Inside Richard Hammond’s desperate attempts to save his doomed marriage and what’s next for his £37m fortune

PETROLHEAD Richard ­Hammond fought to save his marriage for almost 18 months before finally accepting it was over, The Sun can reveal.

Despite his best efforts, the ­former Top Gear presenter was forced to move into a converted barn at the family home, Bollitree Castle in Herefordshire, around August 2023 after wife Mindy said she'd “had enough”.

And pals claim he is now living in rented digs a short commute away — close to his car ­restoration business, The Smallest Cog.

“He tried everything,” one told The Sun. “He hoped they could live ­separately at the same address under different roofs, but Mindy pushed for a full divorce.

“He even whisked her away to the South of France to patch things up, but it just didn’t work.”

So now they’re heading for a megabucks divorce — set to be one of the biggest celebrity payouts the UK has ever seen.

Yesterday we revealed how Mindy “just wanted him gone” as the couple released a statement following the break-up of their 23-year marriage.

Shovelling grit

“A little update from us,” Richard wrote on X/Twitter. “This Christmas, we were together as a family and this year we will still be a family, but just ­structured a bit differently.

“Our marriage is coming to an end, but we’ve had an amazing 28 years together and two incredible daughters.

"We will always be in each other’s lives and are proud of the family we created.”

The couple’s next steps will involve dividing Richard’s £37million fortune.

Sources close to the couple say Mindy is desperate to keep their £7million castle, offering him their Buttermere holiday retreat in the Lake District and their ­London flat in return.

But it won’t only be property they have to decide on.

Over the years, 55-year-old ­Hammond — nicknamed “The Hamster” by Top Gear pals — has splashed out on a fleet of luxury cars, exotic holidays and stunning properties, including the Herefordshire castle, after canny investments and huge TV paydays saw his fortune rocket.

But his career began far from the glitz and glamour of broadcasting.

At 16, he worked on a chicken farm, just so he could buy his first motorbike.

And his first proper job involved shovelling grit into a water filtration plant before he moved into local radio presenting.

Knowing he ultimately wanted to be on Top Gear, he took a PR job at Renault.

His dream came true in 2002 when he was revealed as the latest addition to the revamped series.

Then, in 2006, a crash while filming for the show almost killed him, leaving him in a coma.

The following year, Richard signed a six-figure book deal with Orion to write about the nightmare.

As well as a 25-year TV career, he is the author of several books, including kids’ science titles.

His earnings have been further boosted by YouTube Channel DriveTribe - which boasts 2.75million subscribers and earns up to £17,500 a month - and voiceovers for video games, including Forza Motorsport5.

Alongside Jeremy Clarkson and James May, Richard became part of a Top Gear team that would ultimately redefine motoring television.

Yesterday, his former co-presenter and Sun columnist Jeremy wrote a heartfelt message of support to the couple on social media.

It said: “Love to you all - 28 years of inspiration. Hope the next chapter of your lives is everything you want it to be.”

Speaking about his Top Gear big break, Hammond has said: “It’s been incredible, it is an amazing thing to get to do.

"I wanted to make car TV shows. I started off in radio, local radio, as a presenter.

"I was starving to death and realised I just couldn’t earn a living, but I wanted to get to do car shows.”

However it was his move to The Grand Tour that truly shifted the gears on his earnings.

After leaving the BBC in 2015, he reportedly saw his annual pay soar from £500,000 to a ­whopping £7.2million.

The Amazon Prime series became a hit, solidifying his position as one of the highest-paid presenters in the country.

He has also made loads of money for fronting shows such as Brainiac: Science Abuse from 2003 to 2006; Total Wipeout from 2009 to 2012; and Planet Earth Live in 2012.

However, one of his best-known ventures was the purchase of Bollitree Castle.

The Grade II listed property, located in Ross-on-Wye in Herefordshire, was bought with Mindy in 2008.

Worth £2.5million at the time, the stunning mock castle has six bedrooms, a swimming pool and 20 acres of picturesque land.

Plus there’s the “clubhouse”, where Richard keeps all his motorbikes and other motoring paraphernalia. The luxury pad also has a unique ­history.

Built in the 18th Century, it was said to have been transformed into a castle by a man desperate to win the heart of a ­Spanish woman.

Explaining the history, Richard said: “She said she’d only live in England if it was in a castle.

Golden rule

So he took the castle down that was in the field next door and nailed it to his barn, turning it into a castle.”

Despite its grandeur and incredible amenities, Bollitree has not been without its challenges.

Richard has described how “bits keep falling off it”. And in 2023, his plans to redevelop parts of the property were shelved by Herefordshire Council following objections from locals.

The castle also boasts converted barns, including the one that Richard reportedly lived in.

But the outbuilding is certainly not to be scoffed at, as it comes kitted out with lots of luxuries.

Giving fans a tour of it last year, Richard hinted at tensions with Mindy as he mentioned that he had broken her one golden rule.

And during the look around, he insisted: “This is not a man cave, I hate that phrase.

"If I call it anything, I call it a clubhouse for family, friends and business use.”

Richard also revealed his wife would never go into the barn as she believes it is haunted.

The couple’s eldest daughter ­Isabella, 24, still lives on the sprawling estate, working with her father, while ­younger daughter Willow, 22, stays in Gloucestershire.

Also in Richard and Mindy’s property portfolio is their flat in ­London, a holiday pad in Saint Tropez and their Lake District bolthole.

Richard’s love for motoring goes beyond the TV screen to his ­personal garage, which houses an enviable collection of vintage and luxury cars.

Among his prized possessions are a Ford Mustang, a Porsche and a Lotus Esprit Sport, a lightweight vehicle first introduced in 1993 and known for its powerful performance.

He also owns a 1931 ­Lagonda, which can cost up to £190,000. But that’s not all — Richard reportedly has a Bentley and two classic Jaguars.

In total, his car collection is ­estimated to be worth some £2million, according to VIPFortunes.

Plus he has a £150,000 helicopter he bought in 2009 to ­commute to and from his Hereford base.

Richard has also been the director of five businesses — with current firm, Chimp Productions, run jointly with Mindy.

It lists the nature of its business as television production activities.

According to Companies House, it recorded cash at the bank and in hand as £1.45million in 2024. The previous year, this was £1.5millon.

The star previously had a ­company called W. Chump and Sons, set up with pals May and Clarkson, which is now dissolved.

According to sources, Hammond's business dealings alone have netted him an incredible £35million.

With a dream career and the vast wealth it has brought him, some might say Richard has it all.

But as he closes the door on his decades-long marriage, it seems that money has not bought him happiness . . .