Lewis Hamilton celebrated his second-place finish at the Monaco Grand Prix last Sunday with girlfriend Kim Kardashian by his side, the couple kissing and hugging as the seven-time world champion called her presence “amazing”. But within days, a three-year-old interview resurfaced to shatter the glamour, igniting accusations of hypocrisy over the driver’s views on wealth.
In a 2023 episode of Jay Shetty’s ‘On Purpose’ podcast, Hamilton spoke about the “disparity between the wealthy and the poor”. He told Shetty: “You shouldn’t be able to have billions. I think there should be a limit to how much you can have because there’s enough to go around for everyone.”
“Lewis Hamilton faces hypocrisy backlash after anti-billionaire interview resurfaces while he dates $2bn Kim Kardashian”
The clip spread rapidly across social media, with users contrasting those words against Hamilton’s estimated $581m fortune – and the $2bn net worth of Kardashian, who is one of the world’s richest celebrities. “He’s dating a woman who lives in LA and is worth $2 billion. He is worth $500 million. He has zero awareness of how out of touch he sounds,” one person wrote.
Kardashian had already drawn criticism during her F1 WAG debut in Monaco. Sky Sports reporter Martin Brundle approached her before the race, but she snubbed him – a move that prompted one X user to write: “Kim Kardashian is not too good to talk to Martin Brundle. What a complete lack of class.”
Hamilton, who lives in Monaco, runs the charity Mission 44, which aims to help young people thrive in school. But that did little to silence the backlash. “Dude is worth $500m+ and lives in Monaco to avoid ever paying a penny in tax,” one user wrote. Another added: “Be the change you want to see and give all of the boundless excess of cash you and your girlfriend have away and we’ll go next.”
While the couple appeared keen to show off their relationship, the unfolding controversy has raised questions about whether the romance is as solid as it seems – and whether Hamilton’s words on inequality can survive the glaring contradictions of his own life.