F1 driver Lewis Hamilton is in "pole position" to become Britain's "richest ever sports star after clinching his second Formula One world title," according to Ben Rumsby of the London TELEGRAPH. Hamilton's latest championship triumph is "poised to net" him a new £100M ($157M), five-year contract with Mercedes, "cementing his status" as the U.K.'s most wealthy active athlete. The £68M fortune he was estimated to possess earlier this year is "still dwarfed by that of the now-retired David Beckham, who along with wife Victoria is said to be worth" £210M ($330M). But sponsorship and branding expert Nigel Currie, of brandRapport, predicts Hamilton will "comfortably surpass the former footballer's personal wealth and may even threaten" that of the combined "Brand Beckham." Currie: "I would definitely say he's going to be Britain's highest-paid sportsman ever." He pointed out that if Hamilton "marries girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger, the couple's combined earning potential could eventually challenge that of the Beckhams." Currie said, "They'd be a highly-marketable couple in their own right." Hamilton's annual earnings are estimated to be £20.4M ($32M). Only Real Madrid's Gareth Bale (£23.2M) ($36.4M) is said to be "paid more among British sports stars, but Hamilton looks certain to overhaul that total when recent prize money" and a £3M ($4.7M) pay rise are taken into account (TELEGRAPH, 11/24).
