Which NFL Hall of Famer Has the Highest Net Worth?
The City of Canton, Ohio, was instrumental in the creation of professional football in America, so when the NFL opened the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Sept. 7, 1963, it was perfectly fitting that Canton was the host city. For NFL players, coaches, commissioners and contributors, being inducted into the Hall of Fame is something akin to achieving football immortality — its hallowed halls are reserved only for the gridiron’s GOATs. For many Hall of Famers, that kind of glory also comes with great financial wealth — all of these members have a net worth of at least $20 million.
Last updated: Sept. 18, 2020
Walter Jones: $20 Million Net Worth
Seahawks tackle Walter Jones was named All-Pro for six of his 12 NFL seasons. After being drafted in the first round in 1997, he went on to anchor the line that made running back Shaun Alexander’s MVP season possible. Regarded as one of the best offensive linemen of all time, Jones was welcomed into the Hall of Fame in 2014.
Jim Kelly: $20 Million Net Worth
The Bills selected quarterback Jim Kelly in the first round of the 1983 draft. The master of the no-huddle offense, Kelly threw for at least 3,000 yards in eight of his 11 NFL seasons. He took the Bills to the playoffs eight times and led his team to the Super Bowl four seasons in a row. He made the illustrious Hall of Fame ranks in 2002.
Barry Sanders: $20 Million Net Worth
The greatest running back in Lions history and one of the best of all time, Barry Sanders became the first player ever to reach at least 1,000 yards for each of his first 10 seasons — that represents the entirety of his career. He led the NFL in rushing four times and turned in a record 14 straight games with triple-digit yardage. Sanders was inducted into both the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2003.
Lynn Swann: $20 Million Net Worth
Steeler great Lynn Swann played wide receiver for nine seasons and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2001. A four-time Super Bowl champion, Swann played in three Pro Bowls during the Steelers ’70s heydey and chalked up 336 receptions for 5,462 yards and 51 touchdowns. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001.
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Paul Tagliabue: $20 Million Net Worth
Paul Tagliabue served as NFL commissioner from 1989-2006, ushering the league into the modern era, overseeing a significant expansion and positioning football as America’s premier sport. One of the greatest sports industrialists in history, he oversaw an era of labor tranquility, supported roughly 20 new stadium contracts and revolutionized how fans watched football on television. He was selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Centennial Class in 2020.
Larry Allen: $22 Million Net Worth
Cowboys and 49ers tackle/guard Larry Allen led the lines that enabled both Emmitt Smith and Frank Gore to achieve single-season rushing records in Dallas and San Francisco. He was named first-team All-Pro for seven straight years and was named to NFL All-Decade teams in both the 1990s and 2000s. He was enshrined into the Hall of Fame in 2013.
Jonathan Ogden: $22.4 Million Net Worth
Jonathan Ogden played 12 NFL seasons as an offensive lineman after being drafted in the first round in 1996. He was named All-Pro six times and went to 11 Pro Bowls — that’s every season in his career except for one. He anchored the line that made running back Jamal Lewis’ epic 2003 season possible. A decade later, in 2013, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Terry Bradshaw: $25 Million Net Worth
Drafted No. 1 overall, quarterback Terry Bradshaw helmed the Steelers when the team was one of history’s great dynasties. He led the team to eight AFC Central titles and four Super Bowl victories. He was named Super Bowl MVP twice. He never left the game, quickly transitioning after retirement to a successful and prominent broadcasting career that continues to this day. Bradshaw was inducted into the Hall of Fame back in 1989.
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Earl Campbell: $25 Million Net Worth
Drafted No. 1 overall in the 1978 draft, running back Earl Campbell played eight seasons with the Oilers and the Saints. He went to five Pro Bowls and rushed for 9,407 combined yards. Of those yards, 1,934 came in 1980, the year he tallied four 200-plus-yard games for a single-season record that, at the time, was second only to O.J. Simpson. Campbell earned induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1991, just six years after he retired.
