Hamilton’s Instagram account gives us an insight into the unburdened high-life of the F1 driver
FORMULA One champ Lewis Hamilton is pictured next to his £16.5million private jet – the same one he avoided paying £3.3million VAT on.
The 32-year-old took advantage of tax laws – perfectly legally – by registering the plane on the Isle of Man, the leaked Paradise Papers showed yesterday.
22Papers plane . . . Lewis posing by his jet with family and friends
It means humble Lewis, worth around £182million, has some extra cash to spend on luxury cars, holidays and partying with his A-list pals.
And, boy, does he like to shout about it.
Here, Emily Fairbairn takes a gossip magazine-style look into the gilded world of his tax-free dream.
The Luxury Flights
Lewis is a humble guy who has not forgotten his roots – that’s why he bought his private jet in an understated red, rather than gold.
22Lewis’ thoroughbred bulldog Roscoe also lives the high life
22Winging it onboard his £1.9m jetCredit: private
When you’re a big-hearted millionaire, you want to be able to transport your best mates – and dogs – in style.
Or break out the denim and desert boots to show off your chopper.
22Dressing down for some chopper actionF1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton flies with pals to London in his private jetThe clothes
22Wearing Hilfiger threads with the man himselfCredit: Rex Features
Shady character? Only when the modern-day dandy is wearing some.
Lewis oozes cool as he earns his stripes at September’s Tommy Hilfiger show at London Fashion Week.
22Lew and who’s Armani? at the designer’s show in MilanCredit: Rex Features
The dapper driver takes his enviable wardrobe to Emporio Armani’s Milan show, too, sporting retro specs.
When you’re minted, what’s the point in being understated, eh Lew?
The motors
22Not coming jeep . . . the Mercedes G63 AMG
Driving’s not just a job to Lewis, it’s a lifestyle.
He goes above and beyond to test the most luxurious motors in his own time.
22Life’s a beach . . . watching the sunset from his dune buggy
22The Pagani Zonda — which Lewis crashedCredit: Xposure
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2On his sturdy MV Agusta Dragster bikeThe friend
s
22Keeping up with Kris and Kendall Jenner
All the A-listers want to be mater with Stevenage icon Lewis and part of his #squad.
22Cruising with Cats . . . with former flame Nicole Scherzinger and Tom Cruise
22Playing pool with Justin Bieber
22Happy days . . . hanging with Pharrell
22On the yacht with Rhi-RhiCredit: Splash NewsThe holidays
22Getting the genuine St Tropez tan
Driving cars in circles for a living is exhausting work, so no wonder Lewis makes plenty of time for R&R, here on a luxury yacht with a “dear friend”.
It’s not all plain sailing for him on holiday, though – he likes to show he’s one of the people by stand-up paddleboarding with his pedigree bulldog Roscoe in Barbados.
Sometimes, some good old-fashioned sightseeing is in order, such as at Malaysia’s Petronas Towers.
Come on, even superstars deserve a day off.
22A stand-up fella with jet-setting dog Roscoe
22Sightseeing in MalaysiaThe rapper’s delight
22In Abu Dhabi with Kevin Hart
So much more than Britain’s greatest ever F1 driver, Lewis is an artist at heart, too, partying here with actor and comedian Kevin Hart in Abu Dhabi.
He’s no R Kelly but Lewis believes he can fly – rival team Red Bull could also lend a hand with some wings.
He loves rap and such is his commitment to “the music” that Lewis has invested in several gold chains.
Don’t be fooled by the fact that he hasn’t actually released any songs, he once wrote a poem about Princess Diana, which could very easily have been set to some urban beats.
22He can touch the sky with his golden wings
22Goldie lookin’ Lewis has dreams of being a rap star
22Does Lewis have what it takes to go multi-platinum?
