NFL Millionaires’ Club: Meet the top 5 richest stars of all time – Check full net worth
Leading the pack are familiar names like Roger Staubach, Russell Wilson, Fran Tarkenton, and Tom Brady – all boasting net worths in the hundreds of millions. Their financial empires span lucrative contracts, endorsement deals, real estate investments, and media ventures.
These players are the face of the NFL’s financial elite. Explore the full list and net worth details.
1. Roger Staubach (Net Worth: $600 million)
Roger Staubach, widely regarded as the richest NFL player in history, boasts a staggering net worth of $600 million. Best known for his legendary career as quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys, Staubach’s true financial success came after hanging up his boots.
A Vietnam War Navy veteran, Staubach earned only around $600,000 during his playing days – a modest sum by today’s standards. However, his post-retirement pivot to business set a new standard for athletes. In 1979, he founded The Staubach Company, a commercial real estate venture that revolutionized the industry. His entrepreneurial acumen was such that it had become a $613 million company when it was sold to Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) in 2008 with about 67 offices throughout the US.Staubach’s ventures include the ownership of industrial complexes in Phoenix, retail developments in Houston, and commercial office structures throughout Dallas.2. Fran Tarkenton (Net Worth: $300 million)
Tarkenton, a former NFL quarterback turned television personality and tech entrepreneur, ranks as the second-richest living NFL player. Best known for his 18-season career with the Minnesota Vikings and New York Giants from 1961 to 1978, Tarkenton earned just $1.2 million in player salary – a modest sum by modern standards.
However, his true wealth came after retirement, as Tarkenton became a pioneer in the tech world. He was one of the early innovators in customer relationship management (CRM) software, launching Tarkenton Software in the late 20th century. The company merged with KnowledgeWare in 1986, which was later acquired by Sterling Software for $73 million in 1994.
In addition to tech, Tarkenton made lucrative endorsement deals with major brands like Johnson & Johnson. Today, according to CelebrityNetWorth, he owns several successful businesses, including Tarkenton Financial, GoSmallBiz, and Tarkenton Teleconferencing. He also reportedly holds over $100 million in Apple stock and owns real estate valued at around $15 million.
3. Tom Brady (Net Worth: $300 million)
Brady, who ranks third on the list, is an American retired professional football quarterback turned spokesman and entrepreneur, with an estimated net worth of $300 million.
Widely regarded as the NFL’s most decorated player, Brady spent 20 seasons (2000–2019) leading the New England Patriots to six Super Bowl titles before joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in March 2020 on a two-year, fully guaranteed $50 million deal (with up to $59 million in incentives). He immediately delivered a seventh ring and then inked a one-year extension worth up to $25 million to stay through 2022.
Having earned roughly $230 million on the field and over $140 million in endorsements, Brady retired in 2022 and signed a record-breaking $375 million, 10-year broadcasting contract with Fox Sports – at $37.5 million annually, the richest in sports media history.
Off the field, Brady has generated well over $140 million through high-profile endorsements with Under Armour, UGG, TAG Heuer, Aston Martin, Hertz, Molecule Mattresses, and Subway.
He’s also built a diverse business portfolio: TB12, his fitness and wellness company; BRADY Brand, a performance apparel line; Autograph, an NFT marketplace he co-founded in 2021; and 199 Productions, a media venture producing documentaries, films, and sports programming.
4. Peyton Manning (Net Worth: $250 million)
With an estimated net worth of $250 million, Manning ranks fourth among the richest NFL players alive. Over his 18-season career – primarily with the Indianapolis Colts before finishing with the Denver Broncos – Manning earned $248 million on the field, including a groundbreaking $96 million deal in 2004 that reset quarterback salaries.
Off the field, he continues to cash in on endorsements with Bud Light, Buick, Sony, ESPN, DirecTV, MasterCard, Reebok, and Gatorade, and owns 21 Papa John’s franchises in Colorado. His Omaha Productions launched the popular ‘ManningCast’ in 2019, while Sweetens Cove bourbon taps into premium Southern lifestyle trends.
5. Aaron Rodgers (Net Worth: $200 million)
Rodgers, the fifth-wealthiest active NFL player, recently inked a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers worth $13.65 million – $10 million fully guaranteed and up to $19.5 million with playing-time and team-performance incentives.
Over 18 seasons with the Green Bay Packers, Rodgers earned roughly $380 million on the field, and his $75 million contract with the New York Jets in 2023 further solidified his finances. Including endorsements, his total career earnings now exceed $600 million.
In April 2018, Rodgers became the first active NFL player to hold an ownership stake in an NBA team when he joined the Milwaukee Bucks’ ownership group as a limited partner.
Rodgers’ most iconic partnership is State Farm’s ‘Discount Double Check’ campaign, but he’s also fronted national ads for Adidas, Pizza Hut, Sharpie, IZOD, Prevea Health, and TaylorMade Golf – cementing his status as one of the league’s top-earning stars both on and off the field.
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