Christian Horner received a payout of almost £67 million after his 20-year reign as Red Bull team principal was abruptly ended. Horner, who is married to Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, was dismissed in July 2025 despite having a contract running until 2030.
He has remained outside Formula One since then but is eager to break back into the sport and has recently been linked with Ferrari, saying it is the only team he would join without an ownership stake. Having built a considerable fortune during his career, Horner's severance payment leaves him in an extremely strong position as he ponders his next move.
Huge Red Bull payout
Red Bull Technology Limited's 2025 accounts, filed with Companies House, record £66,988,000 in "compensation for loss of office" following Horner's departure. The accounts also list £9.029 million in company contributions to money purchase pension schemes. That is a separate figure from the compensation payment and should not be treated as additional personal cash received by Horner.
Horner had led Red Bull since the team's arrival in Formula One in 2005. During his tenure, the outfit won eight Drivers' Championships and six Constructors' Championships, with Max Verstappen taking four consecutive drivers' titles between 2021 and 2024. He was replaced by Laurent Mekies, who moved across from Racing Bulls. The accounts record Horner's formal resignation as CEO on August 12, 2025.
Reflecting on his departure, Horner said: "It's been an honour to be part of this incredible era of motorsport. I leave with immense pride in what we've achieved."
Net worth and life with Geri Halliwell
Horner's personal fortune has been estimated at around £39 million. However, that reported figure should not be taken as a confirmed valuation following his Red Bull settlement, nor as an estimate of his combined wealth with wife Geri.
Geri has also built a substantial fortune through her career with the Spice Girls, solo music and other ventures, with widely circulated estimates putting her net worth at around £30 million. Taken alongside Horner's reported £39 million, those figures suggest a combined wealth of roughly £69 million. However, both are unofficial estimates, and that total is not a verified valuation of the couple's finances following his Red Bull payout.
Simply adding the payout to an earlier net worth estimate would not establish his current fortune, with tax, the terms of the settlement and his other assets and liabilities all relevant. Towards the end of his Red Bull career, Horner was reportedly earning around £8 million a year. He was said to be F1's second-highest-paid team principal, behind Toto Wolff, who owns a third of the Mercedes team. His wealth also extends beyond his salary, with investments outside motorsport and reported ownership of two country estates in southern England.
Ferrari dream
It seems almost certain that Horner will return to F1. The questions are when, how and with whom. Ferrari is one team he has identified as a potential exception to his desire for an ownership stake in any future venture.
Speaking to The Times, he said: "At this stage in my life, there's only one team for which I would accept non-participation in ownership. Would I consider Ferrari? I mean, Ferrari is the biggest brand in Formula 1. It's the dream. And, arguably, it's the sleeping giant of Formula 1."
Ferrari have distanced themselves from the speculation and expressed support for team principal Fred Vasseur, saying: "We have full confidence in Fred Vasseur and in his team, and we continue to do so." For now, Horner's dream move remains just that, with no return confirmed.
