Ant Anstead Net Worth 2026: TV Career, Cars & Life
Ant Anstead’s net worth sits at $1 million as of 2026, a figure that surprises many fans given his high television profile and famous relationships. The English car builder and TV presenter has built a career across two continents, yet his bank balance tells a different story than his celebrity status suggests.
Who Is Ant Anstead?
Ant Anstead is an English television presenter, car builder, and designer best known for co-hosting Wheeler Dealers and hosting Celebrity IOU: Joyride on Discovery+. He built his reputation restoring classic cars before television came calling, and that hands-on mechanical background still shapes every show he fronts today.
Anstead co-founded Radford Motors, a luxury coachbuilding brand, alongside Formula One World Champion Jenson Button. He has also written two books, one on British police cars and one on parenting, blending his unusual career history into print. From patrol officer to TV mechanic, his path to fame took a route few celebrities share.
Ant Anstead Age and Early Life
Ant Anstead was born Anthony Richard Anstead on March 28, 1979, in Plymouth, Devon, England, making him 47 years old in 2026. He spent his early years in Ely, Cambridgeshire, until age 10, then moved with his family to Hertfordshire. He attended Richard Hale School in Hertford before finishing his A-levels at Haileybury School.
His career started nowhere near a TV studio. In 1999, Anstead joined the Hertfordshire Constabulary as a Police Constable stationed at Bishop’s Stortford, later moving to the Tactical Firearms Team in Welwyn Garden City. During his service, he helped guard convicted “Railway Murderer” John Duffy in a safe house and earned two commendations for bravery.
Football played a major role too. Anstead played semi-professional football for more than 15 years, racking up over 700 matches at Ryman level and shifting from goalkeeper to striker along the way. At sixteen, he built his first kit car and sold it for a profit, a moment that planted the seed for his automotive future. He resigned from the police force in 2005 to build cars full time.
Ant Anstead’s Television Career Highlights
Anstead’s screen career spans nearly a decade of shows across both UK and US networks. Here’s a look at his major television credits:
- For the Love of Cars (2014–2015, Channel 4) — Co-presented with Philip Glenister, marking his breakout UK television role.
- Wheeler Dealers (2017–2020, Motor Trend/Discovery Channel) — Replaced Edd China, described as a close friend, as co-host alongside Mike Brewer. He turned down a five-year US relocation contract, and production later moved back to the UK without him.
- Ant Anstead Master Mechanic (2019, Motor Trend) — A 12-episode series where he hand-built a tribute to the 1930s Alfa Romeo 158 Grand Prix car.
- Celebrity IOU: Joyride (2021–present, Discovery+) — His current flagship show, where celebrities gift custom car builds to people who changed their lives. Guests have included Renée Zellweger, Mary J. Blige, Octavia Spencer, and James Marsden.
He’s also appeared on Christina on the Coast (HGTV, 2019), World’s Greatest Cars (Sky, 2020), and his self-produced series Ant Anstead: Born Mechanic (Quest, 2024). Today, Anstead continues hosting Celebrity IOU: Joyride while staying active on social media, sharing glimpses of family life and automotive events.
As for his bond with Edd China, reports describe the two as close friends when Anstead stepped into the Wheeler Dealers role. Their current relationship status isn’t publicly documented.
Ant Anstead’s Car-Building Career
Anstead’s love for cars started at sixteen, when he built and sold his first kit car. After leaving the police in 2005, he began crafting bespoke classic vehicles for clients, eventually building an international waiting list stretching past two years. His builds have earned nine world records, including constructing the largest Airfix auto model ever made.
His partnership with Jenson Button led to Radford Motors, billed as a luxury coachbuilding brand with British roots. In 2021, Anstead drove the Acura TLX Type S pace car up the grueling 12.42-mile, 156-turn course at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. Acura’s official press release called him a self-proclaimed car nut and television personality. He also founded his own production company, Angel 22, back in 2014.
Ant Anstead Net Worth
As of 2026, Ant Anstead’s net worth is estimated at $1 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. The English television presenter and car builder earned his wealth through shows like Wheeler Dealers and Celebrity IOU: Joyride, bespoke car builds, book sales, and his production company.
Income Sources
Anstead’s earnings come from several places: hosting fees from shows on Channel 4, Motor Trend, Discovery+, Sky, and Quest, plus commissions from custom car builds. His Radford Motors venture, two published books (Cops and Robbers and Petrol Head Parenting, both from 2018), and his production company Angel 22 round out his income streams.
