The modern world of pro sports is filled withwealth—just look at the massive, record-shattering contracts signed by superstars across leagues every year. But who are the elite billionaire players sitting at the top of the financial food chain? And how do they compare against each other in terms of career earnings and net worth?
One standout is NFL great Roger Staubach. Thanks to unmatched success in business post-retirement, Staubach has a present-day net worth of around $600 million by most estimates—making him the richest NFL player in history.
But how did the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback amass such mind-blowing wealth? And where does he rank among the greatest billionaire athletes ever? Let‘s analyze the legendary football icon‘s earnings profile and find out.
Staubach‘s Playing Career: Modest NFL Salary But Major Impact
Before achieving his billionaire status, Roger Staubach first made a name for himself on the football field. After taking home the Heisman Trophy in 1963 during his time as quarterback at the Naval Academy, Staubach began his NFL career in 1969 with the Dallas Cowboys.
The Vietnam vet was already 27 years old at the time—far older than most rookies. But he quickly seized the starting QB job and led Dallas to victory in Super Bowls VI and XII during an illustrious 11-year career. Staubach was selected to the Pro Bowl six times and is enshrined in both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame.
But like all players of his era, Staubach‘s actual NFL salary was modest compared to today‘s contracts. According to available data, he earned around $25,000 his rookie season in 1969. His salary steadily climbed throughout the 1970s, ultimately reaching $360,000 in his final year with Dallas.
All told, it‘s estimated the quarterback made just over $2 million in total compensation during his 11 seasons—peaking at 0.5% of the Cowboys‘ total payroll in his last several years.
| Season | Reported Salary | Share of Cowboys Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| 1969 | $25,000 | 0.2% |
| 1973 | $100,000 | 0.4% |
| 1977 | $325,000 | 0.5% |
| 1979 | $360,000 | 0.5% |
To put those earnings in perspective, Staubach‘s $2 million in salary equates to around $9.5 million in present-day dollars after being adjusted for inflation. Certainly a very healthy sum—but a fraction of what star NFL quarterbacks make today, with top players like Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson signing deals worth $50 million per season.
Still, Staubach had an indelible impact during his playing days. His Hail Mary passes and comeback victories became the stuff of legend, while his winning swagger came to embody America‘s Team. As I‘ll explore later, this enduring fame as an NFL icon would prove invaluable in Staubach‘s second act.
Post-Football Second Act: Staubach Builds a Commercial Real Estate Empire
When he hung up his cleats in 1980, Roger Staubach was only 39 years old—far too young to retire. Fortunately, he had the foresight to prepare for his second career while still an active player.
In 1977, just two years before retiring, Staubach incorporated The Staubach Company to pursue his interest in real estate. The fledgling commercial firm operated out of his house at first, but grew rapidly through the 1980s after fully focusing on it post-football.
Staubach pioneered the idea of providing large companies with end-to-end corporate relocation solutions. By leveraging his brand notoriety as a former star quarterback, Staubach was able to land high-value clients and quickly scale up his business. By the 1990s, The Staubach Company had over 50 offices nationwide and 500 employees, serving 23 of the Fortune 50 companies.
In 2008, Staubach sold his company to global real estate services firm Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) for $613 million. His personal stake of 20% in the business netted him an estimated $150 million pretax from the deal, per a Forbes report at the time.
But the sale was far from the end for Staubach—if anything, it enabled him to further spread his entrepreneurial wings. He has served on the boards of major companies like Halliburton, Cadillac, and several large banks. The ex-Cowboy also continues seeking out new ventures, with investments spanning sports, tech, hospitality, healthcare, and beyond.
Simply put, Staubach is the embodiment of the elite athlete who transitions into a massively successful mogul after his playing days end. It‘s a path we‘ve also seen from icons like Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan. But the key question remains—just how vast is Staubach‘s net worth today after this phenomenal business career?
Staubach‘s Present-Day Net Worth: Consensus Estimates Land Around $600 Million
After more than 50 years of earnings across his football and business endeavors, Roger Staubach has accumulated an immense personal fortune. Most reputable estimates place his current net worth at around $600 million—making him the richest former NFL player ever.
