Frankie Dettori is one of the most recognisable names in horse racing, who for more than three decades has been at the forefront of the sport. The mercurial Italian is celebrated not only for his skill in the saddle but also for his showmanship and charisma.
Having enjoyed a long and glittering career, many people have speculated how much Frankie Dettori is worth given the vast amount of win and place prize money he has earned from his exploits in the saddle, not mention his off-course activities as a media darling and face of the horse racing industry.
The answer, however, to the question of how much Frankie Dettori is worth very much depends on when the question is asked. At the height of his race-riding career, estimates have put his net worth somewhere in the region of £15–£18 million. However, in March 2025, Dettori filed for bankruptcy following a long-running tax dispute. While this changed the picture, it does not erase his career successes, his earning power, nor his status as one of racing’s most successful jockeys ever.
Dettori’s Career Earnings and Wealth
Throughout his racing career, Dettori’s mounts across the globe have amassed over £150 million in prize money for owners throughout his career. While jockeys only receive a fraction of those winnings, Dettori has consistently been one of the highest-paid riders in the world. In addition to the prize money won from winning races he has also benefited from other avenues such as his long retainer and association with Godolphin as well as sponsorships and endorsements, and media appearances – all of which have contributed to his considerable personal fortune before his financial difficulties.
‘The Magnificent Seven’
No discussion of Dettori’s wealth or reputation would be complete without reference to his “Magnificent Seven” at Ascot in 1996. On that fateful September afternoon at the famous Berkshire track, Dettori won all seven races on the card at cumulative odds of 25,051/1, a feat that stunned the racing world and cost bookmakers millions.
The achievement made Dettori a household name and cemented his commercial appeal. It elevated him from being more than an elite jockey; the success transformed Dettori into a global sporting personality, leading to a number of lucrative sponsorships and television opportunities.
Frankie Dettori’s Magnificent Seven remains one of the most famous moments in horse racing history, if not the greater world of sport.
Dettori’s Major Career Successes
Dettori’s career in the saddle has seen him ride more than 500 Group race winners worldwide, including multiple ‘Classics’ and prestigious international events. Dettori has ridden winners in every UK Classic race, winning both the 1000 Guineas and 2000 Guineas four times each.
Dettori has also won the Epsom Derby twice and the Epsom Oaks seven times, the most recent in 2023 when steering John and Thady Gosden’s Soul Sister to victory, winning at odds of 11/4.
He has also won six St Legers, seven King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes and six Prix de l’Arc de Triomphes on a glittering CV of big race victories which also includes multiple victories at the Breeders’ Cup. In all, Dettori has ridden in excess of 3,300 winners worldwide and with the exception of the Melbourne Cup there’s hardly a big race in the world that Dettori hasn’t won.
Dettori’s Media Career
When not riding winners, Frankie Dettori has enjoyed a side career as a media personality, appearing as a team captain in the popular and long-running celebrity quiz show ‘A Question Of Sport’. He has also appeared on the likes of ‘They Think It’s All Over’ and Dettori has even dabbled in reality TV where he appeared on ‘Celebrity Big Brother’ in 2013 and later ‘I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here’ in 2023 although he was the first to be eliminated.
Bankruptcy and Financial Difficulties
Despite his vast career success both in the saddle and on the silver screen, Dettori unfortunately declared bankruptcy in March 2025. The case was linked to a tax avoidance scheme dating back to 2019 that was later declared unlawful. Dettori publicly admitted he was embarrassed by the situation and expressed regret over his involvement.
Retirement from the saddle and future prospects
Dettori announced on 17 December 2022 he would be retiring at the end of the following season with the 2023 Breeders’ Cup likely to be his swansong in the saddle. In what was dubbed his ‘Farewell Tour’ Dettori started off in America before returning to the UK via Dubai and in his final season won both the 2000 Guineas and the Epsom Oaks.
Later in the year however, Dettori had a change of heart and announced that instead of retiring he would continue his career in the saddle in the United States, moving to California and continuing to ride in the US and on the international stage. On his final day of racing in the UK, Dettori won the Long Distance Cup at Ascot on Champions Day before doubling up on the day with victory in the Champion Stakes – a fitting end to a glittering UK racing career.
Dettori continues to ride at the top level, both in the USA and internationally with a number of high-profile bookings and he remains a big draw for sponsors and racing fans alike. Talk of a possible return to Royal Ascot in the future illustrates both his enduring appeal and the likelihood that he will continue to earn well despite recent setbacks.
With considerable equity also in his name, Dettori is also well-placed for a career after racing once he finally does hang up his boots. Media work, ambassadorial roles, and endorsements are all potential avenues for income once he finally retires from the saddle