<p>Roger Staubach tops the list at $936 million AUD, making him the richest NFL player in the world. Fran Tarkenton sits at $468 million, with Tom Brady close behind at around $468 million.</p> <p>From Staubach's commercial real estate empire to Brady's broadcasting mega-deal, the wealthiest NFL players built fortunes that dwarf what they earned on the gridiron.</p> <p>And while the modern quarterback salary explosion means current stars like Patrick Mahomes will eventually challenge these totals, for now, business acumen beats passing yards when it comes to generational wealth.</p> <p>All figures in this list of the richest NFL players are in Australian dollars using the 2025 average exchange rate of 1 USD = 1.56 AUD.</p> <p>Before we get into the rankings, just a heads up that these figures are estimates rather than confirmed bank balances.&nbsp;</p> <p>To compile this list, we’ve looked at playing contracts, endorsements, business investments, and property holdings. Different sources report different numbers, so we've used the most commonly cited figures from reputable publications.</p> <p>On top of that, as you may expect, not everything is public - so we suggest you use the data on this page as an ‘estimate’ of the personal wealth accumulated by the players who influence the <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/american-football/nfl">NFL betting odds</a> you see here at Sportsbet every week.</p> <p>The NFL has always paid well, but what separates the truly wealthy from the merely rich is what players do with their money after the final whistle. Smart investments, franchise ownership, and post-career media deals have created fortunes that make even today's massive quarterback contracts look modest by comparison.</p> <h2>The Top 10 Richest NFL Players in the World</h2> <h3>1. Roger Staubach - $936 Million AUD (Dallas Cowboys)</h3> <p>Still the richest NFL player ever more than four decades after retirement, which tells you something about the power of a side hustle.</p> <p>Captain America won two <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/events/superbowl">Super Bowls</a> with the Dallas Cowboys between 1969 and 1979, but his highest annual salary never exceeded $250,000 AUD in today's money.</p> <p>Staubach founded The Staubach Company in 1977 while still playing quarterback. The commercial real estate firm specialised in tenant representation, a conflict-free model that attracted corporate giants like AT&amp;T and McDonald's.</p> <p>By 2008, Jones Lang LaSalle acquired the company for approximately $1 billion AUD, transforming Staubach from wealthy to extraordinarily wealthy overnight.</p> <p>What makes his story remarkable is his approach to employee wealth. More than 300 staff members held equity in the firm, and many received life-changing payouts when the deal closed.</p> <p>Staubach himself reportedly owned only 12% at the time of sale, having distributed stakes throughout the organisation. He continued with JLL as Executive Chairman of the Americas, earning approximately $18.7 million AUD annually at one point.</p> <h3>2. Fran Tarkenton - $468 Million AUD (Minnesota Vikings/New York Giants)</h3> <p>One of the greatest scramblers in NFL history made just $1.87 million AUD total during his 18-year playing career. That he sits second on this list speaks to investment decisions that would make Warren Buffett nod approvingly.</p> <p>Tarkenton founded Tarkenton Software in the late 1970s, eventually merging it with KnowledgeWare and serving as president until the company sold to Sterling Software in 1994. The real masterstroke came through his stake in Apple.</p> <p>Tarkenton quietly accumulated around 800,000 shares over several decades, and at current prices, that holding alone is worth approximately $337 million AUD.</p> <p>The nine-time Pro Bowler never won a Super Bowl despite reaching three, but his business record is spotless.</p> <p>He runs Tarkenton Companies, an umbrella organisation covering financial services, marketing, and consulting ventures. His speaking engagements command premium fees, and he's written multiple books on entrepreneurship. At 85, he remains active in the business community.</p> <h3>3. Tom Brady - $468 Million AUD (New England Patriots/Tampa Bay Buccaneers)</h3> <p>The greatest quarterback of all time earned approximately $520 million AUD during his 23-year playing career, making him the highest-earning player from NFL salary alone. Seven Super Bowl rings tend to command premium contracts, though Brady famously took team-friendly deals to help the Patriots build around him.</p> <p>His post-retirement earnings have exploded. Fox Sports signed Brady to a 10-year, $585 million AUD broadcasting contract, the richest in sports media history.</p> <p>He debuted as lead analyst in 2024, calling games alongside Kevin Burkhardt. Beyond commentary, Brady owns stakes in the Las Vegas Raiders (10%), the WNBA's Las Vegas Aces, Birmingham City FC, and Major League Pickleball's Las Vegas Night Owls.