F1 playboy's jet is drop in the ocean of £92m worth having sold helicopter he lost twice

In his heyday, Eddie Irvine was as comfortable on the tarmac as he was in the skies. As one of the leading drivers of his era, with a reported net worth exceeding £160 million at the time, the Newtownards-born racer certainly knew how to enjoy the finer things in life.

In fact, Irvine was already a self-made millionaire before he even made his mark in F1. His wealth only grew when he raced for Jordan and from 1993 to 2002. His knack for real estate was as keen as his reflexes behind the wheel, amassing around 40 properties worldwide. Irvine was never shy about showcasing his success and the rewards it brought him, often making him a controversial figure in the paddock. But such opinions likely mattered little to him as he sat in his impressive aircraft. Perhaps his most extravagant purchase is the Dassault Falcon 50 private jet. This French super-midsize, long-range aircraft is believed to be capable of transatlantic flights.

It's currently unknown whether he still owns the jet, which typically sells for around £1.55million. However, if he maintained his jet as meticulously as he did his own helicopter, it's entirely possible that even Irvine himself isn't sure if he still possesses it.

Speaking to , Irvine shared a humorous anecdote about misplacing his helicopter not once, but twice, before deciding to sell it. He said: "I parked it and then couldn't remember where.

"Once, I parked it in a friend's garden and then forgot where she lived. I just drove around until I spotted the rotor blades, which is easier than finding a car in an NCP car park."

Irvine hung up his racing gloves in 2002, choosing to step away from the motorsport world for good. By 2006, he had made his way onto the Sunday Times Rich List, boasting a hefty net worth estimated at £160m.

Today, reports suggest that his net worth has nearly halved to approximately £92m, and although he keeps a low profile these days, Irvine is far from financial hardship with such a fortune.

Despite no longer owning a helicopter, the Irish Independent revealed in 2012 that Irvine passed his Instrument Flight Rules pilot's test in Miami, Florida, earning him the title of a qualified helicopter pilot. At the time, he reportedly said: "It wasn't pretty, but I got it done!"

While Irvine never clinched a world championship title, he did achieve four career wins and 26 podium finishes. He may not have reached the dizzying heights of Michael Schumacher's success, but Irvine certainly experienced the finer and more exciting things in life.

Opening up about his lavish lifestyle as a playboy, he once said: "I love the parties, the boat, the plane, getting into nightclubs for free, getting tables at restaurants without having to queue, driving for Ferrari and getting the best-looking girls."