I won 2 watches on game show, flogged them and bought a go kart – now I run motorsport EMPIRE & I’m worth £100million
A MOTORSPORTS boss has amassed over £100million during his lengthy career – but it all started with flogging two watches he won on a game show.
McLaren Team Principal Zak Brown became obsessed with the high-octane sport when he was just a kid growing up in Los Angeles.
The former motor racer gave up his childhood dream of being a F1 driver in 2000, after seeing the success of his motorsports marketing agency, Just Marketing, inc – which he set up in 1995.
He took the reins at McLaren in 2018 – and has just announced that he will stay on the motor powerhouse’s throne until 2030.
But his love for racing all started in 1984, when he was just 13.
While living in the US, he appeared on game show Wheel of Fortune and won a sparkling set of his and her watches.
He then raced to a pawn shop and sold them off, pocketing £2,420 and bought his first go-kart.
With the money, he bought his first go-kart and began racing, and he proved to be pretty good on the track, winning 22 races in 5 seasons from 1986 to 1990.
He soon levelled up moving to Europe and running Formula Ford, Formula Opel-Lotus, Toyota Atlantics, and British Formula Three.
After putting a stop to his racing career in 2000, the tycoon has become a figurehead in the world of motorsports, and now commands a net worth of more than £100million.
Speaking to Thisismoney, he said: “I had a few successes, some big successes, but not nearly enough.
“It was no longer fun and everyone was telling me to stop racing and focus on my business, which is not what you want to hear.”
Zak Brown's career timeline
Zak Brown's passion for motorsports started when he was a young teen living in Los Angeles - he had a short professional racing career but soon jumped into business and has become one of the most prominent figures in the industry since.
Between 1986 – 1990, Zak won 22 International Kart Federation races, and even snapped up three karting championships. He soon levelled up moving to Europe and running Formula Ford, Formula Opel-Lotus, Toyota Atlantics, and British Formula Three.
Then in 1995, Zak started sports marketing business Just Marketing International, which became a powerhouse in the sport, responsible for giant brand deals.
By the year 2000 he had ended his racing career and instead focussed solely on his business exploits, his company was responsible for sponsorship deals in NASCAR, Formula One, MotoGP, IndyCar, WRC and Formula E.
In 2009 he became the chairman of United Autosport, and then In 2015 he became the Group Chief Executive Officer of Chime Sports Marketing.
Fast forward to 2016 and the astute businessman was named as an executive director for McLaren Racing.
Then in 2018 he was promoted to the CEO of the firm, a role he has just signed on to continue chairing until 2030.
MCLAREN: THE ZAK BROWN YEARS
According to planetf1, McLaren has become a much more sustainable firm since Brown took over, announcing a profit of £27.7million in 2023.
He has also regenerated the firm’s racing team and its supporting staff.
Brown headhunted Ferrari’s David Sanchez and nicked Rob Marshall, formerly of Red Bull.
As well as that, the firm opened a new windtunnel at their woking-based factory, which meant they could stop renting Toyota’s facility in Cologne.
In 2024, Brown was at the forefront of securing the services of future star Lando Norris – signing him up to a new multi-year deal.
As well as Lando, racing prospect Oscar Piastri has also been scooped on a new deal.
SELF-MADE MILLIONAIRES
A millionaire in his 20s revealed that he learned how to make his fortune by watching YouTube videos.
Kasra Dash, 26, struggled with school and attended university – but attributes his vast knowledge to years of learning himself online.
Elsewhere, this millionaire revealed how he preferred being poor and only uses his fortune to fund WiFi, Diet Coke and the gym.
Cryptocurrency whiz Ben Burns didn’t bat an eyelid when he made his first million aged just 25, and says he is “indifferent” to his fortune.
Finally, self made millionaire Amy hit out at the haters who thought her business idea was “stupid”.
She claims she became a millionaire at the age of 27 – and now she shares tips and tricks on TikTok for those who want to follow in her footsteps.