</p> <p>His business ventures include TB12 Sports (health and wellness), the apparel brand BRADY, NFT platform Autograph, and production company 199 Productions. The Florida mansion on Indian Creek Island alone is valued at over $234 million AUD.</p> <p>Brady's real estate portfolio spans New York, Montana, and includes a $26.5 million AUD Miami property on "Billionaire's Row."</p> <h3>4. Peyton Manning - $390 Million AUD (Indianapolis Colts/Denver Broncos)</h3> <p>The Sheriff earned approximately $387 million AUD in NFL salary alone, spending 14 seasons with the Colts and four with the Broncos. Five MVP awards and two Super Bowl victories made him one of the most marketable athletes of his generation.</p> <p>Manning's endorsement income has always been extraordinary. Nationwide, Papa John's, Gatorade, Buick, DirecTV, and Nike paid premium rates for his folksy persona and distinctive voice.</p> <p>Even in retirement, he pulls in approximately $39 million AUD annually from commercial appearances and brand partnerships.</p> <p>His Omaha Productions company creates content for ESPN, including the wildly popular "ManningCast" alternate Monday Night Football broadcast with brother Eli. The production deal reportedly runs through 2034.</p> <p>Manning owned 31 Papa John's franchises in Colorado before selling them, and his investment portfolio includes hospitality and tech ventures. He's also a professor at the University of Tennessee, proving that some people simply can't stop competing.</p> <h3>5. Aaron Rodgers - $312 Million AUD (Green Bay Packers/New York Jets/Pittsburgh Steelers)</h3> <p>The four-time MVP has accumulated over $593 million AUD in career NFL earnings, the highest total in league history from salary alone. His 2022 extension with Green Bay was worth $312 million AUD over four years, though he was traded to the Jets in 2023.</p> <p>Rodgers' endorsement portfolio has been lucrative but complicated. His 12-year partnership with State Farm, worth approximately $56 million AUD total, ended in 2022. Current deals include Adidas, TaylorMade, Zenith watches, and Fanatics. He earns approximately $14 million AUD annually from off-field partnerships.</p> <p>The investment side shows genuine sophistication. Rodgers purchased a 1% stake in the Milwaukee Bucks in 2018, a holding now worth approximately $67 million AUD following the team's 2021 championship and rising valuations. He co-founded RX3 Growth Partners, an institutional growth equity firm backing consumer brands like Crunch Fitness and Super Coffee. Real estate holdings include a $43.7 million AUD Malibu mansion and a $14.8 million AUD New Jersey home near MetLife Stadium.</p> <h3>6. Russell Wilson - $257-265 Million AUD (Seattle Seahawks/Denver Broncos/Pittsburgh Steelers/New York Giants)</h3> <p>The Super Bowl XLVIII champion signed a five-year, $378 million AUD contract with Denver in 2022, though the Broncos released him in 2024. Despite the football disappointment, Wilson pocketed approximately $59 million AUD in guaranteed money and collected $37.8 million from Denver while playing elsewhere.</p> <p>His 13-year career has generated over $476 million AUD in total earnings. Off the field, Wilson co-owns the Seattle Sounders FC alongside wife Ciara, and the team won an MLS Cup in 2019.</p> <p>He founded West2East Empire, a brand management firm with multiple production companies underneath, and launched Good Man Brand, a lifestyle clothing label. His children's sportswear line 3BRAND with Ciara reportedly generated over $156 million AUD in sales in 2024.</p> <p>Endorsement partners include Nike, Amazon, Mercedes-Benz, Bose, and Microsoft. His annual off-field income sits around $20 million AUD. The couple's real estate portfolio included a Bellevue, Washington mansion that sold for $56 million AUD and a $39 million AUD Cherry Hills Village home in Denver.</p> <h3>7. Patrick Mahomes - $140 Million AUD (Kansas City Chiefs)</h3> <p>The face of modern football signed a 10-year, $702 million AUD contract extension in 2020, the largest deal in professional sports history at the time. Mahomes has already earned three Super Bowl rings and two MVP awards, and he's only 30.</p> <p>His endorsement portfolio generates approximately $31 million AUD annually through partnerships with Adidas (his signature shoe line), State Farm, Oakley, Subway, and dozens of other brands. Investment-wise, Mahomes became a minority owner of the Kansas City Royals in 2020, followed by stakes in Sporting KC, the Kansas City Current (NWSL), and most recently, the Alpine Formula 1 team alongside Travis Kelce and Ryan Reynolds.</p> <p>Business ventures include Throne Sport Coffee (lead investor), the Whataburger franchise group bringing locations to Kansas and Missouri, and equity in fitness tech companies Whoop and Hyperice.&nbsp;</p> <p>His Kansas City estate spans eight acres and features a 40-yard football field, par-3 golf hole, and indoor basketball court. Mahomes' current net worth understates his ultimate ceiling, as most of his contract money remains to be paid.