The Wealthiest Sports Personalities Today
"Sport has the power to change the world," Nelson Mandela said. “It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does." These are all true words spoken by one of the most important people to walk this Earth. For those who are involved in sports at a high enough level get paid a pretty penny as well. Mandela told us how much power lies within it, so the high pay is warranted. Take a look at some of the highest net worths of coaches, analysts, and other sports personalities.
Jimmy Johnson -EST. $45 MILLION
Before he was the coach of the Dallas Cowboys or the Miami Dolphins, Jimmy Johnson was on the sidelines of college games coaching for Oklahoma State University and the University of Miami. Now, you can find him calling the games from the broadcasting booth.
Johnson earned the privilege of getting inducted into the popular College Football Hall of Fame back in 2012. You can catch him on Fox Sports sharpening his analytical chops from time to time.
Shaquille O'Neal — EST. $400M
Dubbed one of the most dominant players in NBA history if not the most, Shaquille O'Neal made quite a life for himself after retiring. It all started during his playing years as Shaq could showcase his big personality. He was a rapper and an actor while still playing in the NBA.
He's made smart investments along the way as well which have all helped him build the large bank account he has now. During the NBA season, you can catch him every Thursday on TNT after the games.
Bill Belichick – EST. $60 MILLION
Were you aware that Bill Belichick is also the general manager of the Patriots? You already know about his coaching prowess, as he's coached the Pats to six Super Bowl victories on nine appearances.
His father was a coach and thats where Belichick says he got his inspiration from. Before his time in New England, he was coaching up the New York Giants. Yes, his career has had its fair share of controversies, but his success outweighs the blemishes.
Mike Holmgren – EST. $16 MILLION
Mike Holmgren had a great start to his head coaching career out in Green Bay. In just his fifth season, he led them to a Super Bowl victory with a 13-3 record in 1996. His tenure in Green Bay ended in '98, then he found himself coaching the Seattle Seahawks through 2008.
Since 2012, you can hear Holmgren working as an analyst for Seattle Sports station. There was also a short stint of him working as the president of the Cleveland Browns.
Steve Mariucci – EST. $16 MILLION
His nickname is "Mooch," and by the looks of his net worth, plenty of people can mooch off of him if they wanted too. Steve Mariucci used to coach the Detroit Lions and the San Francisco 49ers.
Much like many others on this list, Mooch now works as a sportscaster. It seems like the thing to do for ex-coaches and players who aren't done with the sport yet and still wish to share their vast knowledge of the game.
Sean Payton – EST. $24 MILLION
The head coach of the New Orleans Saints has had one thrilling career. Sean Payton used to play football in 1987 but only played for one year. He began his coaching journey at San Diego State University as the offensive coach.
After leaving San Diego State, Payton headed to the Saints and helped lead them to a Super Bowl victory in 2009 with Drew Brees as his quarterback. Hopefully, Payton will have many years to come to try and win more titles.
Reggie Miller – EST. $80 MILLION
Reggie Miller laments the fact that he isn't playing in today's NBA game. The former immaculate three-point shooter would love to be able to hoist up three-pointers all game like Steph Curry does. He may not have won any rings thanks to Michael Jordan always beating him in the playoffs, but he's learned to move on.
Now, he's busy commentating on the sidelines as he watches Curry and others launch three-pointers all game. He works on TNT and on NBATV as well if you wanted to catch him during and after basketball games.
Sean McVay – EST. $40 MILLION
Once the Rams organization hired Sean McVay in 2017, he became the youngest head coach in modern NFL history at age 30. One can imagine that his net worth is only going to trend upwards as he reaches the age of the average head coach.
Not only did he win the AP NFL Coach of the Year his first year coaching, automatically making him the youngest to ever win it, but he also led the Rams to the Super Bowl at a pretty young age in 2019.
