The World’s Most Financially Savvy Football Players

Footballers are notorious for their extreme wealth, but kicking a ball around is often not the only source of income. Endorsements and speculative investments, among others, have added a few pennies to some of the largest stacks of personal wealth in the history of sport.

The team at money.co.uk have compiled a list of ten of the most entrepreneurial football players ever to have graced the pitch, detailing their most lucrative contracts and also how much each of their goals are worth (as a ratio of their net wealth)…

… Rooney’s overhead goal against Manchester City in February was spectacular – but was it really worth £217,000 ($352,000)?

David Beckham

Estimated personal wealth: £100m ($164m)
Value of each senior league goal: £1.13m ($1.84m)

Lucrative Deals and Assets
In the twilight of his football career, Beckham’s main income (aside from playing the sport) comes from his fashion and cosmetics contracts which include a £8.5m ($13.7m) deal to launch his new aftershave in the US
Rowneybury House, more frequently referred to as Beckingham Palace, hit the market last year and is expected to fetch around £18m ($29.3m) when it finally sells – a decent profit on the £2m ($3.2m) they bought it for in 1999.

Michael Owen

Estimated personal wealth: £40m ($65m)
Value of each senior league goal: £245,000 ($398,000)

Lucrative Deals and Assets
Owen rose to global fame in the World Cup in France, 1998. Since then, he has represented Tissot watches, Nestlé Sporties breakfast cereal, Persil washing powder and a Pro Evo Soccer computer game. Owen’s ongoing contract with Umbro is worth £2m ($3.2m).

Sol Campbell

Estimated personal wealth: £31m ($50.7m)
Value of each senior league goal: £1.6m ($2.4m)

Lucrative Deals and Assets
Campbell benefited from the Bosman ruling, absorbing what would have been transfer fees from Arsenal in 2001. His salary then was £5m ($8.2m), topped up by an endorsement deal with Nike. In 2010, he sued Portsmouth for “unpaid image rights and bonus payments” to the tune of £1.7m ($2.7m). Campbell’s house is now worth over £10m ($16.4m).

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