix at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Picture: Mark Thompson/Getty Images

However, what followed was two unsuccessful seasons at McLaren where he scored only a single winand achieved his most recent win, at the Italian Grand Prix, in 2021.

Ricciardo’s best result for 2022 was a measly fifth place in the Singapore Grand Prix, and he ranked 11th in the drivers’ standings for the year.

He famously walked away from the McLaren Formula One team a year early in 2022 with the brand having to cough up $A32.9 million as severance pay.

In the same year, Ricciardo rejoined Red Bull Racing where he pocketed an additional $A3.1 million to become the team’s third driver.

The longtime efforts resulted in Ricciardo being ranked by Forbes at the world’s 48th highest paid athlete in 2020, when he raked in a collective $AD45 million in just 12 months.

In 2022, the publication reported he was Formula 1’s sixth highest paid driver, taking home $17 million from on-track compensation only.

BRAND AFFILIATIONS

Off the track, clever affiliations have steadily made Riccardo a household name.

This marketability culminated in him taking up a ‘chief of optimism’ role at Optus in 2020.

The deal sees him act as an ambassador for the telco giant and he often fashions its famous ‘Yes’ on his helmet while racing.

Riccardo has largely remained consistent with brands and enjoyed long term relationships with GoPro, Blue Coast and Puma.

Two years ago, the star launched his own wine range called the DR3, as part of a partnership with wine brand St Hugo.

Ricciardo and his best mate Blake Mills (left) at Shark Bay during their road trip across WA. Picture: Tourism Western Australia

He has also collaborated with former F1 champion Jenson Button to set up Blue Coast Brewery in Nice, France, with pints costing $A5.95.

The vino line is in its third run of cabernet sauvignon and shiraz, selling for $A118 per bottle.

Ricciardo explained the potentially random collaboration for a race car driver by saying it was actually an ode to his West Australian upbringing.

“One of my favourite things to do when I’m back home is to go down south and go to Margaret River and spend time in the vineyards and just have a nice relaxing weekend,” he told AFR.

“I have Italian heritage, we grew up with wine on the dinner table.”

Daniel Ricciardo partnered with St Hugo Wines several years ago. Picture: Ryan Davis

Ricciardo expanded these public interests last month when he hit the open road in WA with his best mate in a Tourism WA partnership.

“I’m a sucker for sunsets. Every one of them just seem so unique and I think WA has some of the best,” Ricciardo said.

The newly-minted ambassador for Tourism WA set out to discover some of the state’s wildlife, outback station stays, stargazing under a billion-star sky as part of his latest partnership.

RELATIONSHIP

Ricciardo and his 26-year-old girlfriend Heidi Berger first went public with their relationship in mid-2022.

Berger is an actor whose father is former Austrian F1 driver Gerhard Berger. Her mother is former Portuguese model Ana Corvo.

Heidi Berger and Daniel Ricciardo

Ricciardo confirmed internet rumours about the pair dating in August 2022. Picture: Supplied

Like Ricciardo, Berger also drove for McLaren before retiring and had stints with ATS, Arrows, Benetton and Ferrari.

It’s believed the couple have been together much longer than their social media shows.

They were first they were first spotted together in early 2021 in New York and seen taking a helicopter ride in June of that year

Ricciardo usually lives in Monaco when not travelling.

PROPERTY

Life as one of F1’s most famous faces comes with many lavish trappings — not least an enviable property portfolio.

Ricciardo snapped up a stunning Beverly Hills for a massive $A18.6 million in October 2018.

The mid-century abode features five bedrooms and five-and-a-half bathrooms, but surprisingly only a two-door garage.

The star said he had dreamt of owning property in the city since first visiting in 2014.

“The weather, having the beaches close by, I feel like you can escape the madness of it all,” he told The West Australian.

Not forgetting his roots, Daniel is believed to have an abode near Perth’s north coastal suburb of Duncraig, where he grew up, which has an underground garage and pool.

His family own a farm in outback WA where the star spent much of the early pandemic after the Melbourne Grand Prix was the first to be cancelled.

The property’s exact whereabouts is unknown but its stock includes sheep, cows and alpacas.

In 2018, he added this stunning mansion to his property portfolio in Los Angeles.

However, for most of the year when not travelling, Ricciardo lives in Monaco where he reportedly owns a pied-à-terre style, one-bedroom apartment.

Despite its size, similar properties in the principality can command up to $A2 million or more in a sale, according to local real estate agents.

Ricciardo said he loves the lifestyle living and working in Monaco offers.

“It feels like a real racetrack, and I’m not thinking ‘there’s a cafe I eat at’ or ‘there’s a street I ride my Vespa down’ or whatever,” he previously said.

“You wake up in your own bed, kick around your apartment and then start the journey to work.”

Originally published as Inside Daniel Ricciardo’s $156m rise to fame and fortune as F1 star prepares for track return