What is David Coulthard's Net Worth?
David Coulthard is a British Formula One racing driver, presenter, commentator, and journalist who has a net worth of $80 million. David Coulthard started his career in karting at 11 years old. He competed in the British Formula Ford Championship and Formula 3000 series. He joined Formula One in 1994. Coulthard competed in the Formula One World Championship from 1994 to 2008 with Williams, McLaren, and Red Bull. He had 13 wins and 12 pole positions. He first win was at the 1995 Portuguese Grand Prix and his last was at the 2003 Australian Grand Prix. He then worked as a consultant for Red Bull and a commentator for the BBC. He became a commentator and analyst for Channel 4 in 2016.
Early Life
David Coulthard was born on March 27, 1971 in Twynholm, Scotland as one of three children of Duncan and Elizabeth. Due to the influence of his grandfather and father, who were both involved in motorsports, Coulthard developed an early passion for racing. For his education, he went to Kirkcudbright Academy.
Career Beginnings
After being given his first kart when he turned 11, Coulthard began racing in various local karting competitions. He won a number of championships, including the Scottish Kart Championship and the Cumbria Kart Racing Club Championship. In 1989, Coulthard transitioned from karting to car racing, and won the P&O Ferries Formula Ford 1600 Junior Championship. Also that year, he was the inaugural recipient of the McLaren/Autosport Young Driver of the Year Award. After competing in the EFDA Nations Cup and the British Touring Car Championship in 1990, Coulthard signed with Paul Stewart Racing to compete in the British Formula 3 series in 1991. Ultimately, he claimed five victories and finished runner-up in the Championship. In 1992, Coulthard moved to the International Formula 3000 series, where he struggled. He did better with Pacific Racing in 1993, clinching one victory and coming in third in the series. The following year, Coulthard drove for the Vortex team and finished third in his lone race for the team, at Silverstone.
Formula One, 1994-2000
Before officially joining Formula One, Coulthard was a test driver for the Williams team. He then joined the team in 1994 and made his debut in Spain. Following an engine-fail there, he took a fifth-place finish in Canada. Coulthard next raced for Williams in the British Grand Prix, where he finished fifth again. Later, in Portugal, he achieved his first podium finish. Although Coulthard wished to leave Williams due to a contract dispute, the Formula One Contract Recognition Board ruled that he remain with the team. His 1995 season began spottily, as he was originally disqualified in Brazil for fuel irregularities and then had four retirements across five races. However, Coulthard rebounded to claim four consecutive podiums as well as his first career pole position. Moreover, in Portugal, he won his first Formula One race. Coulthard ended up finishing third in the Championship for 1995. He moved to McLaren the next year, and partnering with Mika Häkkinen, finished seventh in the Championship. Coulthard fared better in 1997, finishing in third.
In 1998, Coulthard claimed nine podiums and came in third in the Championship. He was given the Hawthorn Memorial Trophy for being the most successful British or Commonwealth driver in Formula One. Coulthard continued to perform strongly in 1999, taking victories in Britain and Belgium and coming in fourth in the Championship. Despite a rough start to the 2000 season, he came back in emphatic fashion to claim victories in Britain, Monaco, and France. He finished third in the Championship and won his second Hawthorn Memorial Trophy.
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Formula One, 2001-2008
Coulthard had his best season yet in 2001, clinching victories in Brazil and Austria and notching a second-place finish in the Championship, trailing Michael Schumacher by 58 points. For his performance, he won his second consecutive and third overall Hawthorn Memorial Trophy. Coulthard won a third consecutive Hawthorn Memorial Trophy in 2002, and a fourth consecutive in 2003. He performed less spectacularly in 2004, failing to score any podium finishes.
For the 2005 season, Coulthard moved to Red Bull, where he drove alongside Austrian driver Christian Klien. He went on to have a bad season, partly because Red Bull was among the teams forced to withdraw from the United States Grand Prix for using Michelin tires. Because of this, Coulthard didn't start a race for the first time in his career. Ultimately, he finished 12th in the Championship. In 2006, he finished at a career-worst 13th place; the year after that, he came in 10th. Coulthard's final Formula One year in 2008 was similarly inauspicious. In Singapore, he claimed the final points of his career with a seventh-place finish.
Further Motorsports
Beyond Formula One, Coulthard has also competed for Great Britain in the Race of Champions, which he first joined in 2004. Following many disappointing seasons, he won his first title in 2014 by beating Pascal Wehrlein. Coulthard claimed another Race of Champions title in 2018 by defeating Petter Solberg.
From 2010 to 2012, Coulthard competed in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters as part of the Mücke Motorsport team. Partnered with Maro Engel, he finished 16th in the Championship in his first year. In his second year, he finished in the same position. After finishing in 15th place in 2012, Coulthard retired from motor racing.
Sports Commentary
In 2008, Coulthard joined the BBC as a commentator for the channel's Formula One coverage. He left the BBC in 2016 and became a Formula One commentator on Channel 4. Through his production company Whisper Films, Coulthard also produces the channel's coverage.
Personal Life
Coulthard was previously engaged to American model Heidi Wichlinski. In 2000, the couple was involved in a plane crash in France that killed the pilot and co-pilot. Coulthard and Wichlinski called off their engagement in 2001. Subsequently, Coulthard dated Brazilian model Simone Abdelnour for four years. In 2006, he got engaged to Belgian television presenter Karen Minier, whom he later married in 2013. The two have a child named Dayton.
Coulthard owns homes in numerous countries, including Monaco, Belgium, Switzerland, and the UK. He also owns a number of luxury hotels in the UK.
