Playboy F1 legend Eddie Irvine was known for his high-speed antics on the track and his luxurious lifestyle off it. Irvine, who had a reported net worth of over £160 million, was already a self-made millionaire before he even stepped foot in an F1 car.
His wealth only grew when he raced for Jordan and Ferrari between 1993 and 2002. Off the track, Irvine’s property portfolio was as impressive as his driving skills, with around 40 properties scattered across the globe.
Never one to shy away from flaunting his success, Irvine was often seen as a controversial figure in the paddock. But that didn’t bother him as he sat in his massive aircraft.
Perhaps the most extravagant of his purchases is the Dassault Falcon 50 private jet. This French super-midsize, long-range aircraft is believed to be capable of flying non-stop across the Atlantic.
It’s currently unknown whether he still owns the jet, which usually sells for around £1.55m. However, if he maintained his jet in the same way he looked after his own helicopter, it’s entirely possible that even Irvine himself isn’t sure if he still has it.
In a past interview with the Mirror, Irvine recounted how he lost his helicopter twice. He said: “I parked it and then couldn’t remember where.
“Once, I parked it in a friend’s garden and then forgot where she lived. I just drove around until I spotted the rotor blades, which is easier than finding a car in an NCP car park.”
The ex-F1 star called time on his motorsport career back in 2002, opting to step away from the fast lane for good. A few years later, in 2006, Irvine raced onto the Sunday Times Rich List, having pocketed an eye-watering £160m.
Flash forward to today, and there are suggestions that his fortune has dwindled to approximately £92m, even though Irvine has slid away from the limelight. Nevertheless, Irvine isn’t going to be strapped for cash anytime soon, despite his reduced net worth.
He doesn’t cruise the skies in his own chopper these days, but according to a 2012 report by the Irish Independent, he aced his Instrument Flight Rules test in Miami, earning him the badge of a qualified helicopter pilot. He said at the time: “It wasn’t pretty, but I got it done!”
Although he didn’t clinch a world championship title, Irvine did rack up four wins and landed on the podium 26 times throughout his career.
While he may not have reached the legendary status of racing giants like Michael Schumacher, Irvine still got to live life in the fast and luxurious lane.
He once famously quipped about his high-flying lifestyle: “I love the parties, the boat, the plane, getting into nightclubs for free, getting tables at restaurants without having to queue, driving for Ferrari and getting the best-looking girls.”
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