Super Payout: What Did Each Football Player Just Make After the Big Game?

The big game is done. And for the Patriots, it’s pay day. They each get a Super Payout but what did each football player just make after the Big Game? Besides the ring exactly how much does each player make for winning? Here’s the breakdown:

Super Payout

Postseason bonus pay:

Divisional round: $27,000
• Conference round: $49,000
• Winning the championship game: $107,000
Total bonus money: $183,000And of course, there’s the ring.

The losing team also gets a payout. Adding their postseason up, their total bonus is $129,000. A nice consolation prize.

It’s a lot of money. But don’t forget to look at the big picture and the difficulties these athletes face. For many NFL players, it’s not a career paved with gold. In 2009 Sports Illustrated estimated that 78% of NFL players face financial difficulties within two years of the end of their careers.¹ How can you go from making millions of dollars, to nothing?

How they lose it:
At such a young age, it is very hard for an athlete to know how to handle such a sudden financial windfall. With fame and fortune, there’s a temptation to spend it too quickly. Or they invest too much in bad real estate deals, shoe lines, energy drinks, and other ventures. All of that combined with the fact that the average NFL career is 3.5 years. Most people know when they will retire, but professional athletes never know when their careers will end—they’re always one injury away.

Some players that lost big:

Warren Sapp spent 12 years in the NFL, earning more than $82 million. But a bad real estate deal, child supports payments totaling $74,495 a month, and a lavish lifestyle all contributed to a bankruptcy filing in 2012.²
Vince Young signed a $25.7 million deal with the Tennessee Titans. But a bumpy career led the 30-year-old player to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2014.³• It’s not just the NFL, NBA star Antoine Walker earned over $108 million. He reportedly never wore the same designer suit twice, and said he was lending financial support to 70 friends and family members. Walker filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2010.⁴

Sudden Wealth Syndrome

What’s the recurring theme for most players who lose their money? Poor financial decision making. (It’s also what I refer to as ‘Sudden Wealth Syndrome’: too much, too fast in the hands of some who lack money maturity.)

The lesson for all of us:

Even though the Pats players are walking away with a big pay day, it comes down to the same issues that pertain to everyone: You have to be smart about your money. Even if you are making boatloads of it, if you’re not careful it can disappear. Here are three simple tips:

Make a budget:
What are you making each month? What are you spending? What are your short and long term debts (credit cards, car loans, mortgage, etc.)? Once you know these numbers, set a budget and stick to it.
Create a financial plan:
Chart out your future needs and goals. At what age do you want to retire? What do you expect your income and expenses to be in 5 years, 10 years, 20 years? Don’t forget to consider family expenses if they apply, will you be paying for a child’s education, wedding, etc.?
Put your money to work:
Save and invest 10-15% of your income. Invest through a retirement savings account to reduce your taxes and help ensure your retirement. Avoid financial products that carry high commissions and expenses. There are few things you can control when in comes to investing and keeping expenses low should be a top priority.

Takeaway:
No matter how much money you make, if you’re not careful, it can be fleeting. We leave you with this quote from Robert Kiyosaki which sums it up nicely:

“It’s not how much money you make, but how much money you keep, how hard it works for you, and how many generations you keep it for.”

Steve Stanganelli is a Fee-Only Certified Financial Planner™ Professional, NAPFA-Registered Financial Advisor, and Accredited Estate Planner ® at Clear View Wealth Advisors, LLC. He has been providing financial, tax, retirement, and college funding advice for more than 20 years. For more information, email: Steve@ClearViewWealthAdvisors.com