Lewis Hamilton's Wealth Cap Comments Draw Criticism Amid Billionaire Dating and Tax Avoidance
A 2023 podcast clip in which Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton said people 'shouldn't be able to have billions' went viral after his girlfriend Kim Kardashian attended the Monaco Grand Prix, where Hamilton holds tax-haven residency. Hamilton, estimated to earn around $100 million annually and worth approximately $500 million, made the remarks on Jay Shetty's 'On Purpose' podcast when asked what single law he would create for the world. The resurfaced comments drew widespread criticism online over perceived hypocrisy, given Hamilton's Monaco and Switzerland residency, a reported tax-avoidance scheme on his private jet, and his relationship with Kardashian, who is worth an estimated $1.9 billion.
Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time Formula 1 world champion now racing for Ferrari, has faced renewed public scrutiny after a 2023 interview clip resurfaced in which he argued there should be a legal limit on individual wealth, saying people 'shouldn't be able to have billions' because 'there's enough to go around for everyone.' The clip went viral — accumulating over 20 million views on X — after Hamilton's girlfriend Kim Kardashian, estimated to be worth $1.9 billion, arrived by yacht in Monaco to watch him race at the Monaco Grand Prix. Critics were quick to highlight that Hamilton himself has maintained tax residency in Monaco and Switzerland for much of the past two decades, legally shielding his earnings from personal income, capital gains, and wealth taxes. He also reportedly used a complex offshore leasing arrangement in 2013 to avoid approximately £3–4 million in UK value-added taxes on a £16.5 million private jet, a scheme his representatives described as 'above board.' Hamilton's investments and business ventures — including a stake in the Denver Broncos NFL franchise, non-alcoholic spirits brand Almave, TMRW Sports, and a film production company — further fueled commentary about the gap between his stated views and financial behavior. Neither Hamilton nor Kardashian has publicly responded to the renewed controversy.
What's missing
It is unclear whether Hamilton has addressed or updated his views on wealth inequality since the interview was recorded.
How coverage differed
Fox News and the Daily Wire framed the story primarily as an example of celebrity hypocrisy and liberal virtue-signaling, using pointed editorial language and rhetorical questions to mock Hamilton. Forbes reported the same facts in a more neutral, data-driven manner, focusing on verified earnings figures and background context without editorializing about Hamilton's character or motivations.
What different sources said
- Daily WireRight
F1 Star Declared War On Billionaires And Then He Started Dating One
- Fox NewsRight
Lewis Hamilton, worth $500M and dating billionaire Kim Kardashian, wants to put 'a limit' on wealth
- ForbesCenter
Lewis Hamilton’s Wealth Comments Resurface After Billionaire Girlfriend Kim Kardashian Seen At Monaco Grand Prix
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