Everyone knows that professional athletes are extremely well-paid, particularly in some sports, but many have gone on to find great success off the field, whether this was during their playing career or in their retirement. These athletes have used their success on the field (or equivalent) to trigger success in other ventures, such as entertainment and investments, to build wealth. So, if you have ever wondered which professional athletes have made it big off the field, then read on to find out what a few of the most notable examples are of sports stars finding success away from their sport.
1. Michael Jordan
Unsurprisingly, Michael Jordan finds his way onto the list as the greatest basketball player of all-time but also one which had an enormous impact on pop culture across the globe throughout the 90s. Air Jordan certainly earned his fair share on the hardwood, but he has actually earned more money through other avenues both during his playing career and now in retirement. This includes his own footwear and clothing empire Air Jordan, being the principal owner of the Charlotte Hornets NBA team and various other investments. Research by Cash Lady found that MJ had an estimated worth of a staggering $1.65 billion.
2. Roger Staubach
The NFL was dominated by the Dallas Cowboys for much of the 70s largely due to the incredible play of their star quarterback Roger Staubach which earned him the nickname “Captain Comeback.” Staubach was a great success on the gridiron, but this was not the one place where he was successful, and he continuously worked during his career to build his personal worth (this is smart knowing that a career in the NFL can be short). Staubach worked as a real estate officer during the off-season, and his investments turned out to be smart ones. He now has a personal worth of over $600 million – this led people to refer to him as “Captain Real Estate” off the field, and it is a great story well told by Sports Illustrated.
3. George Foreman
Sports and TV have a good history, even now with streaming available, and it was exactly how George Foreman became what he is today. To most people under the age of 30, George Foreman is probably best known for his amusing “lean mean grilling machine” adverts, which has helped sell over 100 million units worldwide. This is quite something when you consider just what a successful boxer he was during the 1970s as a former heavyweight champion and famously beating Joe Frazier before a successful comeback in the 90s. In addition to the grilling machine, Foreman also has had many other ventures, including car repairs centers, eco-friendly cleaning products, a restaurant franchise, and a line of personal care items, so he is quite the entrepreneur.
These are three of the best examples of athletes that went on to find incredible success off the back of their playing career. Professional athletes often have short careers, which means that they have to be intelligent in order to maintain a high level of wealth, but these three athletes took this to the next level and found greater success away from their respective sports.