Financial Challenges
Anstead has faced real financial setbacks behind the scenes. According to a 2025 report, his car bodyworks company went bankrupt and his TV production company was dissolved, adding financial pressure. Friends close to Renée Zellweger reportedly expressed concern about the wealth gap between the couple.
Net Worth Comparison
The contrast between Anstead’s finances and those close to him is striking:
| Person | Net Worth |
|---|---|
| Ant Anstead | $1 million |
| Christina Haack (ex-wife) | $12 million |
| Renée Zellweger (partner) | $90 million |
Despite this gap with ex-wife Christina Haack’s career and net worth, their divorce settlement included no spousal support in either direction. Zellweger’s estimated $90 million net worth creates an even wider disparity, one that has reportedly drawn attention from people close to her.
Ant Anstead’s Personal Life and Relationships
First Marriage — Louise Herbert
Anstead married Louise Herbert in 2005. The couple had two children, son Archie and daughter Amelie, before divorcing in October 2017.
Marriage to Christina Haack
The same month his first divorce was finalised, Anstead began dating Christina Haack, host of HGTV’s Flip or Flop. They married on December 22, 2018, at their Newport Beach, California home. Their son Hudson arrived on September 6, 2019.
The marriage ended in September 2020, and Haack filed for divorce, which was finalised in June 2021. Anstead later sought full custody, claiming Christina used Hudson in paid social media promotions. By December 2022, the pair had agreed to joint legal and physical custody. Despite years of tension, they came together for their son’s Christmas performance.
Relationship with Renée Zellweger
Anstead began dating actress Renée Zellweger’s filmography and earnings star in April 2021 after meeting on the set of Celebrity IOU: Joyride. They went public with the relationship in June 2021. As of 2026, they remain together and are reportedly engaged, though neither has rushed toward marriage. Anstead simply asked, “What’s the rush?” when questioned about proposing.
Their timeline raised some eyebrows, since Anstead was still legally married to Haack when he and Zellweger became a couple. The financial gap between them remains notable, with Zellweger’s $90 million net worth dwarfing Anstead’s $1 million.
Ant Anstead Children and Co-Parenting
Anstead is a father to three children: Archie and Amelie from his first marriage to Louise Herbert, and Hudson, born September 6, 2019, from his marriage to Christina Haack. After a difficult stretch, Anstead and Haack settled into joint legal and physical custody of Hudson in December 2022.
Hudson’s life in the US directly shaped Anstead’s career choices. It’s the reason Wheeler Dealers production shifted back to the UK without him, since he chose to stay close to his son. His recent Instagram posts show him actively involved in Hudson’s world, from Mother’s Day tributes honouring both biological and bonus moms to celebrating Hudson’s soccer season. Anstead has called Hudson “one lucky little boy,” adding that he feels just as fortunate.
Where Does Ant Anstead Live Now?
Anstead previously lived in Newport Beach, California, during his marriage to Christina Haack. After their split, Hudson stayed settled in the US, which influenced Anstead’s decision to remain in the country rather than return to the UK for Wheeler Dealers. Based on available information, he continues living in the United States, likely in Southern California, to stay close to his co-parenting arrangement with Haack. His 2026 Instagram activity points to ongoing involvement in local community events, though his exact current address isn’t publicly disclosed.
Ant Anstead Books and Other Ventures
Anstead published two books in 2018: Cops and Robbers: The Story of the British Police Car through HarperCollins UK, and Petrol Head Parenting: The Essential Guide to Diagnosing and Nurturing a Petrol Head through Great Flood Publishing. Both reflect the mix of his police background and lifelong car obsession.
He also serves as patron of Harrison’s Fund, a charity supporting research into Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Through his production company Angel 22, he has executive produced content including the 2022 TV special Radford Returns.
Summary
Ant Anstead has built a career spanning law enforcement, semi-professional football, television hosting, car building, and authorship. His net worth of $1 million is modest by celebrity standards, especially next to partner Renée Zellweger’s $90 million and ex-wife Christina Haack’s $12 million. Even so, he remains a recognisable face in automotive television through Celebrity IOU: Joyride, and his commitment to co-parenting his three children continues to define his public life in 2026.
