Who Is the Richest NFL Player of All Time?
Who is the richest NFL player of all time? That would be NFL legend John Elway with a net worth of $145 million.
Introduction
In the National Football League, there have been a lot ofrich players. These are the men who have made a lot of money playing football and have set records doing so. Some of them are still playing while others have already retired. Here is a list of the richest NFL players of all time.
Top 10 NFL Players by Net Worth
Here are the 10 NFL players with the highest estimated net worth, as of September 2020. These rankings take into account each player’s estimated earnings from salary, endorsements, bonuses, pension and investment earnings.
Peyton Manning – $250 million
Peyton Manning is the NFL’s all-time leader in career earnings, with a staggering $250 million in the bank. He also holds the record for most lucrative contract in league history, signing a five-year, $96 million deal with the Denver Broncos in 2012.
Manning’s impressive on-field performance has translated to huge off-field earnings. He’s been named NFL MVP a record five times and is a 14-time Pro Bowler. He’s also one of the most recognizable faces in sports, thanks to his numerous endorsements. Manning has partnerships with Nike, DirecTV, Gatorade and Papa John’s, among others.
In 2010, Manning founded the PeyBack Foundation, which provides assistance to disadvantaged youth. He also promotes several causes through his work with Mianus River Gorge Conservancy and St. Vincent de Paul food bank.
Tom Brady – $180 million
Widely considered to be one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, Tom Brady has played in the NFL for 20 seasons, winning six Super Bowls with the New England Patriots. He is one of only two players in NFL history to have won five Super Bowls as a starter, and he is also the oldest quarterback to win a Super Bowl, at age 41. As well as his on-field successes, Brady has also had a hugely successful career off the field, earning endorsement deals with some of the world’s biggest brands. He is currently the highest-paid NFL player, with an annual salary of $15 million and a total net worth of $180 million.
Drew Brees – $160 million
Drew Brees is an American football quarterback who plays for the New Orleans Saints in the National Football League (NFL). He is one of the most successful and popular players in the league, and has amassed a huge fan following over the years. He is also one of the richest NFL players of all time, with a net worth of $160 million.
Brees was born in Austin, Texas, in 1979. He played football in high school and college, before being drafted by the San Diego Chargers in 2001. He spent five years with the Chargers, before moving to the Saints in 2006. He has been with the Saints ever since, and has helped them to win a Super Bowl (in 2010).
Brees has set numerous NFL records during his career, including most passing yards in a season (5,476 in 2011) and most passing touchdowns in a season (54 in 2013). He was named NFL MVP in 2006 and 2009, and has been selected for 11 Pro Bowls. In 2010, he was named Super Bowl MVP after leading the Saints to victory against the Indianapolis Colts.
Brees’ on-field success has translated into massive earnings off the field. He has endorsement deals with companies such as Nike, Microsoft, and Wrangler Jeans. In 2012, he signed a five-year contract extension with the Saints worth $100 million. This made him the highest-paid player in NFL history at that time. His annual salary is currently $24.3 million.
In addition to his playing salary and endorsement earnings, Brees also earns money through investments. He has invested in several businesses, including like Jus Bottled Water and Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches franchises. He also owns a minority stake in electronic sports organization ReKTGlobal, which owns esports teams such as Counter Logic Gaming and Rogue Company.
Drew Brees is one of the most famous and successful NFL players of all time – and he is also one of the richest. With a net worth of $160 million, he is comfortably among the top 10 richest NFL players ever.
Aaron Rodgers – $120 million
Even though he’s only been in the NFL for a little over a decade, Green Bay Packers Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has already amassed quite a fortune. According to various reports, Rodgers has a net worth of $120 million, making him one of the richest NFL players of all time.
Most of Rodgers’ fortune comes from his NFL salary and endorsements. In 2013, he signed a five-year, $110 million contract extension with the Packers that included a $35 million signing bonus. His annual salary averages out to $22 million per year. Rodgers also has endorsement deals with companies like Nike, State Farm, and Pre-play.
Rodgers isn’t just one of the richest NFL players; he’s also one of the most talented. He’s been named the NFL MVP twice and was voted to the Pro Bowl eight times. He also led the Packers to a Super Bowl victory in 2010.
Ben Roethlisberger – $100 million
Ben Roethlisberger is currently the highest-paid NFL player with an annual salary of $87.4 million. In addition to his salary, he also has various endorsement deals that help to pad his net worth. All in all, the athlete is thought to be worth a whopping $100 million!
Eli Manning – $95 million
Eli Manning, who currently plays for the New York Giants, is the richest NFL player of all time with an estimated net worth of $95 million. He is a two-time Super Bowl MVP and has been playing in the NFL for 16 seasons.
Peyton Manning is a close second with an estimated net worth of $92 million. He also played for 16 seasons and is a two-time Super Bowl champion.
Drew Brees comes in at third with an estimated net worth of $75 million. He has played for 17 seasons and is a one-time Super Bowl champion.
Matthew Stafford – $95 million
Matthew Stafford is an American football quarterback for the NFL’s Detroit Lions. He was drafted by the Lions first overall in the 2009 NFL Draft. In his first season, he set an all-time record for most passing yards by a rookie quarterback. He is also a four-time Pro Bowl selection and led the Lions to nine winning seasons during his time with the team. As of 2020, Matthew Stafford’s net worth is $95 million, making him the richest NFL player of all time.
Other notable NFL players on this list include Tom Brady, Drew Brees, and Peyton Manning, who are all worth over $100 million.
Alex Smith – $85 million
Washington’s Alex Smith is the richest NFL player of all time. He has a net worth of $85 million. Smith was the first overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft and has earned more than $200 million in salary over his career. He also has numerous endorsement deals, including with Adidas, Nike, and Pepsi.
Tony Romo – $70 million
Tony Romo is a former NFL quarterback who played for the Dallas Cowboys for 14 seasons. He was born in San Diego, California, in 1980, and played college football for Eastern Illinois University. He was signed by the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2003, and became the Cowboys’ starting quarterback in 2006. He held that position for 10 seasons, until he was released by the team in 2017. He is currently a television analyst for NFL games.
Romo has an estimated net worth of $70 million. He earned $127 million in salary during his football career, and has also made money through endorsements and appearances. In 2013, he signed a contract with CBS Sports to serve as a color analyst for NFL games. He is currently signed to a four-year contract with CBS that is worth $17 million per year.
Joe Flacco – $65 million
Flacco is the second-highest-paid player in NFL history, behind only Drew Brees. He has earned more than $200 million in his career, including a record $40 million signing bonus when he joined the Ravens in 2013. He has made the Pro Bowl once and was named Super Bowl MVP in 2013 after leading the Ravens to a victory over the San Francisco 49ers.
Conclusion
Forbes reports that Brady will become the first NFL player to surpass $200 million in career earnings when he signs his new contract with the Buccaneers. His total earnings are currently estimated at $185 million.
Peyton Manning is a close second with an estimated career earnings of $180 million. Manning’s annual salary was $15 million when he retired in 2016. He has since earned an additional $45 million through endorsement deals with companies like Nike, Buick, and DirecTV.
Drew Brees comes in third with an estimated career earnings of $160 million. Brees’ annual salary is $25 million, and he has earned an additional $55 million from endorsements.
These three quarterbacks are far ahead of the pack when it comes to career earnings. The next closest player is Eli Manning, who has earned an estimated $150 million over the course of his career.
