Here’s an overview of Danica Patrick’s net worth and biography:
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Danica Sue Patrick |
| Date of Birth | March 25, 1982 |
| Place of Birth | Beloit, Wisconsin, USA |
| Age | 42 years (as of 2024) |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Former Race Car Driver, Commentator, Entrepreneur |
| Net Worth (2024) | Approximately $80 million |
| Career Highlights | – First woman to win an IndyCar Series race |
| – Best finish by a woman at the Indianapolis 500 (3rd place in 2009) | |
| – First woman to win a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series pole | |
| Endorsements | Chevrolet, Coca-Cola, Nationwide Insurance, Go Daddy, Tissot |
| Business Ventures | – Wine brand: Somnium |
| – Sportswear brand: Warrior by Danica Patrick | |
| Personal Life | – Previously married to Paul Hospenthal (divorced in 2012) |
| – Currently dating Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | |
| Residence | Scottsdale, Arizona, USA |
| Height | 157 cm (5’2″) |
| Weight | 48 kg (106 lbs) |
| Hobbies | Yoga, Running, Working Out |
Danica Patrick’s Net Worth 2024
Danica Patrick is a retired American auto racing driver, model, and spokesperson with an estimated net worth of $80 million. She holds the distinction of being the most accomplished woman in the history of American open-wheel racing.
In 2008, Danica made history by securing the only victory by a woman in an IndyCar Series race at the Indy Japan 300. Additionally, her third-place finish at the 2009 Indianapolis 500 remains the best result ever achieved by a female driver in that iconic race.
Endorsements
During the height of her racing career, Danica Patrick earned over $10 million annually, with her income nearly equally divided between race earnings and endorsements.
While her racing achievements are notable, she became even more recognizable through her brand endorsements. Danica partnered with several major companies, including Chevrolet, Coca-Cola, Nationwide Insurance, and Tissot.
However, she is best known for her long-standing collaboration with GoDaddy, which played a significant role in boosting her public profile.
Early Life
Danica Patrick was born on March 25, 1982, in Beloit, Wisconsin, to Beverly Anna and Terry Joseph Patrick Jr., who had a passion for racing snowmobiles, motocross, and midget cars.
Raised in Roscoe, Illinois, Danica attended Hononegah Community High School, where she was also a cheerleader. Her racing journey began at Sugar River Raceway in Brodhead, Wisconsin.
In her very first karting race, a brake failure caused her to crash into a concrete wall, but this early setback didn’t deter her ambitions.
Danica went on to travel across the Midwest, competing in various karting competitions, where she claimed ten regional titles and the World Karting Association Grand National Championship.
In 1996, she entered the Lyn St. James Foundation Driver Development program. With her parents’ support, she made the bold decision to leave high school halfway through her junior year to pursue a racing career in England, marking the beginning of her professional journey.
Early Racing Career
Danica Patrick moved to Milton Keynes, England, to further her racing career. Although she faced significant challenges, particularly as both an American and a woman in a male-dominated sport, she found support from three-time Formula One world champion Jackie Stewart and received financial backing from Ford Motor Company.
During her three years in the UK, she competed in Formula Vauxhall and Formula Ford, securing a ninth-place finish in the 1999 Formula Vauxhall Championship.
In 2000, Danica placed second at the Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch, a notable achievement that earned her the Gorsline Scholarship Award, recognizing her as an emerging talent in road racing. However, by 2001, her funding had run out, leading her to return to the United States to continue her racing journey.
IndyCar Series Career
In 2002, Danica Patrick signed with Rahal-Letterman Racing, a team co-owned by former driver Bobby Rahal and talk show host David Letterman. Her talent quickly shone through, earning her the Rookie of the Year title for both the 2005 Indianapolis 500 and the IndyCar Series season that year. Over the next few years, Danica showed steady improvement with Rahal-Letterman Racing and later joined Andretti Green Racing in 2007.
