Maria Sharapova and 45 More Incredibly Rich Retired Athletes
For the majority of Americans, retiring before we’ve reached our sixties is seldom more than a pipe dream — but that’s not the case for top-tier athletes. Sports legends typically retire well before their twilight years — and with ample assets to fall back on. Tennis star Maria Sharapova, who retired in February 2020, was just 32 years old when she bid adieu to the courts and has an estimated net worth of $140 million.
Again, the typical celebrity athlete is not like that of the average Americans because seldom do they actually fully retire. Sharapova for instance will continue to actively earn millions in income through booming brand partnerships with Therabody, Nike and Supergoop to name but a few — plus she has her own candy company, Sugarpova. There are dozens more former athletes out there who are a millionaire several times over. Here’s a look at 45 other retired athletes who have a net worth of $50 million or more.
Last updated: Sept. 21, 2020
Troy Aikman: $50 Million
Retired: 2000
Troy Aikman played for 12 years in the NFL, during which he set 45 Cowboys’ passing records. He is also one of only four quarterbacks to guide his team to victory in three Super Bowls. Since retirement, he’s worked as a sports analyst and real estate investor. He also founded the Troy Aikman Foundation.
Charles Barkley: $50 Million
Retired: 2000
Charles Barkley racked up a number of accolades during his NBA career including being named NBA MVP in 1993, being an 11-time NBA All-Star and winning 1980’s SEC Player of the Decade. He’s also a book author and is currently an NBA analyst for TNT’s Emmy Award-winning studio show “Inside the NBA.”
Mike Modano: $50 Million
Retired: 2011
Former NHL player Mike Modano holds all of the offensive Dallas Stars franchise records, including career points, career goals, career assists and career games played, according to his website. He has also competed as a part of Team USA in three Olympic Games.
Li Na: $50 Million
Retired: 2014
China’s Li Na is the first Asian tennis player to be a Grand Slam singles champion, CNN reported. She retired from the sport due to chronic knee injuries and has since focused on other pursuits, including her $20 million-a-year business empire — which includes her own clothing line with Nike — and television appearances.
Marcus Trufant: $50 Million
Retired: 2014
Marcus Trufant played for the Seattle Seahawks for the entirety of his NFL career, with the exception of a 2013 training camp with the Jacksonville Jaguars — though he never actually played a game with the team. He was a first-round pick for the Seahawks in 2003 and finished his career with 21 interceptions. He was also voted to the Pro Bowl in 2007.
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Brian Grant: $52 Million
Retired: 2006
Brian Grant played for five different teams during his 12-year NBA career. Two years after retiring from the sport, he was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson’s disease. This inspired him to launch the Brian Grant Foundation, which helps people with Parkinson’s to lead active and fulfilling lives.
Bernie Williams: $60 Million
Retired: 2015
During his 16-year MLB career as a centerfielder for the New York Yankees, Bernie Williams won four World Series and was a five-time All-Star. He also earned four Gold Glove awards, six American League pennants, the 1996 ALCS MVP award and the 1998 American League batting title. Since retiring, he’s turned his attention to music, releasing multiple albums as a jazz guitarist.
Michael Finley: $65 Million
Retired: 2010
Michael Finley played 15 seasons in the NBA and is best known for his time with the Dallas Mavericks. The two-time All-Star is now a movie producer and has produced films that include “Sanctum,” “American Made,” “Meet the Blacks” and “Lee Daniels’ The Butler.”
Iván ‘Pudge’ Rodríguez $65 Million: $65 Million
Retired: 2011
Iván Rodríguez– aka “Pudge” — played in the MLB for 21 years and has a World Series win under his belt. Rodriguez earned 14 All-Star Game selections and 13 Gold Glove awards — more than any other catcher in the league’s history. He’s stayed involved in sports in retirement as a special assistant to the general manager of the Texas Rangers, a coach to other baseball players and a sports analyst for Fox Sports South West. He’s also an investor and has launched a number of businesses, including his own coffee brand.
Greg Maddux: $70 Million
Retired: 2008
Greg Maddux is the winningest pitcher of his generation, according to the Baseball Hall of Fame. He played for 23 seasons in the MLB and won the Cy Young Award four years in a row.
