David Beckham is among the richest athletes worldwide. Here's how he makes and spends his money.

David Beckham.
David Beckham.Getty/Clive Marsland
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  • David Beckham is one of the most famous people on the planet.

  • The former soccer star and his wife have an estimated net worth of $514 million.

  • Here's how he makes and spends his money.

David and Victoria Beckham have an estimated net worth of $514 million.

That's according to the Sunday Times Rich List, which in May estimated the couple have a combined wealth of £425 million ($514 million).

He earned an estimated $800 million during his time as a soccer player.

David Beckham of Manchester United celebrates after scoring the third goal in the 1996 FA Charity Shield between Manchester United and Newcastle United at Wembley Stadium.
Beckham spent most of his soccer career at Manchester United.Getty/Shaun Botterill

Beckham is one of the most famous soccer players of all time.

After beginning his career at Manchester United, where he spent more than two decades, the English midfielder went on to enjoy spells with Real Madrid, LA Galaxy, AC Milan, and Paris Saint-Germain before retiring in 2013.

According to the UK's Daily Mirror, by the time he retired, Beckham had earned $800 million on and off the field, making him the seventh highest-paid athlete ever at the time.

On top of his wages, Beckham also boasted lucrative endorsement deals with Armani, Gillette, PepsiCo, and Adidas during his playing days.

His portfolio has only grown since retirement.

David Beckham
David Beckham.Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Reuters

In 2014, Beckham launched his own company, DB Ventures.

The business handles most of Beckham's post-soccer career activities, including his endorsements with Adidas, the Tudor watch brand, and his own whiskey brand, Haig Club.

Documents filed at Companies House showed that Beckham was paid dividends of $12.1 million in 2016, $22.2 million in 2017, $13.2 million in 2018, and $17.2 million in 2019.

In March 2022, Beckham sold 55% of DB Ventures to American branding company Authentic Brands Group, which owns Reebok, Juicy Couture, and the branding rights to Elvis Presley (more on him later), among others, reported CNBC.

Beckham was expected to receive upward of $230 million from the sale, reported the Times of London in January 2022 when reports of the sale first emerged.

In 2018, Beckham launched the MLS expansion team Inter Miami.

David Beckham.
David Beckham.Getty/Al Diaz

Beckham's Inter Miami project was a long time in the making.

When the Englishman first signed for Major League Soccer's LA Galaxy as a player in 2007, he received an option to purchase an expansion team at a price of $25 million.

In 2014, a year after he retired, the MLS announced that Beckham had exercised that option and that he and a group of other investors would start a franchise in Miami.

The team joined the MLS in 2020 and has since signed a number of high-profile players, most notably seven-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi, who joined the club earlier this year.

According to Kona Equity, Inter Miami boasts an annual revenue of $27 million.

Inter Miami's commercial director Xavier Asensi told MARCA in August, however, that he expects Messi's presence to quadruple the club's revenue by 2024.

 

Last year, he agreed to become the face of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

According to the Evening Standard, the 10-year deal pocketed Beckham $177 million.

He came under heavy scrutiny for the partnership due to Qatar's record of human rights violations.

Homosexual acts between consenting men are illegal in Qatar and subject to up to five years in prison, while there are also significant restrictions on free expression, reports of forced labor, and discrimination against women.

The Guardian's Catherine Bennett called the deal "gag-inducing."

Beckham likes to spend his money on art.

David Beckham attends the Opening Of The New Exhibitions Jean-Michel Basquiat And Egon Schiele At The Fondation Louis Vuitton at Fondation Louis Vuitton.
Beckham is an avid art collector.Getty/Pascal Le Segretain

Beckham and his wife, one-time Spice Girl Victoria, boast an impressive art collection worth almost $44 million, according to Luxuo.

The entire collection is "love-themed" and includes paintings, portraits, and sculptures by Damien Hirst, Tracey Emin, and Banksy, according to the Daily Mirror.

Artnet reported that in 2014, Beckham paid $780,000 for a commissioned painting titled "Daddy's Girl" as a birthday present for his daughter, Harper.

He also likes buying various collectibles, including Elvis Presley memorabilia.