Randy Moss: $25 Million Net Worth
Drafted in the first round in 1998, Randy Moss is one of the greatest wide receivers in Vikings — and NFL — history. He led the league with 17 touchdowns and more than 1,300 yards his rookie year and went on to catch more than 100 receptions two seasons in a row. When he moved to the Patriots, the six-time Pro Bowler set a record during his first season in New England with 23 catches and became only the second player to top 1,000 receiving yards for 10 seasons straight. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018.
Bill Parcells: $25 Million Net Worth
Known as the Big Tuna, head coach Bill Parcells was a turnaround specialist, transforming four losing teams into winners. He led the Giants to two Super Bowl wins, the Patriots to a Super Bowl appearance and presided over the Jets during New York’s exciting and successful late-’90s era. The Jets were a 1-15 team when the Tuna took over and the next two years they went 9-7 and 12-4, making it all the way to the AFC Championship game. In 2013, he was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Jason Taylor: $25 Million Net Worth
Playing for Miami, the New York Jets and Washington, defensive end Jason Taylor went to six Pro Bowls in 15 seasons. He racked up double-digit sacks six times in the first eight seasons of the 21st century. In all, he tallied 139 1/2 sacks, eight interceptions and three touchdowns. He’s also a talented dancer, as his performances on “Dancing With the Stars” in 2008 proved. Taylor was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2017.
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Marvin Harrison: $26.8 Million Net Worth
Colts wide receiver Marvin Harrison went to eight Pro Bowls in his 13-season career and was named All-Pro six times. With more than 1,100 career receptions, he had 143 catches in 2002, crushing the NFL all-time record. Drafted in 1996, two years before Peyton Manning, Harrison was on the receiving end of many of legendary quarterback’s highlight-reel touchdown passes. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2016.
Ty Law: $28.4 Million Net Worth
Cornerback Ty Law played in 203 games during his 15 seasons. He amassed 53 interceptions during that time, which he took the other way for a cumulative 828 return yards. The five-time Pro Bowler led his team in interceptions six times, led the NFL twice, started in the secondary in four AFC Championship games and won two of the three Super Bowls he played in. In 2019, he entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Derrick Brooks: $30 Million Net Worth
Career Buc Derrick Brooks went to 11 Pro Bowls during his 14-year NFL career. The star linebacker never missed a single game the entire time. He was named Rookie of the Year, led Tampa Bay to two seasons as the top defense in the league, and in 1997, he led the team to the playoffs for the first time since 1981. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2014.
Mike Ditka: $30 Million Net Worth
Mike Ditka — aka Iron Mike — was synonymous with Chicago Bears football for generations. Before he led the Bears to the franchise’s first and only Super Bowl victory in 1986, “Da Coach,” as he’s been dubbed, changed the nature of the tight end position. Once reserved for big, strong blockers, Ditka used the position to give his quarterback another receiver. A five-time Pro Bowler, Ditka scored 43 touchdowns on 427 receptions for a cumulative 5,812 yards. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a player in 1988.
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Orlando Pace: $30 Million Net Worth
Tackle Orlando Pace went to seven Pro Bowls in his 13-year NFL career and was named to the 2000s All-Decade team. He served as the chief blocker for two MVP offensive players three years straight: Kurt Warner in 1999, Marshall Faulk in 2000 and Warner again in 2001. The Rams line he led tallied more than 3,000 passing yards seven times and went past 4,000 yards three times. He was entered into the Hall of Fame in 2016.
Troy Polamalu: $30 Million Net Worth
Career Steeler Troy Polamalu went to eight Pro Bowls in his 12-year NFL career and was named to the NFL’s 2000s All-Decade team. Probably the greatest safety of his generation, Polamalu picked up 32 career interceptions for 398 yards and two touchdowns. Seven of those picks came in 2010 when he was named Defensive Player of the Year. He was voted into the Hall of Fame in 2020.
Steve Sabol: $30 Million Net Worth (at the Time of His Death)
The late Steve Sabol and his father, Ed Sabol, remain one of only two father-son duos in the Hall of Fame. Together, they founded NFL Films, which has won more than 100 Emmys. Personally, Steve won 35 Emmys across more categories than anyone else in the history of television. His creative and executive work changed how Americans and fans across the world consume football on television. Steve was elected posthumously into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2020.
