John Force Net Worth

What is John Force's Net Worth?

John Force is an American drag racer, Funny Car driver, and car owner with a net worth of $25 million. John Force is a legendary figure in drag racing, renowned for his dominance in the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Funny Car division. Over a career spanning more than four decades, he has secured a record 16 NHRA Funny Car championships and amassed 157 national event victories, making him the most successful driver in the sport's history. His remarkable achievements include a streak of 10 consecutive championships from 1993 to 2002.

Force's journey to the top was marked by perseverance. After a challenging start, he clinched his first NHRA event win in 1987 and his first championship in 1990. Beyond his driving prowess, Force is the founder and CEO of John Force Racing (JFR), a team that has won 23 championships across Funny Car and Top Fuel categories.

His influence extends to his family, with daughters Ashley, Brittany, and Courtney Force all competing in NHRA events. Brittany has notably won two Top Fuel championships, further cementing the Force family's legacy in the sport. His oldest daughter, Adria, is the CFO of John Force Racing. John and his family were featured in the A&E reality TV show Driving Force in 2006-2007. In 2024, at age 75, Force suffered a severe crash during the Virginia Nationals, resulting in a traumatic brain injury.

Early Life

Force was born to parents Harold and Betty Ruth Force on May 4, 1949, in Bell Gardens, California. He had a challenging childhood as he moved between migrant farms and trailer parks and then contracted polio, which he ultimately survived. He was one of six children and played football in high school before attending Cerritos College. His interest in racing began at an early age, and by age 21, he had already started racing.

Career

In 1971, Force drove his first funny car, the Jack Chrisman-built Night Stalker Mustang. He also raced a variety of other cars throughout the beginning of his career, including a Corvette, a Monza, and an Oldsmobile Cutlass. He stuck with the Cutlass from the 1980s until the end of the 1993 season. He later switched to Ford for an extended period but ultimately returned to Chevrolet.

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Force was an extremely successful driver between 1987 and 1996, winning sixty-seven of the total 203 NHRA events. His success continued into the mid and late 1990s, as he dominated the field and won ten NHRA championship events from 1993 to 2002, including six straight from 1997 to 2002.

During this time, he also started building a racing team. The younger brother, Tony Pedregon, of his arch-rival Cruz Pedregon, drove his second car, and fellow racer and friend, Gary Densham, drove a third car. In 2003, Force didn't win a title for the first time since 1992. However, the timing worked out as teammate Pedregon won his first world title. Force returned to the top in 2004, winning a thirteenth world title.

In 2005, Force won five events but finished third overall in the championship standings. The following year, in 2006, he won his 14^th NHRA World Funny Car Championship. The following year started poorly as he had a crash in Ennis, Texas, at the beginning of the year. However, he was able to recover and came back to win the O'Reilly NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals. In September of 2007, Force was injured in a crash, and Phil Burkart Jr. had to replace him for the rest of the 2007 season. Force's domination declined in the late 2000s, as he finished seventh overall in 2008 and ninth in 2009. However, his daughter, Ashley, finished second overall.

(Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

In 2010, Force celebrated 25 years with the same sponsor and 34 years in the NHRA. He started the season on a positive note, winning the season opener at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. While he continued racing throughout the 2010s, his wins became more infrequent, although he is still considered an icon in the sport and a tough competitor. Racing has also become a family affair, as all three of his daughters have been involved and won races. In 2019, Force won his 150^th race at the Magic Dry Organic Absorbent NHRA Northwest Nationals. The year was very positive for him, as he then won the U.S. Nationals.

Following the pandemic-related hiatus in 2020, Force returned to competition in 2021 and remained a formidable presence into his mid-70s. He notched his 155th career victory in 2021 and continued competing in selected events through 2023. Force was praised for his longevity and competitiveness well into his 70s, maintaining a top-tier presence in a sport that had grown increasingly technical and physically demanding.

In June 2024, Force suffered a life-threatening crash during the NHRA Virginia Nationals. He was airlifted to the hospital with a traumatic brain injury and multiple injuries. As of early 2025, he is in recovery and has stepped away from active driving and public appearances. His team, John Force Racing, continues to operate under his leadership structure.

Personal Life

John Force has been married to Laurie Force for over four decades. They have three daughters—Ashley, Courtney, and Brittany—all of whom have competed professionally in NHRA events. The Force family was featured in the A&E reality series "Driving Force" from 2006 to 2007. In recognition of his contributions to motorsports, Force was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2008 and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2012.

Legacy & Influence

John Force is widely regarded as the greatest Funny Car driver in NHRA history. His blend of charisma, determination, and unmatched dominance helped bring mainstream attention to drag racing. Beyond his personal accomplishments, Force built John Force Racing into one of the most successful organizations in motorsports history, mentoring a new generation of drivers—including his daughters—and changing the business of racing through sponsorship innovation and relentless promotion. His contributions to the sport earned him induction into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2008 and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2012.

Yorba Linda Mansion

Since the 1990s, John has lived in a sprawling 10,000-square-foot+ mansion set on 19 acres in Yorba Linda, California. He dubbed the estate "Chateau Force." John appears to have owned the land since 1976.

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