Jeremy Clarkson has admitted to feeling a pang of jealousy toward his former Top Gear co-star Richard Hammond, revealing a surprisingly human side to the often outspoken television personality. The Clarkson’s Farm star, who now resides in Oxfordshire and manages both Diddly Squat Farm in Chadlington and The Farmer’s Dog pub in Asthall, reflected on his days presenting motoring shows before fully immersing himself in farming and hospitality.
For more than two decades, Clarkson, alongside James May and Richard Hammond, entertained millions of viewers around the world as the dynamic trio behind BBC’s Top Gear and later Amazon Prime Video’s The Grand Tour. Their chemistry, sharp humor, and shared love of cars made them television legends, but behind the cameras, Clarkson admits that he occasionally found himself envious of Hammond—though the source of his jealousy may surprise fans.
Writing in The Times, Clarkson revealed that his envy centered around a car Hammond purchased during their early years on Top Gear. “When Richard Hammond bought a Series 1 E-type Jaguar back in the days when we were doing Top Gear, I must confess I felt quite jealous,” Clarkson confessed. At the time, the car was already impressive, but the feelings of envy intensified as the vehicle’s value skyrocketed.
Clarkson elaborated: “And then the feelings of envy got worse when it doubled and then trebled in value. My money was in the bank earning sod all. He was driving about in his money and it was going up in value at about 100 per cent a year. And there’s no capital gains tax on a classic car, which filled me with even more despair.”
For a period, it seemed Hammond had found a financial golden ticket—turning a passion for classic cars into a savvy investment. Yet Clarkson’s story takes a turn: “Happily, he hung on to the car, assuming that the money tree would continue to grow, and then, blam, the market for E-types stalled, so it’s now worth roughly what he paid for it.”
Despite the initial envy, Clarkson was quick to point out that he feels no malice toward his friend and former co-star. “I’m not punching the air as I write this, I promise. But I am smiling,” he concluded, reflecting on the twists and turns of both financial fortune and the often unpredictable world of classic car investments.
Clarkson’s candid confession offers a rare glimpse behind the polished, high-octane persona fans are familiar with, showing that even millionaires have moments of envy—and that sometimes, patience and timing are just as valuable as horsepower.
