Highest-Paid NASCAR Drivers Of All Time

While all NASCAR drivers enjoy prize money with each victory, fan favorites get an additional boost from licensing revenue and sponsorships. Here are five of the most successful — and highest-paid — NASCAR drivers in history.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Newly inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Dale Earnhardt Jr. retired from full-time racing with 26 NASCAR Cup titles. He was one of the sport's biggest stars, voted Most Popular Driver 15 times by fans and a top-seller of merchandise and gear bearing his name. Earnhardt Jr. earned more than $400 million from salary, winnings, licensing, and endorsements and was NASCAR's highest-paid driver for 8 years straight until a concussion shortened his 2016 season.

Jeff Gordon

Four-time NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon dominated the sport in the 1990s, winning 93 races. He landed at the top of the list for all-time NASCAR earnings, collecting more than $151 million in compensation. The Hall of Famer, who also has three Daytona 500 victories, became a racing analyst for Fox Sports after his retirement. He's now moving on to the role of vice chairman at Hendrick Motorsports, where he launched his NASCAR career in 1992.

Jimmie Johnson

One of the most successful NASCAR drivers in history, Jimmie Johnson won 83 races and a record-tying seven Cup titles — five of them in consecutive years. In 2020, his last season of racing before retiring, he was the second-highest-paid NASCAR driver, earning $14.8 million in salary and winnings, and another $2.8 million from endorsements and licensing. His estimated net worth is $160 million. Johnson becomes eligible for Hall of Fame nomination in 2023.

Tony Stewart

Tony Stewart has a knack for making an impact. In his first NASCAR season in 1999, he notched three wins and was the first driver to compete in the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day — racing 1,090 miles. Stewart earned 49 Cup series victories and finished his career with three NASCAR championships. He retired in 2016 with $122 million in career earnings, and now has an estimated $90 million net worth.

Kyle Busch

Two-time NASCAR champion Kyle Busch has had 59 victories so far in his career, and he's still racing full time. His 2019 championship win pushed him to the top of NASCAR's highest-paid drivers list for the first time, with $17.8 million in earnings. Busch will have to find a new sponsor after the 2022 racing season, as it's the last year of his deal with Mars Wrigley (M&M's). His estimated net worth is $80 million.