Ernie Johnson – EST. $16 MILLION
Consider Ernie Johnson the glue that holds the TNT Overtime crew together. The sportscaster began working in the field during his time a the University of Georgia. During the '90s, he called games for the Atlanta Braves with his father.
After that, he finally came into the role that would ultimately lead to him winning an Emmy as host for the post-game show Inside the NBA. He has the duty of keeping Shaq and Charles Barkley respectable (more on Barkley later).
Roger Goodell – EST. $200 MILLION
The commissioner of America's beloved sport, football, racks in a ton of cash. While it's his duty to make sure everything is running smoothly, he must also be the guy to make the tough decisions. Sometimes, his judgment gets ridiculed but at the end of the day, he still brings home the big bucks.
Roger Goodell took the position in 2006 and has since become one of the most powerful men in sports. He has twin daughters with his wife Jane Skinner, who is a former Fox News anchor.
Jason Garrett – EST. $18 MILLION
Jason Garrett used to be a player back in the day. Today, however, he likes to coach the young ones towards victories as the Dallas Cowboys head coach. Garrett's father Jim Garret was a coach as well, so we're sure Jason wanted to follow in his father's footsteps.
As hard as Garrett has tried with the level of talent on his roster over the years, he still can't seem to make it to the big game in February. Here's to hoping he will finally get over the hump!
Gary Kubiak – EST. $18 MILLION
As of January 2019, Gary Kubiak is the assistant head coach and offensive advisor for the Minnesota Vikings. The former player used to be the senior personnel advisor for the Denver Broncos as well. His coaching history includes Texas A&M and the San Francisco 49ers.
Kubiak had a health scare a while back but a wrongful death lawyer wasn't needed. The Vikings got a pretty good man for the job and they should start seeing improvement soon!
Terry Bradshaw – EST. $25 MILLION
Terry Bradshaw is a former NFL quarterback who played 14 seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He led his team to three Super Bowl Titles in six years which is nothing to scoff at.
Now, Bradshaw enjoys his time with Fox Sports as a sports analyst and host for Fox NFL Sunday. He shares his opinions on all the trending NFL news and doesn't hold back. If we're counting marriages too, Bradshaw has tied the knot four times.
Kenny Smith – EST. $20 MILLION
Kenny Smith is a former NBA player who won a championship with the Houston Rockets. He was a sharpshooter on the court that big men loved to pass to whenever they got double teamed.
The University of North Carolina alum now enjoys analyzing games along with Shaq, Charles Barkley, and Ernie Johnson on Inside the NBA which airs every Thursday during the NBA season. Some have speculated that he might get boosted into a head coach position soon.
John Fox – EST. $13 MILLION
2002 was the year John Fox started head coaching. His first stint was with the Carolina Panthers, a team he would lead to the Super Bowl, but end up losing to the New England Patriots on a last-second field goal. He later went to the Broncos and led them to a Super Bowl appearance as well before getting fired.
His last coaching gig was with the Chicago Bears. After an abysmal start to the 2017 season, the organization let him go. On March 20, 2018, Fox decided to sign on board with Fox and become a studio analyst.
Kirk Ferentz – EST. $16 MILLION
Can you believe it? Kirk Ferentz has been the head coach at the University of Iowa since the 1999 season. That's going on two decades now! That's longer than players play and many other coaches coach. He gained much experience from his days as an assistant NFL coach for the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns.
Ferentz has come a long way since his playing days as linebacker for the University of Connecticut. He must be doing something right over in Iowa.
Jon Gruden – EST. $30 MILLION
In 2018, the Oakland Raiders welcomed back Jon Gruden for a second stint, signing a 10-year contract worth around $100 million. Before he landed with Oakland, he was jumping around as an analyst and a head coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
That deal he signed with the Raiders for sure makes him one of the richest coaches to date, so we're sure he won't have to worry about money for a long time. Let's just see the results he brings to the Silver and Black.