Pedro Martinez: $70 Million
Retired: 2011
Retired star pitcher Pedro Martinez is an eight-time All-Star, three-time Cy Young Award winner and MLB Hall of Famer. Since retiring, he’s focused on his humanitarian efforts and is also an MLB broadcaster and public speaker.
Michael Phelps: $80 Million
Retired: 2016
Swimmer Michael Phelps racked up 28 medals during his Olympic career and left swimming behind in 2016 to enjoy his retirement with his wife and two (now three) kids. He’s now an advocate for water conservation, Time reported.
Mariano Rivera: $90 Million
Retired: 2013
Panama-born Mariano Rivera is considered one of the most dominant relievers in MLB history. He was named the 1999 World Series Most Valuable Player and the 2003 American League Championship Series MVP, and he holds several postseason records, including lowest ERA and most saves. Rivera currently serves as co-chair of the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition.
Gary Sheffield: $90 Million
Retired: 2011
Former baseball pro Gary Sheffield is a nine-time All-Star and 1997 World Series Champion. He now works as a sports analyst.
Barry Bonds: $100 Million
Retired: 2007
MLB left fielder Barry Bonds played 22 seasons in the league with the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants. He has received seven NL MVP awards, 14 All-Star selections and holds the record for the most career home runs.
Caitlyn Jenner: $100 Million
Retired: 1976
Caitlyn Jenner, formerly Bruce Jenner, competed in the 1972 and 1976 Olympics. During the latter year, she won the gold medal for the decathlon and also set a new record for the event. Since then, she’s become famous as a reality star on “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” and later became a transgender advocate, going public with the story of her transition during an April 2015 interview with Diane Sawyer.
Pele: $100 Million
Retired: 1977
Soccer legend Pele led his national team to three World Cup victories. In retirement, he’s focusing his efforts on the Pele Foundation, whose mission is to help children around the world.
Maria Sharapova: $140 Million
Retired: 2020
Tennis star Maria Sharapova announced her retirement in February. During her career, she won five Grand Slams and was Forbes’ highest-paid female athlete for 11 straight years, Forbes reported.
Tony Hawk: $140 Million
Retired: 1999
Tony Hawk had won 73 professional skateboarding contests by the time he was 25 and has been named vertical skating’s world champion 12 years in a row. He’s had plenty of successes outside of his sport as well. Hawk has his own skateboard company, Birdhouse Projects, and a line of children’s skate apparel called Hawk Clothing. He also partnered with Activision to create the “Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater” video game franchise, which has now surpassed $1.4 billion in sales, according to his website.
Pete Sampras: $150 Million
Retired: 2003
Former tennis player Pete Sampras has 14 Grand Slam singles titles — seven Wimbledon singles championships, five U.S. Open titles and two Australian Open championships. In 2007, he was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
Andre Agassi: $175 Million
Retired: 2006
Andre Agassi spent 20 years as a professional tennis player and was the No. 1 player in the world for a whopping 101 weeks, Time reported. He’s also racked up eight Grand Slam singles championships. His main passions now are his Andre Agassi Foundation for Education and the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy, a charter school for underprivileged children in his hometown of Las Vegas.
Oscar De La Hoya: $200 Million
Retired: 2009
Ten-time world boxing champion Oscar De La Hoya didn’t leave the sport after leaving the ring. He’s now the chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, a boxing promotion company that has promoted some of the biggest and highest-grossing events in the history of the sport, according to the company’s website. De La Hoya is also the CEO of the Oscar De La Hoya Foundation, which supports the Oscar De La Hoya Ánimo Charter High School, the Cecilia Gonzalez De La Hoya Cancer Center and the Oscar De La Hoya Labor and Delivery Center.
Derek Jeter: $200 Million
Retired: 2014
Derek Jeter is regarded by many as the greatest New York Yankee of all time, and he has the sixth-greatest number of hits in MLB history. Jeter is also a 14-time All-Star and a five-time Gold Glove Award winner, as well as a five-time World Series champion.
