Bob Champion is one of the most celebrated jockeys of the 1970s and 80s. He won over 500 times as a jockey, most notably on Aldaniti in the 1981 Grand National. But this is only a snippet of the Bob Champion story.
At talkSPORT BET, we love celebrating and exploring the lives of the best jockeys of all time, including the much-loved Frankie Dettori.
This article considers Bob Champion’s net worth and shows how he has raised millions of pounds for charity in the 40 years since his win against all odds at Aintree.
Who is Bob Champion?
Bob Champion CBE is a legendary horse racing jockey best known for winning the Grand National in 1981 on Aldaniti. He won over 500 races during his career in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, and after retiring as a jockey, he founded the Bob Champion Cancer Trust, raising millions of pounds for charity in the process.
How much did Bob Champion make as a jockey?
No data is available to show how much money Bob Champion made from his career as a jockey, so it’s difficult to surmise his net worth accurately. Still, we do have access to a couple of sources that show two key aspects of Champion’s career and life after horse racing:
- His biggest career win was when he rode Aldaniti in the 1981 Grand National.
- How much he has raised for charity as a fundraiser since retiring from horse racing.
When Bob Champion rode to victory in the 1981 Grand National, he won £5,500 for winning the biggest race of his life. He ran on Aldaniti, and their achievement was celebrated with the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Team Award.
Champion’s Grand National prize money is equivalent to £20,000 in today’s money, but it’s still not a great deal for winning the biggest race on the British horse racing circuit.
His win with Aldaniti is even more remarkable when you consider that, two years earlier, Champion was diagnosed with testicular cancer and given three to four months to live.1
Thankfully, his surgery was a success, and he would go on to secure the biggest monetary win of his career in the Grand National.
How many wins has Bob Champion had in his career?
Though best known for his win on Aldaniti in the 1981 Grand National, Champion also rode several other famous races and secured numerous impressive wins in the 1960s and 70s.
For instance, he won the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury and the Whitbread Trial Chase, two of his most significant triumphs.
His first-ever win in the saddle as a National Hunt jockey came in a novices’ chase at Plumpton in 1968 on Altercation. He would go on to win over 500 times throughout a significant career, but it was his Grand National win that will forever be remembered in the history books2.
Champion’s win was immortalised in the 1984 movie Champions, in which the jockey was played by John Hurt. Though we don’t know how much he earned, he will have added significantly to his career earnings, thanks to the success of his film.
Champion has also published two books. The first was published in 1981, Champion’s Story: A Great Human Triumph. He later published his autobiography in 2018, I’m Champion, Call Me Bob.
Like the movie, the two books will have contributed significantly to Champion’s earnings, but we don’t have any data to show sales figures.
The Bob Champion Cancer Trust
After winning the Grand National, Bob Champion opened up about the cancer diagnosis that nearly killed him. He used some of his winnings to start the Bob Champion Cancer Trust to help other patients in the UK affected by the disease.
By 2018, the Trust had raised over £14 million to support male cancer research, with a particular focus on testicular cancer awareness3.
Bob is not just the name of the Trust; he also participates in events to secure crucial funds for cancer research. In July 2021, following a 191-mile walk, he raised over £108,000.4 The event also marked 40 years since his incredible win in the Grand National.
Thanks to his generosity and pioneering work as a cancer survivor and researcher, Champion was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2021. A building at the University of East Anglia has also been named in his honour.
The bottom line: What is Bob Champion’s Net Worth?
We can’t say with certainty what Bob Champion’s net worth is. However, here are some facts relating to the great jockey’s earnings:
- The biggest monetary win of his career came in 1981 when he won £5,500 (£20,000 in today’s money) for winning The Grand National.
- He was a prolific winner throughout his career, winning 500 times as a jockey and securing lots of prize money as a result. Aside from the Grand National, perhaps his most significant win came in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury.
- Though we don’t know the extent of his earnings, Champion will have earned from the 1984 film about his life and the two books that he has published (one in 1981 and one in 2018).
- Surpassing his incredible win at the Grand National, Champion launched the Bob Champion Cancer Trust and has raised over £14 million for charity since retiring as a jockey.
So, Bob Champion’s net worth is unknown. However, this legendary jockey will be best remembered for raising over £14 million for charity, an exceptional legacy for a true champion.
