F1 season is back this weekend. Who is the wealthiest pilot on the grid?

Formula 1 is one of the most prestigious and lucrative sports in the world, and the drivers who compete in it are some of the highest paid athletes on the planet. This season the highest salary is $55 million.

Over the course of his career, he was paid more than $60​0 million​ by his teams. And he earns eight times more from sponsorships than the average F1 driver.

This pilot has a net worth of $285​ million.​

1. Brand endorsement deals: Eight million yearly sponsorship income from brands like Tommy Hilfiger, PUMA, Monster Energy, and many others.

2. Investments: ​He has made investments in the food industry like the plant-based burger chain Neat Burger; health supplements Athletic Greens; foodtech company NotCo; and the farming and agriculture company Bowery Farming​.

Besides his focus on green ventures, he is putting his money into sports. Like the entertainment start-up TMRW Sports, his own Extreme E racing team, and the Denver Broncos Football Club.

​His property empire, filled with New York penthouses and a waterfront Monaco dream home, has an estimated value of $130​ million.

3. Car collection: He has an incredible $16 million car collection, including a 1967 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 ($1.3 million); 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 ($4.8 million); McLaren P1 ($1.2 million); Mercedes-AMG Project One ($2.4 million); and a couple of Ferrari LaFerraris.

​Who is this cash cow athlete?! Probably some of you know from the beginning, but it's Sir Lewis Hamilton.

I couldn't end this post without highlighting Hamilton's philanthropic efforts. Mission 44 Foundation, a program designed to bring more people from ethically diverse backgrounds into motorsport. And also donated $24 million to help under-represented youngsters in Britain.