</p> <h3>8. Travis Kelce - $140 Million AUD (Kansas City Chiefs)</h3> <p>The tight end position historically doesn't generate quarterback money, but Kelce redefined what's possible. His NFL contracts have generated over $173 million AUD in career earnings, and his current deal pays approximately $26.7 million AUD annually, making him the highest-paid tight end in league history.</p> <p>His off-field income has exploded since his relationship with Taylor Swift went public in 2023. The "New Heights" podcast with brother Jason landed a three-year, $156 million AUD deal with Amazon's Wondery.</p> <p>Endorsement partners include Nike, Bud Light, State Farm, McDonald's, Papa John's, Pfizer, and over a dozen other major brands, generating approximately $7.8 million AUD annually.</p> <p>Business investments include equity in Cholula Hot Sauce (sold to McCormick for a reported 4x return), Casa Azul Tequila, Hydrow rowing machines, the Alpine F1 team, and his apparel brand Tru Kolors. Acting roles in "Happy Gilmore 2" and hosting "Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity?" have opened entertainment industry doors. His engagement to Swift in August 2025 will eventually combine two of entertainment's largest fortunes.</p> <h3>9. Kirk Cousins - $250 Million AUD (Washington/Minnesota Vikings/Atlanta Falcons)</h3> <p>The former Michigan State quarterback has earned approximately $458 million AUD in NFL salary alone, making him one of the highest-paid players in history by total earnings despite never reaching a Super Bowl. His $69 million AUD salary in 2024 with Atlanta topped the league.</p> <p>Cousins built his wealth through fully guaranteed contracts, a strategy that maximised security over upside. His endorsement deals include Frito-Lay and Tostitos, though his off-field income is modest compared to others on this list.</p> <p>He's known for financial conservatism, famously driving a modest vehicle and avoiding flashy purchases despite nine-figure earnings.</p> <p>His net worth reflects smart money management rather than aggressive investment. Real estate holdings are substantial but not publicly detailed. What Cousins proves is that sustained high performance at the quarterback position, even without championships, generates generational wealth in the modern NFL salary era.</p> <h3>10. Matthew Stafford - $234 Million AUD (Detroit Lions/Los Angeles Rams)</h3> <p>The Super Bowl LVI champion spent 12 seasons in Detroit before finally winning a championship with the Rams in 2022.</p> <p>His NFL earnings exceed $568 million AUD, putting him among the highest-paid players in league history. In 2025, he earns approximately $42 million AUD, making him the highest-paid player in the league by total career earnings.</p> <p>Stafford's investment portfolio isn't as publicly documented as others on this list, but his playing earnings alone secured generational wealth. Endorsement partners have included Nike and various regional brands. His wife Kelly maintains a significant social media presence that generates additional family income.</p> <p>Real estate holdings include luxury properties in California. Stafford represents the modern quarterback market, where sustained starter-level play guarantees nine-figure career earnings regardless of championship success. His Super Bowl ring simply added to an already massive fortune built through 17 years of professional play.</p> <h2>FAQs</h2> <h3>Who is the richest NFL player of all time?</h3> <p>Roger Staubach holds the title with an estimated net worth of $936 million AUD. His fortune came primarily from selling The Staubach Company, his commercial real estate firm, to Jones Lang LaSalle for approximately $1 billion AUD in 2008.</p> <h3>Which active NFL player has the highest net worth?</h3> <p>Aaron Rodgers leads active players with an estimated $312 million AUD net worth, built from over $593 million AUD in career NFL earnings plus endorsements and investments including a stake in the Milwaukee Bucks.</p> <h3>How much did Tom Brady earn during his NFL career?</h3> <p>Tom Brady earned approximately $520 million AUD in NFL salary and bonuses during his 23-year career. His $585 million AUD broadcasting deal with Fox Sports will eventually push his total career earnings well above $1 billion AUD.</p> <h3>Why is Patrick Mahomes' net worth relatively low despite his massive contract?</h3> <p>Mahomes' $702 million AUD contract runs through 2031, meaning most of the money hasn't been paid yet. His current $140 million AUD net worth reflects earnings to date rather than guaranteed future payments.</p> <h3>Do NFL players make more from contracts or endorsements?</h3> <p>It varies by player. Star quarterbacks typically earn more from contracts, while household names like Travis Kelce can match or exceed salary income through endorsements. Business ventures and investments often generate the largest long-term returns.</p> <h3>Which NFL players have ownership stakes in sports teams?</h3> <p>Tom Brady owns shares in the Las Vegas Raiders, WNBA's Las Vegas Aces, and Birmingham City FC. Patrick Mahomes holds stakes in the Kansas City Royals, Sporting KC, and Alpine F1. Aaron Rodgers owns part of the Milwaukee Bucks. Russell Wilson co-owns the Seattle Sounders.</p>