James May is a British television presenter, journalist, and author who has a net worth of $40 million. James May is best known as one of the longtime hosts of the iconic motoring series “Top Gear,” where he starred alongside Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond. Often nicknamed “Captain Slow” for his cautious driving style, May became a fan favorite for his dry humor, technical insight, and thoughtful approach to motoring and engineering.
In addition to Top Gear, May has hosted and appeared in numerous television programs focused on cars, science, travel, food, and history. Since 2016, he has co-hosted Amazon Prime Video’s “The Grand Tour” and serves as a director of the production company W. Chump & Sons. Beyond television, May is also a prolific writer who has authored more than 15 books and maintained a long-running newspaper column. Here is a detailed look of James May net worth.
Early Life
James Daniel May was born on January 16, 1963, in Bristol, England. He was raised alongside a brother and two sisters by his mother, Kathleen, and his father, James, who worked as an aluminum factory manager. May attended Caerleon Endowed Junior School in Newport and Oakwood Comprehensive School in Rotherham, where he sang in the church choir.
He later studied music at Lancaster University’s Pendle College, where he learned to play the piano and flute. After graduating, May worked briefly as a records officer at a hospital in Chelsea. In recognition of his contributions to broadcasting and journalism, Lancaster University awarded him an honorary doctorate in 2010.
Writing Career
May began his professional career in journalism during the early 1980s, working as a sub-editor for “The Engineer” and “Autocar.” In 1992, he was famously fired from Autocar after secretly embedding a humorous but profane message into the magazine’s Road Test Yearbook.
Despite the setback, May went on to write for several major publications, including “Top Gear” magazine and “Car Magazine.” In 2006, he published May on Motors, a collection of his automotive journalism. He later co-wrote Oz and James’s Big Wine Adventure and Oz and James Drink to Britain with wine expert Oz Clarke.
May has also authored multiple books tied to his television work, including James May’s 20th Century, James May’s Toy Stories, James May’s Man Lab: The Book of Usefulness, and James May: Oh Cook!.
Television Career
James May first appeared on television in 1998 as the presenter of the documentary “Driven.” He joined Top Gear in 1999 and became a permanent fixture when the show was relaunched in 2003. Over the course of more than 170 episodes, May gained a reputation for blending technical knowledge with dry wit and thoughtful commentary.
Beyond Top Gear, May has hosted or appeared in numerous series, including “James May’s Road Trip,” “James May’s Big Ideas,” “James May on the Moon,” “James May: The Reassembler,” “James May’s Cars of the People,” and “James May: Our Man in Japan.” In 2020, he expanded into food television with “James May: Oh Cook!”
In 2016, May reunited with Clarkson and Hammond on Amazon’s “The Grand Tour,” which became one of the platform’s most-watched original series.
Personal Life
James May has been in a long-term relationship with art critic Sarah Frater since 2000. The couple lives together in Hammersmith, West London. In 2020, May publicly discussed a health retreat experience in Germany that involved a liver detox, which he later described humorously as unpleasant and unnecessary.
That same year, May became a co-owner of The Royal Oak, a historic pub in Swallowcliffe, Wiltshire. He is also a licensed pilot and has owned several aircraft over the years.
An avid car enthusiast, May has owned an extensive collection of vehicles, including a Rolls-Royce Phantom, Bentley T2, Ferrari 458 Speciale, multiple Porsche 911 models, and even a Fiat Panda.
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