Steve Kerr – EST. $45 MILLION
Steve Kerr is the man tasked with the duties of leading a team of all-stars to the promise land. As easy as it seems to lead Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, DeMarcus Cousins, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green to Finals every year, it actually isn't.
A squad full of different egos and players who all know they're some of the best players in the league can be tough to coach. However, Kerr does an amazing job at it. He's won some rings when he played with Michael Jordan so he understands what it takes.
Ron Rivera – EST. $10 MILLION
The head coach for the Carolina Panthers is doing pretty good for himself. Since taking over the team, he's led them to three divisional titles and a Super Bowl appearance. He's got one outstanding player at quarterback in Cam Newton, so that makes life a little easier.
Ron Rivera's house burned down in 2015 and the damages cost him around $500,000. With his net worth like that, $500k probably is nothing but pocket change for him.
Charles Barkley – EST. $40 MILLION
We had to complete the TNT Overtime crew by adding in Charles Barkley. Sir Charles is a retired NBA player who earned a ranking in the top 50 players of all-time. Shaq might always remind him that he has no rings, but he was still one of the best to ever do it.
He now spends his time commentating and analyzing the NBA with his own unique perspectives. Many have challenged his way of thinking but it still doesn't deter Barkley.
Mike McCarthy - EST. $9 MILLION
Mike McCarthy has earned his vacation from the NFL. Starting his career in the nineties as a coaching assistant, he eventually became the head coach of the Packers while Brett Favre was still the quarterback.
McCarthy then held down the job during the transition to Aaron Rodgers, winning a Super Bowl along the way. After the 2018 season, the Packers fired McCarthy, ready to go in a new direction. The coach, who is worth an estimated $9 million, is taking a break from football to spend much deserved time with his family.
Jeff Fisher - EST. $20 MILLION
You might not like Jeff Fisher, but you can't deny the fact that he was in the NFL as a head coach for a long time. Worth around $16 million today, it's easy to forget that he nearly won a Super Bowl as the head coach of the Titans.
That Titans tenure was overshadowed by his resume with the Rams, which saw him run the team into the ground. These days, Fisher is working with the Alliance of American Football to help grow the start up league.
Don Shula - EST. $60 MILLION
Don Shula is unquestionably one of the greatest head coaches in the history of the NFL. During his time with the Miami Dolphins, he built a dynasty winning a Super Bowl and coaching the only team to ever go undefeated.
Before that he was a transcendent player as a defensive back for the Washington Redskins, Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Colts. He has also invested his money well and owns several successful non-football related business ventures.
Chuck Pagano - EST. $9 MILLION
Chuck Pagano is one of the most inspirational names on this list. Worth nearly $10 million today, you would never know his career was nearly derailed by cancer. A few years into his tenure as the head coach of the Colts, Pagano began treatments.
He recovered fully, and continued with his duties. After Andrew Luck's shoulder gave out on him, Pagano struggled to maintain control of the team, ultimately leading to his dismissal. Today, he is the defensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears.
Jerry Rice - EST. $50 MILLION
To many, Jerry Rice is the greatest football player to ever exist. He owns every important record for wide receivers and won three Super Bowl rings during his illustrious career, In 2006, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame.
By our accounts, Rice is worth an estimated $55 million today. To gain his wealth in a time when athlete's weren't highly paid, Rice took advantage of his celebrity and earned millions through lucrative sponsorship deals.
Lovie Smith - EST. $20 MILLION
Lovie Smith spent ten years as the head coach of the Chicago Bears. During his time he led the team to the Super Bowl, losing to Peyton Manning and the Colts. In his final season in Chicago, the Bears went 10-6 and he was unceremoniously fired. A brief stint with Tampa Bay followed.
After taking a break from coach, Smith returned the sidelines, taking the head coaching job at the University of Illinois, where he has been ever since.
Jordy Nelson - EST. $25 MILLION
Jordy Nelson made a name for himself as the favorite target of Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The two seemed like they would play out their entire careers together. Then Nelson tore his ACL and the magic was gone.
