Lewis Hamilton trades car collection for card collecting obsession

Seven-time Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton has swapped his passion for collecting supercars for a new obsession: trading cards. The Ferrari driver revealed he is now an avid collector, purchasing cards weekly and even owning rare pieces featuring diamonds and material from his own race suit, with one card previously selling for $1 million.

Why it matters:

Hamilton's shift from tangible, high-value assets like cars to the speculative world of collectible cards highlights a broader cultural and financial trend. It underscores how modern athletes are engaging with and investing in new forms of memorabilia and personal branding, turning fleeting moments into lasting, valuable assets. For fans, it offers a more accessible, if still exclusive, way to own a piece of a legend's career.

The details:

• Hamilton confirmed the sale of his entire car collection last year, though he still dreams of owning a Ferrari F40.
• His current collection includes Pokémon, Star Wars, and athlete trading cards, reigniting a hobby from his childhood of swapping football cards at school.
• He personally features on ultra-exclusive cards, such as a Topps "Dynasty Diamond Relics" card containing a real diamond and another that encases a piece of material from his Ferrari race suit.
• The market value is staggering; a Hamilton card sold for $1 million in 2024, a fact he called "pretty crazy," acknowledging the life-changing impact such a sale could have for a fan.
• He is "really hooked" on the hobby and the growing business around it, citing upcoming launches and the opening of dedicated stores as reasons he believes values will continue to rise.

What's next:

Hamilton shows no signs of slowing his collecting pace, stating he buys cards every week. As the trading card market continues to expand with new leagues and products, the value of rare athlete cards—especially for icons like Hamilton—is likely to appreciate further, blending fandom, investment, and personal nostalgia into a potent collectible category.