Richard Hammond has revealed that he has lost a significant portion of the fortune he earned from The Grand Tour over the past two years, alongside the breakdown of his marriage and the loss of his home and father.
Speaking on the High Performance podcast with Jake Humphrey, the 56-year-old former Top Gear presenter reflected on the upheaval and how he has been rebuilding his life on his own terms.
Losses and Newfound Happiness
Hammond said: "Don't forget, I've also, in the last two years, lost my father, my dog, my marriage, my house [laughter] and a chunk of the money I earned from The Grand Tour."
Despite these difficulties, he insisted he found happiness in a simple setting, explaining: "The happiest I've been in years was living in a rented cottage, my divorce cottage."
After leaving his former home, Hammond contacted a friend who owned a large estate and was offered a small farmhouse called Camp Farm, where he spent around a year. He described the property as having little furniture and being cold in winter, but he loved the experience.
Simple Living and Company Liquidation
When friends visited, they came to spend time with him rather than admire his house or car collection. He even cooked Sunday roasts for groups of about 14 people, moving furniture and bringing an outdoor table inside. He said: "And I lived there for, like, a year, and I bloody loved it."
His comments come as Hamster's Wheel Productions, the company he founded with his former wife Mindy in 2008, entered voluntary liquidation last month after 18 years. Documents filed at Companies House show the business has £2.3 million and is owed a further £1.45 million, with an additional £176,573 recoverable from the Government in corporation tax payments.
The company's closure followed the couple's separation after nearly three decades of marriage. The business was involved in television projects including Richard Hammond's Blast Lab, Wild Weather and Lab Rats.
Business Ventures and Personal Life
Hammond also spoke about money invested in Richard Hammond's Workshop, which follows his classic car restoration company. During the podcast, Jake noted that Hammond had invested £500,000 of his own money into the business. Hammond responded: "And since then, I've got divorced. So it's not altogether brilliant."
He acknowledged the venture involved genuine financial risk, explaining that the latest series would focus on bringing in people with specialist skills.
His fortunes have not been entirely bleak, however. Hammond confirmed earlier this year that he was in a new relationship following the end of his marriage. Writing in a column for The Telegraph, he said: "I tend to eat relatively early. Sometimes it's just me; sometimes I'm with my girlfriend; sometimes friends are still around. I'm perfectly happy with a quiet evening watching television."
