Valentino Rossi is an Italian motorcycle racer who has a net worth totaling $200 million. He stands as one of the most accomplished figures in motorcycle racing history, securing nine Grand Prix World Championships, with seven achieved in the premier class.
Quick Facts
| Category | Richest Athletes – Race Car Drivers |
|---|---|
| Net Worth | $200 Million |
| Birthdate | Feb 16, 1979 (45 years old) |
| Birthplace | Urbino |
| Gender | Male |
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.82 m) |
| Profession | Athlete, Motorcycle Racer |
| Nationality | Italy |
Early Life and Career
Valentino Rossi, born in Urbino, Italy on February 16, 1979, inherited his passion for racing from his father, Graziano Rossi.
Introduced to the world of motorsports at a tender age, Valentino began his journey on a go-kart. At the age of 5, his father upgraded his kart’s motor from 60cc to a 100cc national kart motor.
His early success was evident when he clinched the regional kart championship in 1990. Transitioning to minimoto, Rossi continued his winning streak, dominating regional races by 1991.
His breakthrough came in 1995 when he secured victory in the Italian 125 CC Championship and earned third place in the European Championship.
Career
Rossi’s Grand Prix career began in 1996 with Aprilia in the 125cc class. He swiftly secured his first World Championship the next year.
Moving up to 250cc, he claimed another title in 1999. In 2000, Rossi ascended to the premier class, winning the 500cc World Championship with Honda, followed by MotoGP titles in 2002 and 2003.
Switching to Yamaha, he clinched consecutive championships in 2004 and 2005. A crash in 2006 cost him the title, which went to Nicky Hayden.
Casey Stoner and Ducati triumphed over Rossi and Yamaha in 2007. Rossi regained the championship in 2008 and defended it in 2009.
Despite a stint with Ducati in 2011-2012, Rossi returned to Yamaha for the 2013-2014 seasons. While achieving victories, his dominance waned.
He moved to Petronas Yamaha Racing Team in 2021 after a long and illustrious career.
Rossi ranks second in all-time MotoGP wins, trailing Giacomo Agostini.
He’s also among the highest-paid athletes globally, consistently featured in Forbes’ rankings.
Personal Life
At the age of 18, Rossi relocated to Milan before settling in London, England, while affiliated with Honda. In the interim, he purchased a villa in Ibiza.
After a tax case in 2007, he opted to reside near his family in Italy. In May 2005, Rossi was awarded an honorary degree in Communications and Advertising.
Since 2019, he has been romantically involved with Italian model Francesca Sofia Novello.
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Legal Troubles
In 2007, Italian tax authorities accused Rossi of failing to declare $160 million of earnings from 2000 to 2004.
Previously investigated for tax evasion in 2002, he faced similar allegations. Officials contended that Rossi’s London residency allowed him to exploit favorable tax conditions by only declaring earnings from England, thus evading taxes on merchandise and sponsorship deals.
Despite being a London resident, authorities argued that his “center of interests” did not lie there.
In February 2008, Rossi announced a settlement of 35 million euros (around $41 million USD) to avoid potential imprisonment stemming from the case.