Eddie Jordan has urged others to go get tested (Image: Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
Eddie Jordan has opened up about his fight against “aggressive” prostate and bladder , strongly advocating for more people to undergo health checks. Speaking on his podcast ‘Formula for Success’, which he co-hosts with David Coulthard, the legend revealed the severity of his condition.
After previously hinting at health issues during their episodes, the 76-year-old felt it was now time to disclose the grim reality of battling that had aggressively spread to his spine and pelvis. Jordan said: “We’ve kind of alluded to it David, over the shows. Way back in March and April, I was diagnosed with bladder and prostate cancer. And then it spread into the spine and the pelvis, so it was quite aggressive.”
The ex- team owner also highlighted the bravery of Olympic hero Sir Chris Hoy, expressing admiration for the athlete’s openness about his own terminal cancer prognosis. The former Team GB cyclist revealed his heartbreaking situation earlier this year, stating the cancer had reached his bones and that he had been given a life expectancy of two to four years.
Jordan continued: “And we’ve all heard about our wonderful friend Sir Chris Hoy, who is an absolute megastar, and he [was] coming out and talking about illness such as like what I’ve got, but he’s a far younger man. But this is a little message for all the anchors and everybody listening to this: don’t wait or put it off.
“Go and get tested, because in life you’ve got chances and there is so much medical advice out there and so many things that you can do to extend your lifetime. Go and do it. Don’t be stupid, don’t be shy. It’s not a shy thing look after your body, guys.
“We’ll move on, but yes, some very dark days in there but we pulled out of it, thankfully.”
Following the news of Jordan’s cancer diagnosis, we have delved into the F1 icon’s illustrious career to date – tracking his journey from his racing portfolio to his ‘ban’ from visiting Michael Schumacher, and also highlighting his massive fortune.
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Eddie Jordan’s Formula 1 journey
Eddie Jordan’s Formula 1 legacy first began almost 50 years ago, and is still felt in the sport today. The inception of Jordan’s motorsport endeavours dates back to 1979 when he established a Formula racing team that eventually became a dominant force within F1 during the 1990s.
In the early days of Eddie Jordan Racing, notable drivers such as James Weaver, famed broadcaster Martin Brundle, and Johnny Herbert were at the forefront. The evolution continued with the founding of Jordan Grand Prix in 1991, marking a historical moment as it set the stage for Michael Schumacher’s Formula 1 debut in their first year.
Although Schumacher’s tenure with Jordan was brief – as he moved to Benetton one race later and clinched two World Championships – the impact was undeniable. Jordan’s roster has been graced by the likes of the legendary Ayrton Senna, Nigel Mansell, Damon Hill, and the younger Schumacher sibling, Ralf, all of whom have had raced with the Irishman’s team.
Jordan Grand Prix recorded its best ever result in 1998, when Damon Hill and Ralf Schumacher secured first and second place at the Belgian Grand Prix. The following year, Heinz-Harald Frentzen emerged as a contender for the drivers’ championship, ultimately finishing third – the highest position ever achieved by a Jordan driver.
Jordan began his Formula 1 career with his own racing team (Image: Getty)
However, the team’s performance’s dwindled and in 2005, Jordan sold his F1 team to Midland Group for a staggering £47.1million ($60m). Just a year later, the company was sold again, this time to Dutch car manufacturer Spyker for £83.6m ($106.6m), and was rebranded as MF1 Racing.
The team formerly known as Jordan Grand Prix was most recently owned by Force India, who were liquidated in 2018 and had their assets sold to Racing Point which then became Aston Martin for the 2021 F1 season. Thus, the 76-year-old’s team has undergone significant changes over the years, with a number of iconic names associated with it.
Jordan’s transition to punditry
In 2009, many years after his initial foray into F1, Jordan returned to the sport as a pundit for Sport’s Grand Prix programme alongside Coulthard and Jake Humphrey. He was a full-time presenter on the show for three years, but from 2012 to 2015 he only covered live races.
The F1 legend has made significant contributions to the sport, including breaking numerous racing stories before they were officially announced. These include Schumacher’s return to racing in 2010, ‘s move to and Felipe Massa’s departure from .
Jordan has also launched his own F1 podcast alongside Coulthard, and currently works as the lead analyst on Channel 4’s C4F1 show.