Connie Kalitta: $200 Million
Retired: 1996
Conrad — aka Connie — Kalitta started his career as a professional drag racer in the Top Fuel class of the NHRA and won five world championships during his time behind the wheel. His drag racing winnings enabled him to purchase the Cessna 310 that started him in the airline business as a supplier of automotive parts — today he is the CEO and owner of Kalitta Air.
Hakeem Olajuwon: $200 Million
Retired: 2002
Nigeria-born Hakeem Olajuwon is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. During the 1993-94 season, he became the first player to be named NBA MVP, NBA Defensive Player of the Year and NBA Finals MVP in the same season. He retired in 2002 after an 18-year career.
David Robinson: $200 Million
Retired: 2003
During his 14 years playing for the San Antonio Spurs, David Robinson won the league MVP award, two NBA championships and two Olympic Gold Medals. He’s now a successful investor and is co-founder of Admiral Capital Group.
Steve Young: $200 Million
Retired: 1999
Steve Young played in the NFL for 15 years. He was named MVP of Super Bowl XXIX and was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1993. He is the founder of the Forever Young Foundation, a nonprofit focused on the development and education of children.
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Wayne Gretzky: $250 Million
Retired: 1999
Wayne Gretzky retired from hockey two decades ago, but he still holds many of the NHL’s records including most goals, most assists and most points. These days, “The Great One” keeps busy with his fantasy camp, foundation, restaurant and winery.
Grant Hill: $250 Million
Retired: 2013
Grant Hill began his professional career as the No. 1 pick by the Detroit Pistons in the 1994 NBA draft. That season, he was named co-NBA Rookie of the Year and went on to play for Team USA in the 1996 Olympic Games. Hill played for a total of 19 seasons and signed on to be a sports analyst for Turner Sports after retiring. He is also an investor in African art and started a private equity mezzanine fund, Penta Capital.
Gary Player: $250 Million
Retired: 2009
Gary Player racked up $14 million in PGA and Senior Tour earnings over his 60-year career, but he’s made even more as a businessman, Forbes reported. He’s added to his net worth with revenue from his golf course design business, Black Knight International; corporate sponsorships; licensing deals; and real estate ventures.
Peyton Manning: $250 Million
Retired: 2016
After winning his second Super Bowl, Peyton Manning retired with $249 million in career salary and bonuses from the NFL, and $400 million in total earnings, Forbes reported. He holds multiple all-time passing records, including passing yards, passing touchdowns and game-winning drives. The long-time Papa John’s spokesperson and franchisee sold off his locations in 2018, CNN reported.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.: $300 Million
Retired: 2017
Stock-car racing is in Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s blood as the third generation of his family to enter the sport. He boasts 26 career victories, including two Daytona 500 wins. Since retiring, he joined NBC Sports Group as a NASCAR correspondent.
George Foreman: $300 Million
Retired: 1997
Heavyweight champion George Foreman retired at the age of 45 with a 76-5 career record. And it’s not just boxing that made him rich — Foreman has brought in millions with his “Lean Mean Grilling Machine,” which has sold over 100 million units worldwide. He has also been a spokesperson for Meineke Car Care Centers and launched several businesses, including a line of environmentally safe cleaning products, a line of personal care products, a prescription shoe for diabetics and a restaurant franchise called UFood Grille. He has also written 10 books and is a preacher.
Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson: $320 Million
Retired: 2019
Although he got his start in wrestling, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has made his big bucks as an actor. He topped Forbes’ list of highest-paid actors of 2019 with $89.4 million in earnings for the year, with an upfront salary of up to $23.5 million for the film “Jumanji: The Next Level.” He also gets paid $700,000 per episode for HBO’s “Ballers” and seven-figure royalties for his line of clothing, shoes and headphones with Under Armour, Forbes reported.
Jack Nicklaus: $320 Million
Retired: 2005
Jack Nicklaus won 18 Majors during his pro golf career and has since focused his attention on his golf course design company, Niklaus Design. The company has developed over 425 courses in 45 countries.
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Alex Rodriguez: $350 Million
Retired: 2016
Over the course of his 22-year professional baseball career, Alex Rodriguez hit the most grand slams in MLB history, was named MVP three times and an All-Star 14 times and won the 2009 World Series with the New York Yankees. He is also the founder of A-Rod Corp, a fully integrated investment firm, and works as a sports analyst for various networks.
