Michael Schumacher is the former racing icon who happens to be the first driver in history to have won seven Formula One World Championships, five of which he has done in a row. Arguably, Schumacher is the greatest F1 driver making him one of the world’s highest-paid athletes.
Schumacher started his karting career in the year 1991 with his debut drive for Jordan at Spa. A little-known Mercedes sports car driver qualified seventh on the grid at one of the most prestigious circuits shocking the F1 establishment.
In 2000, he became Ferrari’s first champion in 21 years. After that, he went on to win the championship for the next four years in a row. In 2002, he won 11 races and finished on the podium in the remaining 17 events. He broke Fangio’s record by winning his sixth driving title in 2003. He won 13 of the 18 races in 2004 to win his seventh title by a large margin.
Michael Schumacher’s career is intertwined by the color red. Interestingly, his first F1 race was in a green Jordan, earned his first world championship in a blue Benetton, and retired in a silver Mercedes. Yet, his popular known nickname is “The Red Baron”.
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Michael Schumacher net worth and Salary:
Schumacher was a regular name on the Forbes list of wealthiest athletes. He debuted on the list in 2004, in 2nd position which he successfully kept for nearly thirteen years. In 2005, Eurobusiness magazine dubbed Schumacher the world’s first billionaire athlete of the decade.
Throughout his lifetime, Schumacher’s net worth is estimated to be at $600 million. The annual wage of Schumacher in F1 was approximately $50 million upon his return. He made a good living from racing for Mercedes and Ferrari, yet he earned a good source of income from sponsors, endorsement as well as advertising. He is also considered as one of the highest-paid racers of all time, with career earnings of more than $1 billion.
Michael Schumacher F1 career
Schumacher stepped in the F1 racing track for the Jordan team and made his Grand Prix debut in Belgium 1991, qualifying ninth.
With an incredible start, Schumacher won his first race in Belgium and finished third overall in his maiden year in Formula One. He won the world championship in 1994 by a single point. In 1995, he took the title more legally. He won 18 races and two world titles with Benetton over the next four seasons. He then joined the Italian Ferrari squad in 1996, which had not won a world championship in over two decades.
Due to a broken leg (his only injury in his career) sustained in a crash at the British Grand Prix, Schumacher’s 1999 season was cut short. He was placed second in the whole 1998 year.
The legend was still at the pinnacle of his powers after placing second in the 2006 championship, having won seven races to raise his total to 91. No champion had ever been so dominant for so long, but he had grown tired of maintaining his dominance and wanted to retire. Schumacher’s Ferrari career came to an end in 2006.
His retirement, however, proved to be just temporary. After a three-year break, for working as a Ferrari consultant, 41-year-old Michael Schumacher succumbed to the temptation of driving for the new Mercedes squad led by Ross Brawn in 2010. Despite giving his all, he only made it to the podium once during his three-year comeback. Finally, in October 2012, Schumacher stated that he would retire for the second time at the end of the season.
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Michael Schumacher Facts
Birth Place | Hurth, West Germany |
Father’s Name | Rolf Schumacher |
Mother’s Name | Elisabeth Schumacher |
Star Sign | Capricorn |
Net Worth (2023) | $600 Million |
Salary (2023) | $50 Million |
Net Worth in Rupees (Estimated) | 4,950 crores |
Date of Birth | 3rd January 1969 |
Height (cm) | 1.74m (5′ 6″) |
Weight (kg) | 75 kg |
Nationality | German |
F1 Debut | 1991 |
Teams | Jordan, Benetton, Ferrari, Mercedes |
F1 Race Wins | 91 |
F1 Pole Positions | 68 |
F1 Championship Wins | 7 |
F1 podiums | 155 |
Wife | Corinna Schumacher |
Endorsements | Shell, Marlboro, Vodafone, Deutsche Vermögensberatung, Mercedes Benz, CS Ranch |
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Michael Schumacher was born on 3rd January 1969, to a bricklayer Rolf Schumacher and mother Elisabeth. From a very young age, he has had a fascination with karting and experienced it from the age of four. Schumacher began his racing career on the local go-kart tracks.
In 1984, he won the German junior go-kart championship, and in 1987, he won the European Kart championship. He won the German F3 championship in 1990 after upgrading to the Formula Three (F3) league.
He married Corinna Betsch in August 1995. They have two children: Gina-Marie and Mick Schumacher. His brother, Ralf Schumacher was also a Formula One driver for ten years. His son Mick, and nephew David Schumacher are all racing drivers. The racer Sebastian Stahl is his stepbrother.
Michael Schumacher endorsements
Schumacher was endorsed by companies such as Shell, Marlboro, and Vodafone, among others.
Schumacher is now sponsored by Deutsche Vermögensberatung, a financial services distributor, Mercedes Benz and CS Ranch, a reining facility.
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