In 2008, she made history by finishing the season sixth overall in the drivers’ standings and securing a third-place finish at the Indianapolis 500, the highest ever for a woman in that race. Though her performance slightly declined by 2010, she still managed two second-place finishes on oval tracks. After the 2011 season, Danica decided to leave IndyCar to focus on her career in stock car racing.
Stock Car Career
Danica Patrick transitioned to stock car racing in 2010, starting with the NASCAR Nationwide Series, now called the Xfinity Series. Her best performance came in 2011, when she secured a fourth-place finish at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. In 2012, Danica made headlines as the second woman ever to earn a pole position in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and achieved a career-best tenth place in the season standings.
By 2013, she was racing full-time in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, driving the #10 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet SS for Stewart-Haas Racing while also competing part-time in the Nationwide Series for Turner Motorsports.
That same year, Danica made history as the first female driver to win a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series pole, setting the fastest qualifying lap since 1990 for the Daytona 500, where she finished in eighth place. After the 2017 season, she stepped back from full-time racing but participated in the 2018 Daytona 500 and Indianapolis 500 before announcing her official retirement from the sport.
Legacy and Public Image
Danica Patrick is a globally recognized racing driver, often referred to simply by her first name. She quickly became a pop culture sensation when she entered the IndyCar scene in 2005, not only for her skills on the track but also for her gender and modeling career.
Frequently regarded as a sex symbol, Danica has appeared on the covers of prominent magazines like “FHM,” “Sports Illustrated,” and “ESPN.” In 2008, Bloomberg Businessweek named her the 50th most powerful figure in sports, and she was also voted Harris Poll’s favorite female athlete that same year.
From 2007 to 2013, Danica made Forbes’ list of the 100 highest-paid celebrities four times, solidifying her status as a major name in the industry. Her fans voted her the IndyCar Series Most Popular Driver every year from 2005 to 2010, and in 2012, she earned the NASCAR Nationwide Series Most Popular Driver title. She also received the Legend Award at the 2018 Kids’ Choice Sports event and was named Favorite Female Athlete at the Kids’ Choice Awards in 2008, 2012, and 2013.
Other Pursuits
Outside of her racing career, Danica Patrick has ventured into acting, media, and business. She made her acting debut in a 2010 episode of CSI: NY, playing a racing driver accused of murder. Over the years, Danica has hosted several TV specials on Spike TV and appeared in the 2005 documentary Girl Racers. In 2010, she lent her voice to an episode of The Simpsons titled “How Munched Is That Birdie in the Window?” and published her autobiography, Danica: Crossing the Line, in 2006.
Danica became widely known for her appearances in GoDaddy commercials, some of which aired during the Super Bowl. In late 2013, she showcased her culinary skills on the Food Network’s competitive cooking show Chopped, where she triumphed over three other celebrities. By 2015, she joined Fox NASCAR as a booth analyst for Xfinity Series races, and in December 2017, she released her second book, Pretty Intense.
Beyond her TV appearances, Danica has been featured in music videos by artists like Maroon 5, Cardi B, and Jay-Z. In 2019 and 2020, she served as a studio analyst for NBC’s broadcast of the Indy 500. Expanding her presence in the entertainment world, she launched a weekly podcast called Pretty Intense in August 2019, where she interviews guests from various fields.
Danica is also a successful entrepreneur. She owns a wine brand called Somnium, with a vineyard located in St. Helena, California, near the Howell Mountain AVA. Additionally, she launched her own athleisure line, Warrior by Danica Patrick, showcasing her passion for both business and fitness.
Personal Life
Danica Patrick married her physical therapist, Paul Edward Hospenthal, in 2005. The couple met in 2002 when Danica sought treatment for a hip injury sustained during a yoga session. After seven years of marriage, they divorced in 2012. Following her divorce, Danica was romantically involved with fellow NASCAR driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and later with NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers, whom she dated from February 2018 until July 2020.
In 2021, Danica began a relationship with American businessman Carter Comstock. However, in 2022, she confirmed that they had amicably ended their relationship.