Vinnie Johnson: $400 Million
Retired: 1992
He got two championship rings during his time in the NBA, but Vinnie Johnson gained his biggest success after retiring from the sport. The former Detroit Piston — known as “Microwave” — founded Piston Automotive in 1995. The company is now a major supplier for international automotive brands, including Ford Motor Company and General Motors Co.
Greg Norman: $400 Million
Retired: 2012
Known as the “Great White Shark,” Greg Norman has won more than 90 tournaments around the world, including two Open Championships. He’s also a successful entrepreneur with businesses that include a golf course design company, an international real estate collection, award-winning wine, a line of golf-inspired apparel and an investment division.
Shaquille O'Neal: $400 Million
Retired: 2011
The NBA’s No. 8 scorer of all time, Shaquille O’Neal has made money through licensing deals, endorsement deals and his Shaq/Dunkman shoe lines, which have sold more than 100 million pairs worldwide, Forbes reported. He is currently an analyst on “Inside The NBA.”
David Beckham: $450 Million
Retired: 2013
British soccer star David Beckham won 10 league titles during his 21-year career. His salary was $5.3 million during his final year and he has also earned millions from commercial endorsement deals with Adidas, Coty, H&M, Sainsbury’s, Samsung, Breitling and more, Forbes reported. Although he no longer plays soccer professionally, Beckham hasn’t left the sport completely. He is a co-owner of Miami’s new soccer team, Inter Miami CF.
Floyd Mayweather, Jr: $505 Million
Retired: 2017
Undefeated boxing legend Floyd Mayweather, Jr. is retired for now, but he’s more than hinted at an imminent comeback to the ring, so his retirement date may change again — for the fourth time. What doesn’t appear to be changing any time soon though, is his stance as a multimillionaire. Despite his notoriously lavish spending habits (according to Business Insider he bought an $18 million watch called “The Billionaire”, among other ultra-VIP splurges), the 43-year-old boxer turned promoter simply has to show up to make a fortune. For his final fight in 2017 against Conor McGregor, he made a record $275 million, according to Forbes. That year he made an additional $10 million from endorsement, appearances and memorabilia — topping Forbes’ annual list of the world’s highest-paid athletes that year.
Magic Johnson: $600 Million
Retired: 1996
Magic Johnson retired with five NBA championships under his belt. He reportedly made more than $100 million from his 2010 sales of 105 Starbucks franchises and his 4.5% stake in the Los Angeles Lakers, Forbes reported. Johnson is currently chairman and CEO of Magic Johnson Enterprises, an investment conglomerate valued at an estimated $1 billion, according to his website.
Michael Schumacher: $600 Million
Retired: 2012
German racecar driver Michael Schumacher has won the Formula One World Drivers’ Championship seven times — more than any other driver in history. He also holds nearly every scoring record in the book, according to Formula One.
Roger Staubach: $600 Million
Retired: 1979
Roger Staubach, aka “Roger The Dodger,” played for the Dallas Cowboys for 11 years, during which he was selected to six Pro Bowls. He was named the NFL Players Association Most Valuable Player in 1971, and he led his team to two Super Bowl victories. In 2019, he partnered with the Cowboys to develop a luxury high-rise apartment on the site of the team’s world headquarters and practice facility in Frisco, Texas, Forbes reported.
Ion Țiriac: $1.2 Billion
Retired: 1979
Ion Țiriac also known as the ‘Brașov Bulldozer’, has built a name for himself both as an athlete on the tennis courts and ice hockey fields — but he’s arguably been most outstanding in the world of business. Heading Tiriac Group, which has interests in the auto retail, financial, real estate and aviation sectors, Țiriac has become a bona fide billionaire. His world-famous motorcycle and car collection features over 30 brands including one of a kind Rolls-Royce and Aston Martin models.
Michael Jordan: $2.2 Billion
Retired: 2003
Possibly the NBA’s greatest player of all time, Michael Jordan earned $90 million in salary during his career and another $1.4 billion from corporate partners, Forbes reported. He has sponsorship deals with Nike, Hanes, Gatorade and Upper Deck.
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