Kurt Warner: $30 Million Net Worth
Four-time Pro Bowler Kurt Warner amassed 32,344 yards during his 12-year NFL career, the bulk of which was spent as the quarterback for the Rams. He originally went undrafted, playing first in an arena league and NFL Europe. He went on to become a two-time NFL MVP and the first quarterback in history to throw for at least 300 yards in three Super Bowls, including a record 414 yards in Super Bowl XXXIV. In 2001, he threw for 4,830 yards and 36 touchdowns. Warner was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017.
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LaDainian Tomlinson: $32 Million Net Worth
A five-time Pro Bowl running back, LaDainian Tomlinson tallied at least 1,000 rushing yards in each of his first eight seasons and scored at least 10 touchdowns in every season he played with the Chargers — he later moved to the Jets. He set an NFL record by tallying a rushing touchdown in 18 straight games and won two consecutive rushing titles in 2006 and 2007. Tomlinson was elected into the Hall of Fame in 2017.
Dan Marino: $35 Million Net Worth
Dan Marino racked up 13 3,000-yard seasons over the course of his legendary 17-season career. He went to nine Pro Bowls and remains the most prolific passer in history. In 1984, he became the first player ever to pass for 5,000 yards in a single season and threw 48 touchdowns, which was a record at the time. In total, he threw 4,967 completions for 61,361 yards and 420 touchdowns. In 2005, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Edgerrin James: $40 Million Net Worth
Edgerrin James spent 11 seasons as an NFL running back and he went to the Pro Bowl in four of them. Drafted by the Colts in 1999, James was named Rookie of the Year after capturing the rushing title his inaugural season, and he did so the following season as well. He scored at least 13 touchdowns every season of his career and broke the 1,000-yard mark seven times, topping 1,500 yards during four of those seasons. James was selected for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2020.
Jimmy Johnson: $40 Million Net Worth
Serving as head coach for the Cowboys and Dolphins, Jimmy Johnson will be remembered as one of the greatest talent evaluators in the history of the game. His very first draft with the Dolphins netted eight rookies who went on to earn starting roles. He transformed the beleaguered Cowboys from 1-15 to a perennially dangerous franchise. He went to the playoffs six times in nine years and secured two division titles and won two Super Bowls. Johnson was voted to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Centennial Class of 2020.
Deion Sanders: $40 Million Net Worth
Cornerback Deion Sanders goes down not only as one of the NFL’s greatest secondary defensemen but also one of its most eccentric and flamboyant showmen. Although he tallied 53 career interceptions, he’s also famous for his legendary punt and kick returns, which netted him nine cumulative touchdown returns. Sanders was elected into the Hall of Fame in 2011.
Champ Bailey: $45 Million Net Worth
Champ Bailey’s first name says it all. Turning in more than 900 tackles over the course of his remarkable 15 seasons, Bailey was named to the Pro Bowl for 12 of those seasons. A member of the 2000s NFL All-Decade Team, he was the youngest player in history ever to snag three interceptions in a single game. Bailey made the Hall of Fame in 2019.
Ray Lewis: $45 Million Net Worth
Ravens great Ray Lewis was one of the most feared linebackers in NFL history. He started in four AFC Championship games, not to mention two Super Bowls, one of which ended with Lewis selected as Super Bowl MVP. He led his squad in tackles for 14 seasons, was named to 12 Pro Bowls and became the first player in history to achieve at least 40 career sacks and 30 career interceptions. Pro Football Hall of Fame inducted Lewis into the Hall’s Class of 2018.
Troy Aikman: $50 Million Net Worth
Drafted first overall in 1989, Troy Aikman is a Cowboys legend. Out of his 94 career wins, 90 took place in the 1990s, making him the decade’s winningest quarterback. He either tied or broke 47 franchise passing records, went to the Pro Bowl for six of his 12 years in the NFL and threw for more than 300 yards in 13 regular-season games and four playoff games. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006.
