Tom Brady may be the ‘GOAT’ of the NFL, but when it comes to former athletes and the business hall of fame, the 44-year-old still has plenty of work to do to catch up to other living legends who have extended — and accelerated — their earnings power long after their playing days were done.
Although Brady starts the second chapter of his professional life with an estimated net worth of $250 million, other living sport legends — such as 79-year-old Roger Staubach and 58-year-old Michael Jordan — are already millions of dollars and decades of deals ahead of him, with projected net worths of $700 million and $1.6 billion, respectively.
There’s also still-active, and younger, soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo to catch, as the 36-year-old Portuguese star athlete and pitchman is also reported to be worth more than $1 billion.
Although they dominated different sports in different eras and likely appeal to different demographics, it does not seem like a stretch to envision a Jordan versus Brady rivalry getting underway. If it does, the more global appeal of basketball, Jordan and the NBA will be a formidable foe for the more domestically-oriented star of American football.
The Portfolio
Even before his retirement, when Brady was taking in roughly $30 million a year in salary, his off-field penchant for business was well underway, with an eclectic, or perhaps diversified, portfolio of holdings, endorsements and off-field interests.
In his announcement statement, the oft-touted ‘Greatest Of All Time,’ or ‘GOAT,’ made no secret that with football out of the picture, he planned to put his competitive spirit into family and business.
“I have loved my NFL career, and now it is time to focus my time and energy on other things that require my attention,” Brady said via his personal Twitter account. “The future is exciting and I’m fortunate to have co-founded incredible companies like @autograph.io and @bradybrand, and @TB12sports that I am excited to continue to help build and grow.”
One recent example of Brady’s prowess as a CEO and branding power came in December, when Autograph did a drop and auction of nearly 17,000 non-fungible tokens (NFTs).
As it turns out, “Live Forever: The Tom Brady Origins Collection” sold out in minutes, with fans, collectors and speculators grabbing up certified images at starting at $80 each.
Just two weeks ago, another venture of the future Hall of Famer came to life, as Nordstrom unveiled the Brady Brand line of athletic apparel, touting the combination of decades of NFL experience, three years of development and the use of specially engineered fabrics and materials.
Read more: Nordstrom Hopes to Score With Tom Brady-Themed Apparel
While Brady’s cut of the $95 “cotton fleece varsity hoodies” emblazoned with his last name on them is confidential, the point and potential of the partnership is clear.
In a news release, Norstrom said, “The collection is built for everyone; one that you can take to the gym, to the office,” — and, presumably, also to the bank.
We’re always on the lookout for opportunities to partner with innovators and disruptors.
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