Sir Bradley Wiggins rose from Ghent, Belgium to become Britain’s most decorated cyclist, only to see his £13 million fortune evaporate through divorce, addiction, and bankruptcy. This timeline traces how the Tour de France champion’s post-retirement life spiraled from knighthood to financial ruin.

Born: 28 April 1980 (Ghent, Belgium) | Olympic gold medals: 5 | World titles: 9 | Tour de France win: 2012 | Professional career: 2001–2016 | Knighthood: 2013 (Knight Bachelor)

Career peak

Financial fall

Today’s life

Snapshot facts

  • Full name: Sir Bradley Marc Wiggins
  • Born: 28 April 1980, Ghent, Belgium
  • Height: 190 cm (6 ft 3 in)
  • Last pro team: Team Sky (2012–2015)

Here are the essential facts about Bradley Wiggins’ career and its aftermath:

Key facts about Bradley Wiggins
Full name Sir Bradley Marc Wiggins
Born 28 April 1980, Ghent, Belgium
Height 190 cm (6 ft 3 in)
Net worth at peak £13 million (reported c. 2013) (The Times)
Marriages One to Catherine Wiggins (divorced)
Last pro team Team Sky (2012–2015)

How did Bradley Wiggins lose his fortune?

The story of Wiggins’ financial collapse reads like a cautionary tale of fame and sudden wealth. At his peak following the 2012 Tour de France victory and London Olympics, the cyclist commanded sponsorship deals, appearance fees, and prize money that pushed his estimated net worth to £13 million according to The Times.

What was his peak net worth?

Cyclingnews reported that Wiggins was estimated to be worth £13 million as recently as 2017, making his subsequent financial collapse all the more dramatic. (Cyclingnews) The Times confirmed this figure, noting the fortune had been built through Tour de France winnings, Olympic success, and lucrative endorsement deals.

What caused the financial collapse?

Multiple factors contributed to the downfall. The Telegraph reported in June 2024 that Wiggins’ debts had spiralled to almost £2 million. (The Telegraph) The same outlet disclosed that Wiggins had entered an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) around four years earlier to settle debts that included more than £300,000 owed to HM Revenue and Customs. The Daily Mail reported in 2024 that Wiggins faced debts of almost £1 million and that his home had been repossessed. (Daily Mail)

“I was a functioning addict. Within three years of retiring, I was a drug addict.”

— Bradley Wiggins, speaking to road.cc in 2025 (road.cc)

Wiggins publicly admitted in 2025 that he had developed a cocaine addiction after retirement, a dependency that drained both his finances and his health. (road.cc) The BBC reported that his financial situation was affected by cocaine dependency and that he was ultimately declared bankrupt at Lancaster County Court on June 3, 2024. (BBC Sport)

The implication: Wiggins’ £13 million fortune vanished because addiction, divorce costs, and tax debts formed a perfect storm that his post-cycling income could not withstand.

Bradley Wiggins lost his £13 million fortune through a combination of divorce settlement, cocaine addiction, property repossession, and debts to HMRC that led to his June 2024 bankruptcy declaration.

What is Bradley Wiggins doing today?

In 2025, Wiggins has maintained a reduced public profile while focusing on recovery. He has given interviews discussing his addiction and financial troubles, appearing on BBC 5 Live and other platforms to speak candidly about his experiences.

Is Bradley Wiggins working?

Wiggins has participated in media appearances, podcasts, and public speaking engagements. A BBC interview clip in June 2025 featured him saying he did not care about newspaper sensationalism around his addiction story. (BBC Sounds / BBC 5 Live) Road.cc reported in March 2025 that Wiggins said his financial situation was “all resolved now,” indicating progress in recovering from bankruptcy. (road.cc)

What is his public profile now?

Wiggins has been open about mental health and addiction recovery, using his platform to destigmatize discussion around these issues. Multiple reports in 2024–2025 describe him as living with severe financial difficulties but working toward stability. (Cyclingnews)

“I don’t care what the newspapers say about me. They can write what they want.”

— Bradley Wiggins, BBC 5 Live interview, June 2025 (BBC Sounds)

Bradley Wiggins is currently focused on addiction recovery, making media appearances, and has stated his financial problems are “all resolved now” as of March 2025.

Why does Bradley Wiggins look so different?

One of the most visible changes in Wiggins’ post-retirement life is his physical appearance. The lean, aerodynamic frame that powered him to Tour de France victory has given way to a heavier build and a distinctive new style.

Did he change his appearance intentionally?

Wiggins has spoken openly about his weight gain and changed appearance, attributing it to the natural physical transition away from elite sport combined with the personal struggles he faced. The transformation has been so dramatic that it frequently generates online discussion and search queries.

What is the sideburns story?

Wiggins grew distinctive sideburns as a personal style choice after retirement, marking a deliberate departure from his clean-cut cycling image. The sideburns became a talking point in interviews, with Wiggins expressing amusement at the public fascination with his changing look.

The pattern: Wiggins’ physical transformation mirrors his psychological break from the disciplined, image-managed world of professional cycling toward a more authentic if unvarnished personal identity.

Is Bradley Wiggins still with his wife?

Wiggins’ marriage to Catherine Wiggins ended after 18 years, contributing significantly to his financial and emotional turmoil.

Who was his wife?

Bradley Wiggins married Catherine Aldridge, known as Cath, in 2002. The Sun reported that their marriage lasted 18 years before their separation in May 2020. (The Sun) Cyclingnews confirmed that Wiggins divorced his wife Cath in 2020. (Cyclingnews)

Does he have a new partner?

As of 2025, no confirmed new wife or partner has been publicly identified. Rumored relationships have circulated in the press, but Wiggins has not confirmed any new romantic partnership.

