entertainment
He is the GOAT
By Nakeisha Campbell
•
Published Apr 8, 2024
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Did you know that Peyton Manning's net worth is a staggering $250 million?
Widely known as one of the greatest football quarterbacks in history, the 48-year-old former athlete made a fortune from his NFL salary and endorsem*nts. After retiring in 2016, he pursued several other endeavors, from joining the University of Tennessee, Knoxville faculty to launching a successful production company. But these days, the media personality is making headlines as a co-host of the Paris 2024 Olympics Opening Ceremony.
During his appearance on The Tonight Show, he told Jimmy Fallon, “I took a little French in high school, and I told my mother I would take her to Paris one day. Thirty years to the time I graduated, I’m taking my mom to Paris for the Olympics.”
I'll be counting down the days until Manning makes his appearance in the City of Lights, but until then, let's take a closer look at how he earned his massive fortune.
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1. What Is Peyton Manning's Net Worth in 2024?
After playing for 18 years professionally, Manning retired at the top of the NFL’s financial hierarchy, walking away with a record $400 million in career earnings in 2016. Per Forbes, that number was a result of his salary, bonuses, endorsem*nts and licensing.
Currently, the former player is worth $250 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
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2. How Much Did Manning Make When He Joined the Colts?
Loyal fans know that Manning landed his first NFL contract with the Indianapolis Colts in 1998. According to Forbes, he signed a six-year deal worth $46.3 million, including an $11.6 million bonus. Then, in 2004, he scored another seven-year contract worth $99.2 million, which included a record $34.5 million signing bonus. During that time, he led the team to 141 victories—the most by any Colts player.
Unfortunately, during the 2011 season, Manning had injury issues, which prevented him from playing. In 2012, the Colts officially released him from the team.
Colts owner and CEO Jim Irsay said in a statement, "Peyton represented what we aspire to have in our players. He promised to win for the Colts years ago, and he did. His achievements are as notable as those of any athlete in any sport, and I offer him my sincerest thanks for his outstanding service and example."
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3. What Was Manning's Salary When He Joined the Broncos?
After his time with the Colts, Manning was approached by several teams, including the Tennessee Titans, the Miami Dolphins and the Arizona Cardinals. Ultimately, the Denver Broncos won him over, offering a five-year contract worth $96 million, according to ESPN.
Following the announcement, Manning discussed his neck injury recovery and said, "I'm not where I want to be. I want to be where I was before I was injured. I have a lot of work to do in getting to where I want to be from a health standpoint and learning this offense. This is going to take a ton of work."
John Elway, general manager of the Broncos, also said, "I believe that he's got a lot of great football left in him…My goal is to make Peyton Manning the best quarterback that's ever played the game, and he's got that ability with the football that he's got left."
4. How Much Does He Make From His Endorsem*nts?
According to Forbes, Manning's endorsem*nts made him one of the highest-paid athletes in the world. In 2015, he earned $12 million from endorsem*nts and licensing, which earned him a spot on the Forbes list of richest athletes. The outlet also estimated that Manning’s total off-field earnings were about $150 million in 2016.
Even after his retirement, Manning maintained sponsorships with major brands like Buick, Bud Light, Gatorade,MasterCard, Reebok and DirecTV. Manning also owned 21 Papa John's Pizza franchises in Colorado, but he sold his shares in 2018.
According to Celebrity Net Worth, he currently earns about $25 million per year in endorsem*nts alone.
5. What About His Production Company?
The Super Bowl champion is currently the host of Peyton's Places, an ESPN+ documentary series that explores all things football, and the co-host of Monday Night Football—both of which are produced by Manning's very own production company,Omaha Productions.
The company was founded in 2020, and it has since produced several other shows, like Eli's Places and The Grandstand. However, in May 2023, Omaha Productions became a media powerhouse when Peter Chernin, former president of The North Road Company, invested $10 million in Omaha, valuing the company at a whopping $400 million.
Chernin told Bloomberg, “I would never underestimate the level of his ambition. He’s super impressive, incredibly smart and incredibly focused. He is one of the most focused people I’ve ever been around.”
6. How Much Will He Make From Co-Hosting the Olympics Opening Ceremony?
The salary for his upcoming gig is currently unknown, but he'll likely earn a pretty penny, given that it will be a historic ceremony that takes place on the Seine River.
Manning and his fellow co-hosts, Mike Tirico and Kelly Clarkson, made the big announcement in March, when they appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Tirico said, "It’s an honor to be able to announce for the first time anywhere that this year at the Summer Olympics in Paris, the opening ceremony will be hosted by yours truly, Peyton Manning and Kelly Clarkson."
He added, "The opening ceremony is going to be so different and unique. Down the Seine, down the river with the athletes on a boat. So it’s not the stadium where they walk in. It’ll incorporate Paris."
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Nakeisha Campbell
Associate Editor, News and Entertainment
Nakeisha has been interviewing celebrities and covering all things entertainment for over 8 years, but she has also written on a widerange of topics,like career...
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