TOP GEAR
Inside Richard Hammond’s £37m empire as he faces showdown with wife over £7m castle & £180k Porsche with X-rated plate
Richard's wife is demanding their sprawling castle in Hereford
RICHARD Hammond has lived life in the fast lane, amassing a jaw-dropping £37million fortune from his TV career and business ventures.
The 55-year-old motoring icon, best known for Top Gear and The Grand Tour, has no problem showing off the fruits of his success.
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He has splashed out on a fleet of luxury cars, exotic holidays, and stunning properties, including a £7million castle in Herefordshire.
His success has cemented his place as one of TV's wealthiest petrolheads.
However, his considerable wealth has now been thrust into the spotlight thanks to his shock split from wife Mindy after 23 years of marriage.
Richard reportedly fought to save the marriage, even after Mindy kicked him out of the marital home to sleep in the converted barn on the property.
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"He tried everything," a source told The Sun. "He hoped they could live separately at the same address under different roofs but Mindy pushed for a full divorce.
"He even whisked her away to the South of France to patch things up, but it just didn't work."
So now the couple, who married in 2002 and have two daughters together, Isabella and Willow, are heading for a megabucks divorce - one of the biggest celebrity payouts the UK has ever seen.
Yesterday we revealed how Mindy 'just wanted him gone' as the couple released a statement following the breakup of their 23-year marriage.
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The couple's separation has sparked speculation over how their fortune will be divided, with reports suggesting Mindy, 59, could keep the castle while Richard keeps the London flat and a home in the Lake District.
Here, we look at Richard Hammond's eye-watering fortune and how he built an impressive business empire from his lifelong passion.
Big break
Growing up in Birmingham, Richard's love of cars was evident from a young age.
Speaking about his fondness for motors, he explained: "Cars were an obsession … as a kid growing up in Birmingham.
"I mean to be fair, my grandfather worked in the car industry and built cars, he was a coach builder — Mullins in Birmingham and the Jensen, they did that— so it was always in my blood, always loved cars."
At 16, he worked on a chicken farm just so he could buy his first motorbike.
Richard Hammond & wife set for multi-million divorce battle as they confirm split after 28 years
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But his career began far from the glitz and glamour of TV. His first job involved shovelling grit into a water filtration plant before later moving on as a presenter for local radio stations.
With an ultimate dream of ending up on Top Gear, he took a PR job at Renault.
His big break came in 2002 when he was announced as the latest addition to the revamped Top Gear.
Alongside Jeremy Clarkson and James May, he became a part of a presenting trio that would ultimately redefine motoring television.
Speaking about the massive opportunity, he said: "It's been incredible, it is an amazing thing to get to do.
"I wanted to make car TV shows, I started off in radio, local radio, as a presenter, I was starving to death and realised I just couldn't earn a living, but I wanted to get to do car shows."
But it was his move to The Grand Tour that truly shifted the gears on his earnings. After leaving the BBC in 2015, he reportedly saw his annual pay soar from £500,000 to a whopping £7.2million.
The Amazon Prime series became a hit, solidifying his position as one of the highest-paid presenters in the country.
He boosted his earning further by fronting shows such as Brainiac: Science Abuse from 2003 to 2006, Total Wipeout from 2009 to 2012, and Planet Earth Live in 2012.
Luxury castle
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With his staggering fortune, Richard has been able to afford a life of luxury but one of his proudest purchases is the 18th century stack Bollitree Castle.
He and wife Mindy bought the Grade II listed property, located in Ross-on-Wye in Herefordshire, in 2008.
Worth £2.5million at the time, it is a stunning mock castle, complete with a moat, and boasts six bedrooms, a swimming pool, and 20 acres of picturesque land.
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The home also has a modern kitchen and a clubhouse where Richard keeps his motorbikes and other motoring paraphernalia.
The castle also has a unique history. Built in the 18th century, it was transformed into a castle by a man who had hopes to woo a Spanish woman.
Explaining the history, Richard said: "She said she'd only live in England if it was in a castle, so he took the castle down that was in the field next door and nailed it to his barn, turning it into a castle."
Although he has described the stunning home, which the couple renovated, as "romantic" it hasn't been without its challenges. Richard has described how "bits keep falling off it".
Richard Hammond's divorce statement
A LITTLE update from us; this Christmas we were together as a family and this year we will still be a family but just structured a bit differently.
Our marriage is coming to end, but we've had an amazing 28 years together and two incredible daughters.
We will always be in each other's lives and are proud of the family we created.
We won't be commenting further and sincerely hope that our privacy and that of our children will be respected at this time.
With Love, Richard and Mindy.
In 2023, his plans to redevelop parts of the property were rejected by Herefordshire County Council, following objections from the Georgia Group.
Bollitree Castle also includes converted barns, one of which Richard reportedly lived in after being kicked out by his wife during the marital difficulties.
Although he was kicked out of the £7million home he shares with his wife, the barn Richard was forced to live in is nothing to scoff at.
Built as a party room, it boasts a huge open plan room with high vaulted ceilings, a sliding door that turns the kitchen island into a fully functioning bar and floor to ceiling windows with views over the stunning estate.
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Last year, he hinted at tensions with Mindy when he gave fans a tour of the barn and mentioned that he had broken her one golden rule.
During the tour, he said: "This is not a man cave, I hate that phrase. If I call it anything, I call it a clubhouse for family, friends and business use."
He also mentioned that his wife never goes into the barn as she believed it was haunted.
The couple's eldest daughter Isabella, 24, still lives on the estate, working with her father, while younger daughter Willow, 22, lives in Gloucestershire.
Alongside their home, Richard and Mindy also own a flat in London, the holiday home in the Lake District and a property in Saint Tropez.
Travelling in style
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Richard's love for motoring goes beyond the TV screen to his personal garage, which houses an enviable collection of vintage and luxury cars.
Among his prized possessions are a Ford Mustang and a Lotus Espirit Sport, a lightweight vehicle first introduced in 1993 and known for its powerful performance.
Richard also owns a 1931 Lagonda, which can cost up to £190,000, according to car dealerships.
The cheeky star acquired a 2023 Porsche 911 Turbo S, valued at £180,000. To show off his iconic sense of humour, he got a number plate that reads D1 CKH.
But that's not all - he reportedly has a Bentley and two classic Jaguars.
In total, his car collection is estimated at a whopping £2million, according to VIPFortunes.
He also has an extensive collection of classic motorcycles, including a 1027 Honda Sunbeam and a Kawasaki ZXR.
Richard's success has allowed him to enjoy the finer things in life, including a £150,000 helicopter he purchased back in 2009.
The aircraft provides a luxurious way to commute to and from his Hereford home, while fulfilling his need for speed.
Business empire
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When it comes to his business acumen, Richard knows how to get the best investment from his money.
He has been the director of five businesses. His current firm is Chimp Productions.
It lists its nature of business as television production activities. According to Companies House, the business recorded cash at bank and in hand as £1.45million in the year to March 2024.
The previous year, this was £1.5millon.
Richard also has a dormant company called Brand New Productions, which he set up with his fellow Top Gear stars James May and Jeremy Clarkson.
According to sources, his business dealings alone have netted him an incredible £35million.
Income streams include his YouTube Channel DriveTribe which boasts 2.75m subscribers and earns up to £17.5k a month.
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He has also provided voiceovers for video games, including Forza Motorsport5, as well as being the author of an impressive 12 books, including four children's science books.
In 2007, following the near fatal car crash on Top Gear that left him in a coma, he signed a six-figure book deal with Orion to relive the experience in print.
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