When Tom Brady was drafted by the New England Patriots (in the sixth round, lest we forget), Bill Clinton was President of the United States. Artists like Christina Aguilera, Destiny’s Child, NSYNC, and Sisqo were topping the charts.
In the 23 years Brady spent playing pro football, he established himself as quite possibly the most decorated team sports athlete of all time. He ranks first all-time in passing yards and passing touchdowns by a fairly wide margin.
Brady’s 251 career wins are 65 more than his next closest contemporaries, Brett Favre and Peyton Manning. He won an unprecedented seven Super Bowls, garnered Super Bowl MVP honors five times, and took home the NFL MVP award another three times.
Given his unparalleled achievements, it’s no surprise that Brady earned a pretty penny throughout his decorated pro career. And even though his NFL playing days are over, he’ll actually earn more in retirement thanks to the monster broadcasting contract he signed with Fox.
How Did Tom Brady Accumulate His Net Worth?
Brady signed a total of 12 different contracts (including extensions/restructures) during his pro career. His rookie contract earned him an average annual salary of $288,833. Each of the following deals ranged in average value from $7 million up to $25 million.
Brady was often lauded during his career for leaving money on the table to help team brass construct a stronger roster around him.
But his pockets aren’t hurting any post-retirement because of it. Most sites estimate that Brady’s net worth is somewhere in the range of $300 million to $450 million.
However, Brady didn’t build his fortune exclusively through playing football. His successes and popularity on the gridiron opened up a world of opportunity for him in the land of advertising and product endorsement.
Brady has banked $150 million from endorsements alone. Even in the modern era, that’s still almost three years’ salary for Justin Herbert or Joe Burrow.
Brady has teamed with a variety of brands, including Under Armour, Ugg, Aston Martin, T-Mobile, Hertz, Subway, and Fanatics. Brady also has his apparel line, TB12, and a sportswear brand, Brady. He also co-founded the company Autograph.
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In addition to his endorsements, Brady’s post-NFL career will actually pay him more than his quarterbacking days, as he signed a 10-year, $375 million contract with Fox to join their broadcast team. And the visibility that comes with being a top NFL broadcaster will likely lead to even more endorsement deals (just ask Tony Romo).
Also, Brady continues to make moves in retirement, recently partnering with Delta Airlines as a strategic advisor. He has also invested in the soccer club Birmingham City, the Las Vegas Aces of the WNBA, and the Las Vegas Night Owls in Major League Pickleball.
He’s also now a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders, and he’s been very involved in their offseason moves (including the hire of head coach Pete Carroll. An NFL analyst recently revealed that Brady is “running everything” for the Raiders.
Brady casts a wide net and grabs seemingly every opportunity that comes his way, which has proven to be plenty lucrative for “Tom Terrific” in recent years.
One thing’s for sure, it pays to be the GOAT.