James May's Net Worth: How the Top Gear Star Built His Fortune.

What is James May's Net Worth?

James May is a well-known British journalist and TV host with a net worth of around $40 million. He gained fame as a presenter on the hit show "Top Gear," where he teamed up with Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond, first appearing in 1999 and then from 2003 to 2015. Beyond "Top Gear," he has hosted various other shows, including "James May's Top Toys" (2005), "Oz and James's Big Wine Adventure" (2006–2007), "James May's Big Ideas" (2008), and "James May's Toy Stories" (2009–2014). He also contributed a daily column to the motoring section of "The Daily Telegraph" and has authored over 15 books, such as "May on Motors: On the Road with James May" (2006), "James May's Car Fever" (2009), "James May's Man Lab: The Book of Usefulness" (2011), and "James May: Oh Cook!" (2020).

In 2016, he started hosting the Amazon series "The Grand Tour" and took on a director role at the production company W. Chump & Sons. James was nominated for a Royal Television Society Award for Best Presenter for "Top Gear" in 2007 and snagged an International Motor Film Award for Best Journalism Film for "Motown Funk" in 2019.

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Early Life

James May, whose full name is James Daniel May, was born on January 16, 1963, in Bristol, England. He was raised by his mother Kathleen and father James, who worked as a manager at an aluminium factory, alongside his brother and two sisters. May attended Caerleon Endowed Junior School in Newport and Oakwood Comprehensive School in Rotherham, where he also sang in the choir at Whiston Parish Church.

He later went to Pendle College at Lancaster University to study music, picking up the piano and flute along the way. After finishing his studies, he landed a job as a records officer at a hospital in Chelsea. In 2010, he received an honorary doctorate from Lancaster University.

Writing Career

James May kicked off his career as a sub-editor for "The Engineer" and "Autocar" magazine back in the early '80s. However, he got the boot from "Autocar" in 1992 after sneaking a cheeky message into the "Road Test Yearbook" supplement that read, "So you think it's really good, yeah? You should try making the bloody thing up; it's a real pain in the arse." Besides that, he’s contributed to a bunch of other magazines like "Top Gear" and "Car Magazine." In 2006, he released a collection of his writings called "May on Motors."

That same year, he teamed up with Oz Clarke to co-write "Oz and James's Big Wine Adventure," and they followed it up with "Oz and James Drink to Britain" in 2009. James has also penned several books inspired by his TV shows, including "James May's 20th Century" in 2007 and "James May's Toy Stories" in 2009.

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Television Career

In 1998, May kicked off his TV career with the documentary "Driven," and he was a co-host on the original "Top Gear" when it launched in 1999. He came back for the revamped "Top Gear" in its second season and ended up appearing in over 170 episodes before leaving in 2015. Despite his cautious driving style earning him the nickname "Captain Slow," James hit impressive speeds of 253 mph and 259.11 on the show.

Between 2006 and 2007, he hosted the 11-episode series "James May's Road Trip," and in 2007, he also presented the six-part "James May's 20th Century" and the documentary "Inside Killer Sharks." In 2008, he brought us "James May's Big Ideas," followed by "James May on the Moon" and "James May at the Edge of Space" in 2009. From 2011 to 2012, he hosted "James May's Things You Need to Know," and in 2013, he narrated "To Space & Back." He also led the six-part series "James May's Toy Stories" from 2009 to 2014, where he famously built a full-sized house out of LEGO. Alongside wine expert Oz Clarke, he co-hosted "Oz and James's Big Wine Adventure" from 2006 to 2007, and they teamed up again for "Oz and James Drink to Britain" in 2009.

May presented "James May's Cars of the People" from 2014 to 2016 and "James May: The Reassembler" from 2016 to 2017. In 2020, he took on the cooking show "James May: Oh Cook!" and the travel series "James May: Our Man in Japan."

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Personal Life

James has been with art critic Sarah Frater since 2000, and they share a home in Hammersmith, West London. In 2020, they took a week-long trip to a health clinic in Germany, where May underwent a liver detox. He later recounted, "After just two days, I was hit with a massive headache and could barely see. I felt weak and shaky from hunger, so I told them, 'This is crazy. I'm on vacation, and you've made me sick. I need some food!'" Back in 2014, James signed a letter to "The Guardian" supporting Scotland's decision to vote against independence from the U.K.

In 2020, May became a co-owner of The Royal Oak pub in Swallowcliffe, Wiltshire, a place that dates back to the early 1700s. He got his light aircraft pilot's license in 2006 after training at White Waltham Airfield and has owned several planes, including a Cessna A185E Skywagon, a Luscombe 8A 'Silvaire,' and an American Champion 8KCAB Super Decathlon.

May is also a luxury car enthusiast, having owned a range of high-end vehicles like a Bentley T2, a 2005 Saab 9-5 Aero, a Rolls-Royce Phantom, a Rover P6, a Triumph 2000, an Alfa Romeo 164, a 1984 Porsche 911, a 2014 Ferrari 458 Speciale, a Porsche 911 Carrera S Facelift, a Ferrari F30, and a Fiat Panda.

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Real Estate

In 2015, May dropped £770,000 on a 5-bedroom house in Ansty. Back in 2000, he snagged a place in Hammersmith for £325,000, and then in 2013, he picked up a nearby rundown property for £310,000. In 2019, James knocked down both houses and kicked off building a £3.5 million "superhome."

James May's career has been nothing short of remarkable. From his early days as a sub-editor to becoming a beloved TV presenter on "Top Gear" and beyond, his diverse talents have made him a prominent figure in entertainment. His unique blend of humor, knowledge, and passion for cars and engineering has earned him a dedicated fan base worldwide.

With numerous successful shows, books, and projects under his belt, James continues to inspire and entertain. His net worth of $40 million reflects his hard work and the lasting impact he's had on both the automotive and television industries.

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