A four-time Formula 1 world champion, Lewis Hamilton is the most successful British racing driver in history. From his race win prize money to his lucrative advertising deals, we reveal how he made his fortune and the incredible ways he spends it.

Starting go kart racing when he was just eight years old, Hamilton won the Cadet Class at the Super One British Kart Championship aged 10.

Spotting his raw talent, Hamilton was signed by Formula 1 racing team McLaren when he was 13 years old for an undisclosed sum.

In 2006 he won the GP2 championship, a Formula 1 feeder series that has since been rebranded as Formula 2, at the first attempt.

In 2007, Hamilton finished third in his first ever F1 race, in Australia, becoming only the 13th driver to finish in a podium place in his debut race.

Hamilton’s success brought with it bigger payouts. Later that year, he signed an £87 million, five-year contract to stay with McLaren.

At the age of just 23, Hamilton became the youngest driver ever to win the Formula 1 world title in what was only his second season.

In 2008, he signed an estimated £11.3 million personal sponsorship deal with sportswear brand Reebok.

Magazines can’t get enough of Hamilton’s image, with the driver splashed across international covers around the world.

He’s said to have earned more than £2 million from personal endorsements with Santander bank, Bombardier, IWC and Tag Heuer watches alone.

Having made his name at McLaren, the racing star netted a three-year contract with rival Mercedes in 2012. The deal was thought to be worth around £75 million.

In May 2015, after a year-long negotiation, Hamilton signed a new three-year deal with Mercedes for a rumoured £100 million. That doesn’t include bonuses.

The deal means Hamilton earns over £1. million per race and an incredible £640,000 every week, making him Britain’s best-paid sportsman.

The reigning champion is also the best-paid driver in the sport, ahead of one-time McLaren teammate Fernando Alonso (pictured) and Sebastian Vettel.

Adding to his slew of victories, Hamilton won his third Formula 1 World Championship in 2015.

In 2017 Hamilton added to his lucrative partnerships when he signed a £1.5 million deal with Monster Energy drinks, even creating his own '44' version, a reference to his racing number.

In June 2017, Hamilton was presented with Brazilian racing legend Ayrton Senna's helmet when he matched his idol's 65 pole positions at the Montreal Grand Prix. "I am shaking," Hamilton said during the presentation. "Ayrton is the one who inspired me to be where I am. To match him and receive this is the greatest honour."

Hamilton lost the 2016 championship to his Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg in a fierce battle, but he came back fighting and bagged his fourth world title the following year, equalling the number of titles won by both Alain Prost and Sebastian Vettel. He is now only surpassed by Juan Manuel Fangio, who won five, and Michael Schumacher, who reached seven world titles.

Lewis Hamilton’s estimated net worth now sits at a cool £159 million. With his current three-year contract with Mercedes ending this year, there has been much speculation as to the terms of his next deal. It is predicted to be in the region of £120 million, which will cover what Hamilton has stated will be his last three years in the sport.

Hamilton is not the only one raking it in. Recently he admitted that his dog Roscoe, a British bulldog, lives in LA and earns up to $700 (£527) per day as a model.

With titles, trophies and million-pound contracts under his belt, Hamilton likes to treat himself with some seriously pricey presents. Here's how he spends his money...

He might drive for Mercedes but off the track Hamilton is a Ferrari fan, purchasing a $1.5 million (£1.13m) limited edition LaFerrari in May 2015. He also has a Mercedes Benz SLS Black Series in red and black, as well as a Pagani Zonda 760RS and a Shelby GT500.

The motoring star is also a fan of riding on two wheels, to the extent that he has even teamed up with motorcycle brand MV Agusta to design several motorbikes. The first collaboration was a Dragster RR in 2015. Last year they worked together again to create a special edition F4 LH 44 bike, which features Hamilton's panther logo. The third collaboration – a Brutale 800 RR – is coming out this year.

When he’s not burning rubber, Hamilton likes to cruise the seas in style. He dropped a cool £5.65 million on a 90-foot yacht.

When he’s not in his race suit, Hamilton likes to dress in style. Spotted sitting front row at both New York and London Fashion Weeks, Hamilton loves to splash his cash on pieces from designers like Balmain.

Traveling around the globe for his various race events is a breeze for Hamilton. He just jumps aboard his $20 million (£15m) private jet, a Bombardier Challenger 605. But in 2017 Hamilton's jet appeared in the controversial Paradise Papers, where he came under investigation for tax avoidance by using an Isle of Man scheme to rent his jet from himself.

Traveling around the world with Hamilton are his beloved bulldogs, Coco and Roscoe, who are often spotted sleeping in their own beds on his private jet. British Bulldogs are an expensive breed with purebred pups selling for over £2,000.

Hamilton is a big fan of ink, sporting an array of large tattoos across his chest, neck and back. And all that art doesn’t come cheap, especially when they’re inked by celebrity tattoo artist Bang Bang, who reportedly costs $400 (£301) an hour with a minimum price of $1,000 (£753) for any tattoo.

When he manages to take a break from his training, Hamilton loves to indulge in a luxurious holiday. Most recently he’s been relaxing in Miami and partying in Barbados.

Aside from racing, Hamilton’s other passion is music. He’s been known to spend a few quid on musical instruments and studio time.

He likes to split his time between his three properties: a sprawling ranch in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains; a Los Angeles mansion; and his home base, a $15 million (£11.3m) Monaco apartment.

Hamilton doesn’t mind a bit of bling, often sporting a pair of diamond studs, thought to be worth around $50,000 (£37,660).

And he likes to splash out on some luxe accessories including customized Reebok and Timberlands, dozens of Air Jordans and expensive watches. He recently boasted that his IWC watch collection has soared to 50.