Jim Brown: $50 Million Net Worth
The human embodiment of gridiron grit, football star-turned-movie star Jim Brown went to nine straight Pro Bowls — that’s every season of his entire career. The iconic Browns running back was named Rookie of the Year in 1957 and led the entire league in rushing for eight of his nine seasons. Brown was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1971.
Tony Gonzalez: $50 Million Net Worth
The legendary Chiefs and Falcons tight end, known as “Gonzo,” went to the Pro Bowl 14 times in his 17-season career. After his rookie year in 1997, Tony Gonzalez never played a season with fewer than 59 receptions. In the end, he clocked 16 seasons with at least 50 receptions and caught at least one pass in 211 straight games. He was enshrined into the Hall of Fame’s Class of 2019.
Gale Sayers: $50 Million Net Worth
In 1965, Browns running back Gale Sayers broke the NFL’s rookie record when he scored 22 touchdowns in his debut season. The record stands to this day, as does the halfback’s status as the NFL’s lifetime leading kick returner. Sayers amassed 9,435 combined yards and was the league’s leading rusher in both 1966 and 1969. Sayers was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1977 when he was just 34 years old.
Aeneas Williams: $50 Million Net Worth
With eight trips to the Pro Bowl in 14 seasons, cornerback/safety Aeneas Williams picked off 56 interceptions during his time with the Cardinals and the Rams. Those picks resulted in Williams rushing for more than 800 combined return yards for nine touchdowns. He wasn’t picked until the third round of the 1991 draft, only to score his first interception during his debut game. Williams was voted into the Hall of Fame in 2014 — and was the first Cardinal to be inducted.
Jerry Rice: $55 Million Net Worth
The undisputed greatest wide receiver of all time, Jerry Rice was drafted in 1985, and two years later in 1987, he set the NFL record for touchdown receptions in a season with 22 touchdown catches. He led the league both in touchdown receptions and receiving yards six times and still holds nearly every major receiving record in the book, including most receiving yards, most receptions, most 1,000-yard seasons, most combined net yards and most touchdowns. He went to 13 Pro Bowls, played for 20 seasons, was named first-team All-Pro 11 years in a row and Super Bowl MVP once. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010.
Joe Gibbs: $60 Million Net Worth
Head coach Joe Gibbs won 124 games during his 12 years with Washington and lost only 60 — in the postseason he went 16-5. He was named coach of the year in 1982, ’83 and ’91. He won the NFC title once, the NFC East four times and won three Super Bowls with three different quarterbacks. He turned in double-digit wins in eight of his 12 seasons. Gibbs was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1996, and then in 2020 he was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame and is the only person who has made both sports’ halls of fame.
Don Shula: $60 Million Net Worth
Late head coach Don Shula amassed an overall record of 347-173-6 during 33 seasons. Although he helmed the Colts for a few years, he’ll always be associated with his time with the Dolphins, which included the miracle year of 1972. That year, Shula led Miami through an undefeated season that culminated in a Super Bowl win, one of two for Shula. It remains the only perfect season in NFL history. He was enshrined into the Hall of Fame in 1997.
Michael Strahan: $65 Million Net Worth
Giants defensive end Michael Strahan went to seven Pro Bowls and was named All-Pro five times in his 15-season career. One of history’s great terrorizers of passers, he owns two sack titles and tallied 141 1/2 sacks in total. He amassed double-digit sacks six times in nine years and still holds the record for single-season sacks — he scored 22 1/2 in 2001. He was voted into the Hall of Fame in 2014.
Joe Montana: $100 Million Net Worth
Before Tom Brady, there was no question that Joe Montana was the greatest quarterback ever to play the game. Not drafted until the third round of the 1979 draft, he led the 49ers to four Super Bowl victories, several of which — like so many of his wins — involved dramatic come-from-behind rallies. He went to eight Pro Bowls and threw 273 touchdowns over the course of 40,551 yards despite missing the entire 1991 season due to injury. He was voted into the Hall of Fame in 2000.