Schumacher and Jordan are old friends (Image: Getty)
Jordan’s ‘ban’ on seeing Michael Schumacher
The former racing driver has also spoken about being barred from visiting Michael Schumacher following the icon’s tragic skiing accident in 2013. In an emotional interview with The Sun this year, Jordan revealed his attempt to see his old friend during the early stages of Schumacher’s recovery, only to be turned away by the driver’s wife, Corinna.
Jordan said: “I made an effort to go see Michael in the early days and Corinna refused, and rightfully so because too many people wanted to go see him. Jean Todt was given the privilege to go see him because of how close they were from their time together at which is completely understandable.
“I was not able to go see Michael and they said, ‘we love you Eddie and we’ve been involved with you for a very long time, but we do need privacy and safeguard of Michael’.”
The entrepreneur also shared his understanding of the immense pressure the Schumacher family faced, describing it as a “horrific” ordeal.
Jordan added: “This was the most horrific situation for Mick and Corinna. It’s been nearly ten years now and Corinna has not been able to go to a party, to lunch or this or that, she’s like a prisoner because everyone would want to talk to her about Michael when she doesn’t need reminding of it every minute.”
The 76-year-old also told OLBG about the emotional moment when Mick Schumacher, son of the legendary Michael Schumacher, reached out to him. Jordan said: “As far as I’m concerned, I was touched by it and the reason I was touched by it was because it can’t be easy knowing that your father is not able to be part of the family, he’s there but he’s not there.
“It touched me because I felt so much about Michael, I went out of my way to find him, give him his first chance in Spa, didn’t last very long but that love for him still lasts and will always do so while I’m able to draw breaths.”
Eddie Jordan and David Coulthard have worked closely together for some time (Image: Getty)
Eddie Jordan’s wealth and extravagant lifestyle
Celebrity Net Worth estimates Jordan’s staggering fortune at around £470.9m ($600m), attributing it to his illustrious career in the world of Formula 1. Although he never competed in F1 races himself, Jordan did drive in Formula 2 before deciding to focus on nurturing other talents within the sport.
With such an impressive bank balance, it’s no shock that Jordan has enjoyed plenty of lavish assets throughout his life, including a magnificent 45.3-metre luxury sailing yacht.
The luxury yacht, named Blush, was recently sold for a staggering £9.4m (€11.4m). The vessel, which can accommodate up to 12 guests in its five-cabin layout, was designed with a focus on maintaining a tranquil interior environment and has been meticulously maintained since its launch in 2017.
Jordan’s lavish lifestyle once included a 45-metre sailing yacht (Image: Boat International)
In 2020, before the sale of the yacht, Jordan spoke about his affinity for the sea, and claims it is all down to his upbringing by the coast. He said: “You wouldn’t have any Jordan without living beside the sea because I feel I’m handcuffed to the sea. I feel naked when I’m not around it. I was brought up by the sea in Dublin.”
Besides his cherished yacht, Jordan has an impressive property portfolio, having bought and sold numerous properties over the years. In 2018, he raffled off his Tooting, London flat, valued at a hefty £750,000.
According to Love Property, Jordan co-owned the stylish flat with his son, Kyle. They raffled off the property through Win A Property (WAP), requiring participants to pay a £10 entry fee and play a game for a chance to win the house. The Lucien Road property boasted a modern design, featuring an open-plan kitchen and a luxurious private roof terrace.
Speaking to the Evening Standard’s Homes and Property at the time of the raffle, Jordan said: “I get the clear impression that in London, owning even a studio or starting a family is out of reach of most people.”
Jordan has been with his wife Marie since the late 1970s (Image: Getty)
Eddie Jordan’s love life and family-of-six
Jordan tied the knot with his athletic wife Marie in 1979 before F1 success accelerated his fame. Marie, nee McCarthy, is no stranger to the spotlight herself, having been a former women’s basketball player and even represented Ireland on an international level.
Marie shares four children with Jordan – fashion designer Zoe, Zak, Kyle and former F1 grid girl Miki. It was at the 2004 British Grand Prix that Miki unexpectedly encountered Martin Brundle, one of Eddie’s past racers turned Sky Sports pundit.
Known for his pre-race grid walks, Brundle didn’t miss the chance to chat with Miki, whose position on the prestigious Silverstone track had been organised by her dad. During the conversation, Brundle asked: “Luckily, she got her mother’s looks of course. Miki, how did you get this job, other than of course having your dad around? Did you apply for it?”
Responding to this, Miki simply smiled and said: “I didn’t Martin, no.”