Pelé, the football legend who is widely regarded as the greatest player of all time, had a 14 year long international career. The former Brazilian player appeared in four world cups, winning three, and was named Athlete of the 20th Century by the International Olympic Committee.
Apart from all the acclaim and fame, Pelé, whose real name is Edson Arantes do Nascimento, was also able to earn a huge amount of money in his career. Here is everything we know about his net worth and earnings.
Pelé Net Worth
As per the website Celebrity Net Worth, Pelé has a net worth of a whopping $100 million in December 2022. The former pro footballer earned this wealth during his long and illustrious career. During his peak, Pelé was the highest-earning athlete in the world. In the 1960s, he was reportedly making around $150,000 every year.
The player came a long way from his poverty-stricken childhood. Born in 1940 in Minas Gerais, Brazil, Pelé had to work in his early days to provide for his family. His father had also played football at the professional level and taught him sports skills at an early age. The family could not afford a soccer ball, and Pelé had to practice with a grapefruit instead.
Football Career
During his teens, Pelé started to play for youth clubs in Brazil. At the age of 15, he impressed the coach of Santos FC with his game and was signed by the sports club a year later. Soon he became the top scorer in the Brazilian league and was selected to play in the national team.
In 1958, he played his first world cup and scored two goals in the finals against Sweden, winning the trophy. In 1962, Brazil won the world cup again, but Pelé was sidelined due to an injury. The team had a disappointing run at the 1966 world cup, but again became the champions in 1970, and Pelé was named the Player of the Tournament.
The footballer continued to play for Santos FC in leagues and marched his team to victory in the 1962 Intercontinental Cup and the 1963 Copa Libertadores. In 1974, he was signed by New York Cosmos. Three years later, a massive crowd of 62,000 people showed up at the Giants Stadium to watch him play.
Philanthropic Work
Over the years, Pelé has promoted a number of charitable causes, including Action for Brazil’s Children, The Littlest Lamb, Gols Pela Vida, SOS Children’s Villages, and Prince’s Rainforests Project.
In 2016, he raised £3.6 million by auctioning over 1600 from his collection. In 2018, he founded the Pelé Foundation, a charitable organization aimed at empowering impoverished children around the globe.
The player also had his share of financial controversies. In 2001, he was named in a corruption scandal that involved stealing $700,000 from UNICEF. In 2016, he sued Samsung Electronics for ‘false endorsements and the violation of his right of publicity’ and demanded $30 million in damages.
Pelé also invested heavily in property. He bought a house in Hamptons for $156,000 in 1979, which was sold for $2.85 million in 2018. During his stay on the property, he converted it into a lavish mansion spanning over 3,500-square-foot.
For more news and updates, keep watching this space.
