J. J. Watt recently surprised fans by announcing that he would be retiring from football after the end of the ongoing NFL season. The Arizona Cardinals defensive announced the move after his last home game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Watt started playing in the league in 2011 and went on to appear in a total of 12 seasons. During his long career, he was also able to make a huge fortune for himself. Here is everything we know about his net worth and earnings.
J. J. Watt Net Worth
As per the website Celebrity Net Worth, J. J. Watt has a net worth of a whopping $50 million in December 2022. Most of this wealth was earned by the player during his long NFL career. Watt was selected by the Houston Texans in NFL Draft 2011 and was given a four-year contract worth $11 million.
In 2014, he signed another contract worth $100 million with the club. The deal was signed for six years and came with a $10 million bonus, making Watt the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL at the time.
After 10 seasons with the Texans, the defensive was picked by Arizona Cardinals for the 2021 and 2022 seasons. The player signed a contract for $31 million, of which $23 million was guaranteed. $20 million was the signing guarantee, and $3 million was guaranteed for injury.
NFL Career
Watt had a successful football career in high school and college and decided to skip his senior year for the NFL Draft in 2011. In his first season with the Texans, he quickly made a name for himself and helped the team qualify for the first time. Finishing the season with over five sacks, he was named the Texans’ Rookie of the Year.
In 2013, he was included in the NFL Pro Bowl Team and was honored with the NFL Player of the Year award. The very next year, he was awarded the Defensive Player of the Year trophy. After struggling with injuries for a few seasons, Watt made a solid comeback in 2018, racking up 16 sacks.
In 2021, he played for the Cardinals but continued to battle injuries. In December 2022, he again appeared in the league with the Cardinals and announced his retirement from the sport.
Endorsements and Investments
Over the years, Watt was appointed the ambassador of a number of brands, including Reebok, Gatorade, Ford, and Verizon, among others. He made $7 million to $10 million every year from the endorsements of these brands.
The footballer also invested heavily in real estate. In 2015, he bought a 4,500 square feet mansion in the southeastern Wisconsin area of Summit for $800,000. The home comprised four bedrooms and was surrounded by a 35-acre plot.
Earlier in 2011, he purchased a 4169 square feet home in Texas, which featured four bedrooms and a saltwater pool. The property was bought for $399,000 and was listed by the player in 2016 for $465,000.
Watt is also known for his philanthropic work. In 2010, he founded the J.J. Watt Foundation, which takes care of after-school athletic programs in the country. In 2017, he raised $37 million in funds to help people affected by Hurricane Harvey in Houston.
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