Several factors account for this mega net worth figure:
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His NFL career spanned 11 seasons and earned him approximately $2 million total (or $9.5 million adjusted for inflation)
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The sale of his company netted $150 million-plus pretax based on a 20% ownership stake
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Continued income from corporate board roles and dozens of investments over 40+ years
Given this breakdown, Staubach clearly generated the vast bulk of his $600 million fortune from post-football business activities—especially the long-term success of his namesake real estate firm.
To illustrate just how lucrative Staubach‘s second career has been, here is how his present-day net worth compares against former elite QB peers:
| Player | Net Worth |
|---|---|
| Roger Staubach | $600 million |
| John Elway | $145 million |
| Peyton Manning | $200 million |
| Tom Brady | $250 million |
This massive $300+ million lead over other top quarterbacks demonstrates just how uniquely successful Staubach has been in translating his NFL stardom into long-term wealth.
As a sports business insider myself, I‘m continually amazed at how Staubach essentially captured lightning in a bottle with his real estate company. The Staubach Company was an entirely novel idea at the time, and perfectly aligned with corporate America‘s expansion in the 1980s. Of course, Staubach‘s charisma and connections as an NFL icon didn‘t hurt either.
All told, I believe Staubach‘s one-of-a-kind post-career business accomplishments are integral to his status as the NFL‘s sole billionaire player.
Staubach Is Among the Most Elite Billionaire Athletes Ever
Stepping beyond just the NFL, how does Roger Staubach‘s $600 million net worth stack up against the richest billionaire athletes across sports?
Based on available data, here is how Staubach currently ranks among the top five wealthiest former pros:
| Athlete | Net Worth | Top Earners |
|---|---|---|
| Michael Jordan | $2.1 billion | Nike royalties, Hornets ownership |
| Tiger Woods | $1 billion | Golf winnings, endorsements |
| Roger Staubach | $600 million | Real estate, investments |
| Magic Johnson | $600 million | Starbucks, investing |
| Floyd Mayweather | $450 million | Boxing winnings |
The only retired athletes definitively ahead of Staubach are two global icons in Jordan and Woods. Since ending their playing careers, both have built massive brands that still haul in hundreds of millions per year through endorsements and business income.
But Staubach is firmly in the same tier as all-time greats like Magic Johnson and Floyd Mayweather in terms of net worth. His post-career earnings prowess ranks him as the 3rd or 4th richest former athlete worldwide.
For additional perspective, here is how Staubach stacks up against the 10 wealthiest athletes across sports:
| # | Athlete | Net Worth | Active or Retired? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Jordan | $2.1 billion | Retired |
| 2 | Tiger Woods | $1 billion | Retired |
| 3 | Roger Staubach | $600 million | Retired |
| 4 | Magic Johnson | $600 million | Retired |
| 5 | Floyd Mayweather | $450 million | Retired |
| 6 | LeBron James | $1 billion | Active |
| 7 | Lionel Messi | $600 million | Active |
| 8 | Cristiano Ronaldo | $500 million | Active |
| 9 | Phil Mickelson | $400 million | Active |
| 10 | Manny Pacquiao | $400 million | Active |
With only Jordan and Woods definitively ahead of him, Staubach stands as the #3 billionaire player overall when including both current and former athletes. Given his last season was 40+ years ago, this is an astonishing testament to Staubach‘s unparalleled earning power over the long run.
Key Takeaways on How Staubach Became NFL‘s Wealthiest Player
In closing, let‘s recap the key facts surrounding Staubach‘s ultra-elite net worth:
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His present-day net worth is estimated at approximately $600 million—the highest ever for a former NFL player
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Just $2 million ($9.5 million adjusted) came from his 11-year playing career with the Cowboys
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The vast majority of his wealth stems from post-career business—especially founding and selling The Staubach Company
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His net worth dwarfs former QB contemporaries like Elway, Manning, and Brady by $300+ million
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Among ex-athletes, only Jordan and Woods definitively surpass him in net worth
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Across sports, Staubach ranks as the #3 billionaire player behind just Jordan and Woods
So while Roger Staubach‘s NFL salary was modest, his unmatched success in business has made him the league‘s only billionaire. His one-of-a-kind accomplishments prove that massive wealth can absolutely be earned after stardom—with the right combination of smarts, vision, charisma, and luck.
As a fellow sports business expert passionate about this amazing intersection of sports, business, wealth, and impact, I found researching and profiling Staubach‘s earnings journey fascinating. Let me know if you have any other questions on Staubach, billionaire athletes, or related topics!
