Lewis Hamilton, the 26-year-old Formula One star and boyfriend of Pussycat Dolls singer Nicole Scherzinger, is the highest paid sports-star in Britain, according to Espn Magazine. Lewis Hamilston tops the newly compiled list, reportedly earning $18m (11.2m pounds) last year.
Despite his high earnings, the figure still leaves Hamilton trailing the two-best paid representatives on the list, Cameron Diaz's boyfriend Alex Rodriguez and the Filipino boxing sensation Manny Pacquiao, who earn almost double his yearly income. The magazine does state that the annual salary figure they obtained "represents only base salary from the most recently completed season or calendar year from each sport, and excludes any other source of compensation, unless otherwise noted", therefore Hamilton's lucrative sponsorship deals have not been taken into account. Currently racing for the MCLaren team, Hamilton was the 2008 Formula One World Champion.
Lewis Hamilton's girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger is rumoured to be appearing on the judging panel for Simon Cowell's forthcoming 'U.S. X Factor'. Cheryl Cole is already assumed to be appearing on the program, with Katy Perry, Mariah Carey and Paula Adbul reportedly in negotiations. The show is set to premiere in September 2011.