David Beckham, Elvis Presley.
David Beckham loves Elvis.Getty/Gareth Fuller; Getty/Michael Ochs Archives

Unsubstantiated reports per Men's Health, last year said that Beckham spends a huge sum — $46,000 per day — on his "hobbies," which include buying Elvis memorabilia.

The report said that Beckham owns numerous Elvis costumes and other memorabilia.

His tattoos have cost him a pretty penny, too.

According to Men's Health, Beckham has more than 67 tattoos.

He's completely covered both his arms, and he also has ink on his neck, back, chest, ribs, and even his hand.

In total, his collection has cost him upwards of $65,000, according to the Mirror.

Like many super-rich sportspeople, Beckham has an impressive car collection.

David Beckham waving flag.
David Beckham waves the checkered flag as Mercedes' British driver Lewis Hamilton crosses the finish line during the Formula One Bahrain Grand Prix.ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP/Getty

Beckham has spent over $3 million on cars over the years, estimates The Sun.

A Lamborghini Gallardo, a Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead, a Bentley Bentayga, and an Aston Martin V8 Vantage X-Pack Volante are among the vehicles Beckham has owned, according to GQ.

He's also a fan of bikes, having owned a Super Vintage Knuckle, a Triumph Scrambler, and a Ducati Desmosedici RR among others, reported GQ.

He also owns a host of luxurious properties across the world.

Beckham and his wife's property portfolio is worth an eye-watering $88 million, according to Hello magazine.

The most expensive of their properties is their $37 million London townhouse. Situated in the exclusive area of Holland Park, the house has seven bedrooms, its own gym, and a huge wine cellar.

 

Two of his and Victoria's properties are in Dubai.

David and Victoria Beckham posing for a photo at an awards show.
David Beckham and Victoria Beckham attend the 2015 British Fashion Awards 2015.Anthony Harvey/Getty

According to Hello, the Beckhams also own a $5 million apartment in the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building.

Their other Dubai property is a villa in Palm Jumeirah, which they reportedly purchased for $1.5 million in 2002, but it's now thought to be worth upwards of $9 million.

They also own a $22 million apartment in Miami.

The couple's Miami penthouse lies in the exclusive One Thousand Museum building, according to Hello.

Beckham and his family visit the property for vacations, while he also stays there for his work with Inter Miami.

The apartment was designed to mirror a seven-star hotel and boasts multiple terraces with stunning ocean views, custom-designed walk-in closets, spa-like bathrooms, and a rooftop pool, according to Hello.

Beckham likes to vacation in France.

Last summer, Beckham, his family, and a number of friends vacationed in Saint-Tropez, according to the Metro.

They stayed aboard a luxury yacht for the trip, coming ashore in the evenings to eat and drink.

One night on the trip, the group visited a karaoke bar where Victoria sang a rendition of the Spice Girls' hit "Stop", which she released with the group in 1998.

Beckham donates a lot of money to charity.

David Beckham.
Beckham has been an ambassador for UNICEF since 2002.Getty/Noam Galai

Beckham has worked as an ambassador for UNICEF — the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund — for more than 17 years.

In March 2022, he and Victoria donated over $1 million to the organization's Emergency Appeal for Ukraine after Russia began its invasion, reported The Sun.

As well as his work for UNICEF, Beckham has also supported charities such as the Red Cross, Help for Heroes, WildAid, and Save the Children among others.

And he of course has his family to raise.

David Beckham and family posing on the red carpet.
(L-R) Mia Regan, Romeo Beckham, Cruz Beckham, Harper Beckham, David Beckham, Victoria Beckham, Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz attend the "Beckham" UK premiere.Karwai Tang/WireImage

David and Victoria Beckham share four children.

Their eldest, Brooklyn, married American actor Nicola Peltz last year shortly after his 23rd birthday.

The second-eldest Beckham child, 21-year-old Romeo, is already following in his father's footsteps as a soccer player for Brentford, while Cruz, 18, is a budding musician.

The couple's only daughter, 12-year-old Harper, is enrolled at London Stage School.

Beckham told Singapore Women's Weekly in 2021 that his family is the most important thing in his life.

"Family, that's what motivates me," he said. "I'm dedicated to keep on proving to my children on how hard they have to work to be successful, to have a career, and to believe in themselves."

 

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