Brett Favre: $100 Million Net Worth
Brett Favre was drafted by the Falcons but traded to Green Bay after his rookie year and earned most of his glory there. He spent 20 years in the NFL and threw for more than 4,000 yards during six seasons. He went to 11 Pro Bowls and was selected for the 1990s All-Decade team. A three-time league MVP, Favre retired as the all-time leading passer. Favre was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2016.
John Elway: $145 Million Net Worth
Broncos great John Elway threw exactly 300 touchdowns over the course of his 16-year career. A nine-time Pro Bowler, Elway threw for 51,475 yards and engineered a record 47 fourth-quarter comebacks. He started in five Super Bowls and was crowned Super Bowl MVP once. In 2000, Elway was the first long-time member of the Denver Broncos to be voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
John Madden: $200 Million Net Worth
During his 10 years as head coach of the Raiders, John Madden never had a losing season. His astonishing 75.9% winning percentage was the result of a 103-32-7 regular-season record. No coach with 100 career victories has ever matched that winning percentage. He won a Super Bowl and went onto a second career as the most famous and beloved football broadcaster in history. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006.
Steve Young: $200 Million Net Worth
Steve Young followed Joe Montana’s extraordinary run of success in San Francisco with another victorious era for the team. The only other quarterback in history to win six passing titles is the late, great Sammy Baugh, who began his career in the 1930s. The seven-time Pro Bowler threw six touchdown passes in Super Bowl XXIX. He was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2005.
Al Davis: $500 Million Net Worth (at the Time of His Death)
The late Al Davis essentially gave birth to modern football when as AFL commissioner he forced the league’s merger with the NFL in 1966. He led the Raiders to the most successful record in all of professional sports from 1963-91. He moved up the ranks from personnel assistant to scout to assistant coach to head coach to general manager to commissioner and finally to team owner and executive. No other person in NFL history has held so many varied and significant positions in the organization. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1992.
Dan Rooney: $500 Million Net Worth (at the Time of His Death)
The son of Steelers founder Art Rooney, the late Dan Rooney worked in various leadership capacities with the franchise for 61 seasons. They join the Sabols as the Hall of Fame’s only other father-son duo. Dan Rooney, who also served on many top league committees, played key roles in 21 division titles and six Super Bowl victories. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2000.
Roger Staubach: $600 Million Net Worth
Dallas quarterback-turned-real estate mogul Roger Staubach led the Cowboys to four NFC titles and two Super Bowl victories. He retired with the best quarterback rating in history and was the league’s top passer for four seasons. He tallied 153 passing touchdowns and 20 rushing scores over the course of his career. He was entered into the Hall of Fame in 1985.
Pat Bowlen: $1 Billion Net Worth (at the Time of His Death)
When Pat Bowlen died in 2019, it was the end of the greatest era in Broncos history — Bowlen presided over one of the most successful runs among all owners ever to compete in the NFL. Under his stewardship, the Broncos achieved the second-highest-winning percentage of all NFL teams. Bowlen oversaw 21 winning seasons, 13 division titles, nine conference championships and seven trips to the Super Bowl. Pat Bowlen was selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2019.
Edward DeBartolo Jr.: $3.3 Billion Net Worth
When Edward DeBartolo Jr. purchased the 49ers in 1977, it was the start of one of the most remarkable eras in football history. With the exception of the shortened 1982 season, the 49ers won an average of 13 games per season between 1981-98. They went to the playoffs 16 times, appeared in 10 championship games, won 13 division titles and became the first team ever to win five Super Bowls. DeBartolo was enshrined into the Hall of Fame in 2016.
Jerry Jones: $8.5 Billion Net Worth
Jerry Jones oversaw the most glorious era in Cowboys history so far. After buying the team in 1989, he became the first owner to win three Super Bowls in their first seven years. The team won at least 10 games 12 times, won the division 10 times and went to the playoffs 13 times. He changed the nature of stadium ownership and sponsorship, marketing, branding, television broadcasting and labor management. He was enshrined into the Hall of Fame in 2017.
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Nicole Spector contributed to the reporting for this article.
All net worth information is sourced from Celebrity Net Worth and is accurate as of Sept. 10, 2020.
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Which NFL Hall of Famer Has the Highest Net Worth?