In 2018, Nelson played for the Oakland Raiders, although he hardly made an impact on a team that was destined to lose. Now on the wrong side of his career, Nelson will have to settle for being a role player if he wants to grow his impressive net worth.
Colin Kaepernick - EST. $20 MILLION
Love him or hate him, it's hard to deny the influence Colin Kaepernick had on society. As the franchise quarterback for the 49ers, he led the team to the Super Bowl before his career cratered.
Choosing to kneel for the National Anthem, Kaepernick found himself without a team a few years later. Now out of the NFL, the quarterback is likely worth much more than the estimate you see. Not only is he the current face of Nike, he also settled a collusion case against the NFL for an undisclosed amount of money.
Michael Phelps - EST. $100 MILLION
As a professional swimmer, Michael Phelps has made most of his money off of incredibly lucrative sponsorships. When he set records for gold medals at the Olympics, company starting lining up at his door with brief cases full of cash.
With his swimming career over, Phelps now must transition to a new gig while maintaining the high public profile his sponsors give him. We think he's be a perfect television personality and an even better swimming coach.
Connor McGregor - EST. $200 MILLION
Connor McGregor is worth a whole lot of money. The real question is how much of that money will he ever see. Since becoming the face of mixed martial arts around the world, McGregor has also become one of the most arrested athletes in the last few years.
The definition of living life one day at a time, McGregor has a financial adviser to keep track of his money, while he keeps tracking of having fun without a care in the world.
Serena Williams - EST. $250 MILLION
Serena Williams might be the most recognizable female athlete of all-time. Not only is she a tennis legend still in the prime of her career, but she is also a fashion icon that women around the world look up to.
More recently, Williams started a family with her husband, the founder of Reddit. We don't know how she has time for her family and her career, but she does it all without breaking a sweat. Unless she's on the court.
Tom Brady - EST. $250 MILLION
Tom Brady has won six Super Bowls. He has several sponsorship deals with luxury fashion brands and runs his own wellness line. All of that means he is worth a lot of money, and when he retires from the NFL he will never have to work another day in his life.
Knowing Brady, though, he will want to. The man doesn't sleep. Not only is he running a business while acting as the face of the Patriots, he is also raising three kids!
Tiger Woods - EST. $800 MILLION
We had to double check that number when we saw it. We had no idea Tiger Woods was worth nearly one billion dollars. When we started to think about it, however, it made sense.
Woods is the greatest golfer of his generation and is still entering tournament today. On top of that, he has sponsorship deals galore and made hundreds of millions off Nike before they ended their relationship with him. He's clearly doing okay without them.
Andy Reid - EST. $30 MILLION
When it comes to head coaching in the NFL, Andy Reid is a lifer. For more then a decade he ran the show in Philly, even making a Super Bowl appearance. When he was fired a few years ago, he didn't stay unemployed for very long.
The Kansas City Chiefs hired him, and he traded for Alex Smith to be his quarterback. Oh yeah, he also drafted reigning league MVP Patrick Mahomes, who made Smith expendable during the 2018 offseason.
Doug Pederson - EST. $12 MILLION
Doug Pederson has been a revelation since taking over as the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles. He drafted Carson Wentz and convinced Nick Foles to be his backup quarterback. Then he won a Super Bowl after Wentz tore his ACL.
Foles went on to sign an $88 million contract with the Jaguars, and Pederson gets to go sleep at night as the only head coach in Eagles' history to win a Super Bowl. Not too shabby.
Mike Zimmer- EST. $12 MILLION
Mike Zimmer is one of the most respected head coaches in the NFL. Coming through the assistant ranks with the Bengals, when the Vikings hired Zimmer to take charge, he never looked back. Since that time, he has taken Minnesota to the brink of the Super Bowl on several occasions.
After signing Kirk Cousins in the 2018 offseason, Zimmer is hoping to finally get over the hump in the coming years. His team has the talent, but do they have the drive and determination?
