How Rich are Michael Jordan, Alex Rodriguez And 13 More Incredibly Wealthy Retired Athletes?
For the majority of Americans, retiring before we've reached our sixties is seldom more than a pipe dream -- but that’s not the case for top-tier athletes. Sports legends typically retire well before their twilight years -- and with ample assets to fall back on. Basketball legend Michael Jordan, who retired for good in 2003, was just 40 years old when he hung up his sneakers and has an estimated net worth of $140 million.
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Again, the typical celebrity athlete is not like that of the average Americans because seldom do they actually fully retire. Jordan, for instance, has continued to earn millions from his partnership with Nike, as well as his ownership of the NBA's Charlotte Hornets.
Here’s a look at 14 other retired athletes who have a net worth of $300 million or more.
Last updated: July 27, 2021
George Foreman: $300 Million
Retired: 1997
Heavyweight champion George Foreman retired at the age of 45 with a 76-5 career record. And it's not just boxing that made him rich -- Foreman has brought in millions with his "Lean Mean Grilling Machine," which has sold over 100 million units worldwide. He has also been a spokesperson for Meineke Car Care Centers and launched several businesses, including a line of environmentally safe cleaning products, a line of personal care products, a prescription shoe for diabetics and a restaurant franchise called UFood Grille. He has also written 10 books and is a preacher.
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Dale Earnhardt Jr.: $300 Million
Retired: 2017
Stock-car racing is in Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s blood as the third generation of his family to compete in the sport. He boasts 26 career victories, including two Daytona 500 wins. Since retiring, he joined NBC Sports Group as a NASCAR analyst, and he still drives part-time for the NASCAR XFinity Series.
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Alex Rodriguez: $350 Million
Retired: 2016
Over the course of his 22-year professional baseball career, Alex Rodriguez hit the most grand slams in MLB history, was named MVP three times and an All-Star 14 times and won the 2009 World Series with the New York Yankees. He's also the founder of A-Rod Corp, a fully integrated investment firm, and works as a sports analyst for various networks. Rodriguez is engaged to fellow celebrity Jennifer Lopez.
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Jack Nicklaus: $400 Million
Retired: 2005
Jack Nicklaus won 18 Majors during his pro golf career and has since focused his attention on his golf course design company, Nicklaus Design. The company has developed over 425 courses in 45 countries. Nicklaus also sponsors The Memorial tournament on the PGA Tour each year.
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Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson: $400 Million
Retired: 2019
Although he played college football at the University of Miami before making it big in professional wrestling, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has made his big bucks as an actor. He topped Forbes' list of highest-paid actors for 2020 with $87.5 million in earnings for the year, making $23.5 million for the Netflix film "Red Notice", Forbes reported. He also got paid $700,000 per episode for HBO’s "Ballers" and seven-figure royalties for his line of clothing, shoes and headphones with Under Armour, Forbes reported.
Johnson is also a part owner of the XFL football league. "Young Rock", a biographical comedy show about his growing up, is on NBC.
Shaquille O'Neal: $400 Million
Retired: 2011
The NBA's No. 8 scorer of all time, Shaquille O'Neal has made money through licensing deals, endorsement deals and his Shaq/Dunkman shoe lines, which have sold more than 100 million pairs worldwide, Forbes reported. He is currently an analyst on "Inside The NBA" and hosts a podcast called "The Big Podcast with Shaq."
Greg Norman: $400 Million
Retired: 2012
Known as the "Great White Shark," Greg Norman has won more than 90 tournaments around the world, including two Open Championships. He's also a successful entrepreneur with businesses that include a golf course design company, an international real estate collection, award-winning wine, a line of golf-inspired apparel and an investment division.
Vinnie Johnson: $400 Million
Retired: 1992
He won two championship rings during his time in the NBA, but Vinnie Johnson gained his biggest success after retiring from the sport. The former Detroit Pistons guard -- known as "The Microwave" -- founded Piston Automotive in 1995. The company is a major supplier for international automotive brands, including Ford Motor Company and General Motors Co.
David Beckham: $450 Million
Retired: 2013
British soccer star David Beckham won 10 league titles during his 21-year career. His salary was $5.3 million during his final year and he has also earned millions from commercial endorsement deals with Adidas, Coty, H&M, Sainsbury's, Samsung, Breitling and more, Forbes reported. Although he no longer plays soccer professionally, Beckham hasn't left the sport completely. He is a co-owner of Miami's new soccer team, Inter Miami CF.
Floyd Mayweather, Jr: $450 Million
Retired: 2017
Undefeated boxing legend Floyd Mayweather, Jr. is retired for now, but he’s more than hinted at an imminent comeback to the ring, so his retirement date may change again -- for the fourth time. What doesn’t appear to be changing any time soon though, is his stance as a multimillionaire. Despite his notoriously lavish spending habits (according to Business Insider he bought an $18 million watch called "The Billionaire”, among other ultra-VIP splurges), the 44-year-old boxer turned promoter simply has to show up to make a fortune.
For his final fight in 2017 against Conor McGregor, the fighter made a record $275 million, according to Forbes. That year he made an additional $10 million from endorsements, appearances and memorabilia -- topping Forbes’ annual list of the world’s highest-paid athletes that year.
Roger Staubach: $600 Million
Retired: 1979
Roger Staubach, aka "Roger The Dodger," played for the Dallas Cowboys for 11 years, during which he was selected to six Pro Bowls. He was named the NFL Players Association Most Valuable Player in 1971, and he led his team to two Super Bowl victories. In 2019, he partnered with the Cowboys to develop a luxury high-rise apartment on the site of the team's world headquarters and practice facility in Frisco, Texas, Forbes reported.
Michael Schumacher: $600 Million
Retired: 2012
German racecar driver Michael Schumacher won the Formula One World Drivers' Championship seven times -- tied with Lewis Hamilton for the most in history. He is currently rehabbing privately after suffering a traumatic brain injury in a skiing accident.
Magic Johnson: $600 Million
Retired: 1996
Magic Johnson retired with five NBA championships under his belt. He reportedly made more than $100 million from his 2010 sales of 105 Starbucks franchises and his 4.5% stake in the Los Angeles Lakers, Forbes reported. Johnson is currently chairman and CEO of Magic Johnson Enterprises, an investment conglomerate valued at an estimated $1 billion, according to his website, and he is part-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Ion Țiriac: $1.2 Billion
Retired: 1979
Ion Țiriac also known as the 'Brașov Bulldozer', has built a name for himself both as an athlete on the tennis courts and ice hockey fields -- but he’s arguably been most outstanding in the world of business. Heading Tiriac Group, which has interests in the auto retail, financial, real estate and aviation sectors, Țiriac has become a bona fide billionaire. His world-famous motorcycle and car collection features over 30 brands including one of a kind Rolls-Royce and Aston Martin models. Tiriac also is president of the Romanian Tennis Association.
Michael Jordan: $2.2 Billion
Retired: 2003
Possibly the NBA's greatest player of all time, Michael Jordan earned $90 million in salary during his career and another $1.4 billion from corporate partners, Forbes reported. He has sponsorship deals with Nike, Hanes, Gatorade and Upper Deck.
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George Malone contributed to the reporting for this article.
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: How Rich are Michael Jordan, Alex Rodriguez And 13 More Incredibly Wealthy Retired Athletes?