The divorce settlement cost Wiggins heavily, with reports indicating it was a major factor in his descent from millionaire to bankruptcy.

— Multiple news reports (Cyclingnews)

Bradley Wiggins divorced his wife Catherine in 2020 after 18 years of marriage, with the settlement contributing substantially to his financial collapse.

Where is Bradley Wiggins living now?

Wiggins’ housing situation has been a subject of much media speculation, with reports of property repossession and unstable living arrangements.

Did he move out of his Lancashire home?

Wiggins previously lived in Eccleston, Lancashire. The Daily Mail reported in 2024 that his home had been repossessed as part of his debt crisis. (Daily Mail) The Sun described him as having become bankrupt, divorced, and homeless following a decade of turmoil. (The Sun)

Is he living abroad?

His current residence has not been officially confirmed. While some reports speculated he might move abroad, most evidence suggests he remains in the United Kingdom, though under significantly reduced circumstances compared to his peak years.

The catch: Wiggins’ current living situation remains officially unconfirmed, creating a gap between media speculation and verified fact about the cycling champion’s day-to-day reality.

Is Bradley Wiggins a sir?

Yes — Sir Bradley Wiggins was knighted in the 2013 New Year Honours for services to cycling, following his historic 2012 Tour de France victory and Olympic gold medal at London 2012.

What is a knighthood?

A knighthood is a British honour conferred by the monarch, granting the recipient the title “Sir” before their name. It is one of the highest civilian awards in the United Kingdom.

Why was he knighted?

Wiggins received the honour after becoming the first British cyclist to win the Tour de France, followed by an Olympic gold medal in the time trial at London 2012. His achievements in 2012 marked an extraordinary peak in British sporting history.

Sir Bradley Wiggins was knighted in 2013 for his historic 2012 season, making him one of Britain’s most decorated athletes even as his post-cycling life took a radically different trajectory.

Who is considered Britain’s greatest cyclist?

The debate over Britain’s greatest cyclist continues, with different metrics producing different answers.

How does Wiggins compare to Chris Hoy?

Sir Chris Hoy holds six Olympic gold medals to Wiggins’ five, while Wiggins achieved the unique distinction of winning both the Tour de France and Olympic gold in the same year. Hoy dominated on the track, while Wiggins succeeded in both track and road disciplines.

Who holds the most medals?

By Olympic medal count, Sir Chris Hoy leads with 6 golds and 1 silver. Wiggins has 5 golds, 1 silver, and 2 bronzes across Olympic Games. Mark Cavendish holds the record for most Tour de France stage wins (35), while Tom Pidcock represents the new generation of multi-discipline British cycling talent.

What this means: There is no single consensus on Britain’s greatest cyclist — measurement varies by discipline (track vs road), by metric (medal count vs historical firsts), and by era.

Timeline of Bradley Wiggins’ career and decline

  • 28 April 1980: Born in Ghent, Belgium to English mother and Australian father
  • 2001–2016: Professional cycling career
  • 2012: Won Tour de France, first Briton to do so; won Olympic gold at London 2012 (BBC Sport)
  • 2013: Knighthood; peak net worth £13 million (The Times)
  • 2016: Retired from professional cycling
  • 2020–2023: Divorce from Catherine Wiggins; financial troubles emerge (Cyclingnews)
  • June 2024: Declared bankrupt at Lancaster County Court (BBC Sport)
  • March 2025: Said financial situation was “all resolved now” (road.cc)
  • May 2025: Publicly admitted cocaine addiction in BBC interview (road.cc)

Confirmed facts about Bradley Wiggins

  • Won 5 Olympic gold medals and 9 world titles (BBC Sport)
  • First British winner of the Tour de France (2012) (BBC Sport)
  • Knighted in 2013 (BBC Sport)
  • Divorced Catherine Wiggins in 2020 (Cyclingnews)
  • Admitted cocaine addiction in May 2025 (road.cc)
  • Declared bankrupt June 3, 2024 (BBC Sport)

What remains unclear

  • Exact current net worth (reports vary from $100,000 cited by Times of India to unresolved debts) (Times of India)
  • Whether he has a new partner after divorce
  • Precise current residence
  • All causes of financial decline (some speculated but not all confirmed)
Additional sources

en.wikipedia.org, dailymail.co.uk

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Bradley Wiggins’ height?

Bradley Wiggins is 190 cm (6 ft 3 in) tall.

How many Olympic medals does Bradley Wiggins have?

Bradley Wiggins has 5 Olympic gold medals, 1 silver medal, and 2 bronze medals across his career. (BBC Sport)

When did Bradley Wiggins retire?

Bradley Wiggins retired from professional cycling in 2016 after a career spanning 2001 to 2016.

What is Bradley Wiggins doing in 2025?

Bradley Wiggins is focused on addiction recovery, making occasional media appearances, and has stated his financial situation is “all resolved now.” (road.cc)

Did Bradley Wiggins go to prison?

No, Bradley Wiggins has not been to prison. His legal troubles have been financial in nature, leading to bankruptcy rather than criminal incarceration.

Is Bradley Wiggins still cycling?

Bradley Wiggins no longer competes professionally but may participate in occasional cycling events and public speaking engagements related to the sport.

Was Bradley Wiggins addicted to drugs?

Yes, Bradley Wiggins publicly admitted in 2025 that he developed a cocaine addiction within three years of retiring from cycling. (road.cc)

How much money did Bradley Wiggins lose?

Bradley Wiggins lost an estimated £13 million peak net worth, with debts spiralling to almost £2 million by June 2024 according to The Telegraph. (The Telegraph)