2 weeks Ago By [email protected] (Patrick Austen-Hardy)
Eddie Irvine skimmed across the tarmac in his F1 prime and ruled the skies in his spare time. As one of the top drivers of his time, who amassed a reported net worth north of £160 million, the Newtownards native knew how to live the highlife. Irvine was already a self-made millionaire before he even entered the frame in F1.
He would only accelerate his wealth when he drove for Jordan and Ferrari between 1993 and 2002. His real estate instincts were as sharp as his reaction time behind the wheel, accumulating around 40 properties across the world. Irvine knew he was skilled in everything he did and was not afraid to parade the fruits of his labour around.
As a result, he was often a contentious figure in the paddock. Not that this would have concerned him while he was sitting in his monstrous aircraft. Out of all of his purchases, perhaps his most ostentatious is the Dassault Falcon 50 private jet.
The French super-midsize, long range aircraft are believed to be capable of flying all the way across the Atlantic. It's currently unclear as to whether he still owns the jet, which normally sells for around $2 million (£1.55m).
However, if he looked after his jet in the same way he presided over his own helicopter, then it is more than possible that Irvine is not aware if he still has it himself. In an interview with the Mirror , Irvine laughed that he lost his helicopter on two occasions before eventually deciding to sell it. 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." Irvine's motorsport career came to an end in 2002, when he decided to walk away from racing completely.
Four years later, he made it onto the Sunday Times Rich List after amassing a hulking net worth in the range of £160m. Nowadays, it's claimed his net worth has almost halved, dropping to around £92m, although he's largely removed himself from the public eye. Nevertheless, Irvine will hardly be heading to the poor house any time soon with that kind of wealth.
While he may not own his helicopter anymore, the Irish Independent reported in 2012 that he passed his Instrument Flight Rules pilot's test in Miami, Florida, making him a qualified helicopter pilot. At the time, he reportedly said: "It wasn't pretty, but I got it done!" Irvine was never able to win a world championship, but he did manage to record four career wins and 26 podium finishes. He may not have had the same success as the likes of Michael Schumacher, but he did manage to enjoy the high life.
Speaking about his playboy lifestyle, he famously said: "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.".
