Over the last seven years, Patrick Mahomes has cemented himself as the greatest quarterback of this generation and one of the all-time greats. With two MVPs, three Super Bowl victories, and five appearances, the start of his career has been nothing short of extraordinary.
Very quickly, he’s solidified his chase towards Tom Brady as the greatest of all time.
While his quest to officially surpass the New England Patriots legend carries on, Mahomes is also catching up with the seven-time Super Bowl champion off the field, in terms of his financial status. Today, let’s break down the net worth of the two NFL legends.
How Tom Brady Built His $450 Million Fortune
Over a career that stretched for more than two decades, Brady solidified himself as the game’s greatest ever by virtually every imaginable metric. And he did it while earning a sweet amount for his contributions.
Starting as a sixth-round pick in New England, the three-time MVP was only making $288,833 per year on his rookie deal. But in the coming years, he would sign 12 different contracts, including extensions and restructures, that earned him somewhere between $7 and $25 million on average.
Even though he became widely famous for making sacrifices to his pockets to ensure a quality roster, it did not dampen the amount he ultimately ended up making. Projected to have a net worth between $300 to $450 million, he is comfortably among the richest athletes in the world.
However, it wasn’t just on the field that Brady made his living and amassed a fortune. Thanks to his position as the face of the league for close to two decades, Brady was an extremely popular name for brands and advertisements. Those deals have continued even after his retirement as he remains one of the biggest household names in the country.
Through endorsements, he’s added at least $150 million, with brands like Under Armour, Ugg, Aston Martin, T-Mobile, Subway, and Fanatics. The quarterback’s marketability transcended football, making him a valuable spokesperson across multiple industries.
Additionally, he’s also launched brands like TB12 and Brady while co-founding Autograph. But the biggest slice of his deal is going to come through his deal as a broadcaster for FOX. Joining their team, the official terms of the contract are a massive 10 years and $375 million.
BREAKING: Tom Brady’s deal with Fox Sports is for 10 years & $375 MILLION 💰💰#PMSLive pic.twitter.com/gTHYoKl8lo
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) May 10, 2022
In addition to his deal with FOX, Brady hasn’t left the sports world behind. He’s made investments in clubs like Birmingham City for soccer, while also partnering up with the Las Vegas Aces of the WNBA and the Las Vegas Night Owls in Major League Pickleball.
Add in the role as a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders, and it isn’t hard to see how the five-time Super Bowl MVP has cemented himself at the top of the mountain.
Patrick Mahomes’ Growing Empire: From $90 Million to Potential GOAT Status
Mahomes, on the other hand, has been in the league for a far shorter time, finishing his seventh year as a starter in Super Bowl 59. However, even in such a short duration, he’s already built an impressive portfolio as a business mogul as well.
Joining the league on a rookie-scale contract for a first-round pick, he signed a wholly unique contract with the Kansas City Chiefs, going for 10 years and $450 million. A first of its kind, the deal allowed the Chiefs to keep him around in the long haul while becoming a relatively cheap contract over time.
Currently, Mahomes ranks among the highest-paid QBs in the league by average annual value, with his contract averaging $45 million per year. Sitting at a net worth of just $90 million so far, his final total is expected to be far higher, perhaps even rivaling Brady’s.
Like the previous greatest quarterback of his generation, Mahomes has been hard at work to expand off the field as well. His list of partners is already starting to rival the Tampa Bay Buccaneers legend, as it includes Hunt’s Ketchup, Essentia Water, Hy-Vee, State Farm, Oakley, DirectTV, Adidas, Head & Shoulders, Subway, Coors Light, Nestle, EA Sports, Walmart, T-Mobile, Airshare, Boss, Procter & Gamble, among others.
The Kansas City star has shown remarkable business acumen for someone still in his 20s. His endorsement portfolio spans everything from food and beverage companies to tech giants, demonstrating his broad appeal beyond just football fans.
State Farm alone reportedly pays him over $20 million annually, making him one of their highest-paid spokespeople.
And he’s also made sure to become an active investor, with a minor stakeholder position with the Kansas City Royals, as well as the Kansas City Current of the NWSL, as well as the Alpine F1 team. These investments show Mahomes is thinking long-term about building wealth that will last well beyond his playing career.
All in all, Mahomes is following in Brady’s footsteps in more ways than one. However, it might be a long time before his net worth can rival Brady’s. But it isn’t a complete impossibility that that day arrives if he continues on his current path.
With potentially another decade of elite play ahead of him, plus his growing business empire, Mahomes could very well challenge Brady’s financial legacy alongside his on-field accomplishments.