Danica Patrick at a Glance
- Net Worth (2025): $80 Million
- Birthdate: March 25, 1982
- Birthplace: Beloit, Wisconsin, USA
- Nationality: American
- Profession: Former Racing Driver, Entrepreneur, Broadcaster
What is Danica Patrick’s Net Worth?
Danica Patrick has a net worth of $80 million. She stands as the most successful female driver in the history of American open-wheel racing and is one of the wealthiest figures in motorsports history. Her fortune stems from a lucrative two-decade racing career in IndyCar and NASCAR, where her salary was consistently bolstered by one of the most powerful endorsement portfolios in the sports world.
Unlike many athletes who rely solely on competition winnings, Patrick built the majority of her wealth through marketing appeal. During her peak racing years, she earned north of $15 million annually, with roughly 60% of that income derived from corporate sponsorships rather than track earnings. Since retiring from professional racing in 2018, she has successfully pivoted into entrepreneurship and broadcasting, securing her financial standing through a Napa Valley winery, a luxury candle line, and high-profile commentary contracts.
Early Life
Danica Sue Patrick was born in Beloit, Wisconsin, and raised in Roscoe, Illinois. Her parents, T.J. and Bev Patrick, met on a blind date at a snowmobile event, foreshadowing the speed-oriented household Danica would grow up in. She began go-karting at Sugar River Raceway in Wisconsin at age 10, quickly displaying a natural aptitude for finding racing lines and maintaining momentum.
Her commitment to racing required significant sacrifice. At 16, she made the pivotal decision to drop out of high school and move to Milton Keynes, England, to compete in the tough European junior formula circuit. This period was financially and emotionally grueling; she lived alone, faced intense scrutiny as one of the few American women on the circuit, and often struggled with the equipment gap against better-funded teams. However, this experience in Formula Ford and Formula Vauxhall honed the aggressive driving style that later defined her career in the United States.
Career
Danica Patrick’s professional trajectory is defined by her ability to break barriers while generating massive commercial value for her teams. Her return to the United States in 2002 marked the beginning of a rapid ascent through the open-wheel ranks.
Patrick signed with Rahal Letterman Racing and made her IndyCar Series debut in 2005. She immediately silenced critics by qualifying fourth for the Indianapolis 500 and leading 19 laps of the race—the first woman ever to do so. Her fourth-place finish and subsequent “Rookie of the Year” honors turned her into an overnight international sensation.
In 2008, she solidified her legacy at the Indy Japan 300 at Twin Ring Motegi. racing for Andretti Green Racing, she used a superior fuel strategy to win the race, becoming the first and only woman to win an IndyCar Series event. This victory proved she was a competitive force, not just a marketing magnet, and significantly increased her earning power for future contract negotiations.
Seeking new challenges and a larger audience, Patrick moved to stock car racing, eventually signing with Stewart-Haas Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series. The transition was lucrative, bringing her GoDaddy sponsorship to a larger platform. In 2013, she made history again by winning the pole position for the Daytona 500, the first woman to secure the top spot for “The Great American Race.”
While her NASCAR tenure did not yield race wins, her consistency and ability to keep cars clean kept her valuable to sponsors. She retired from full-time racing after the 2017 season. In 2018, she executed the “Danica Double,” competing in both the Daytona 500 and the Indianapolis 500 as a final farewell to the two series that defined her life.
Real Estate
Patrick maintains a high-value property portfolio that reflects her lifestyle shifts. Her most significant asset is the Somnium estate in Napa Valley, California. This 22-acre property is not just a residence but a functioning commercial vineyard located on the prestigious Howell Mountain, known for its volcanic soil and high-value Cabernet grapes.
For many years, Patrick owned a custom-built mansion in Scottsdale, Arizona. The 7,500-square-foot residence, known locally for its futuristic, concrete “Jetsons-like” architecture, featured a massive wine cellar and a garage capable of housing her car collection. She famously sold this property as her life focus shifted more toward her business interests in California and her broadcasting travel schedule.
Personal Life
Danica Patrick’s relationships have often drawn public attention alongside her racing. She was married to physical therapist Paul Hospenthal from 2005 to 2013. Following her divorce, she was in a high-profile relationship with fellow NASCAR driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Her most publicized relationship was with NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The couple dated from 2018 to 2020, during which time they purchased a $28 million beachfront estate in Malibu together. Following their split, Patrick moved on to a relationship with Carter Comstock, a co-founder of Freshly, which ended amicably in 2022. Today, she focuses heavily on bio-hacking, fitness, and spiritual wellness, frequently discussing these topics on her podcast and social media channels.
