David Beckham's Net Worth Allows for Quite the Posh Life
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David Beckham's net worth comes from his run as a world-famous athlete and franchise co-owner. While he retired from soccer in 2013, he still gets plenty of action at the helm of Inter Miami, a professional soccer club based in Florida.
Fans of Beckham can get a closer look at his upbringing, career and marriage to Victoria Beckham (a.k.a. Posh Spice) in the new Netflix documentary series Beckham, which premiered Oct. 4.
“This whole [documentary] process has been like an emotional rollercoaster,” Beckham said in an interview with The Associated Press. “I’ve never talked about these certain moments in my career and in my life.”
Aside from his historic 20 years playing soccer, Beckham was named “Underwear Model of the Century” by Tommy Hilfiger in 2014 and signed endorsement deals with brands like Armani and Adidas. His work off the field made him millions, but just how rich is David Beckham? Let's take a look.
How did David Beckham get his start?
Beckham was a soccer star from a young age. At 11, he won the Bobby Charlton Soccer Schools National Skills competition and was later invited to try out for Manchester United’s youth league.
“Me getting out of London at that time and becoming a Manchester United player, in the north, surrounded by unbelievable people—that for me without doubt helped me have the success and have the career that I had had and have,” Beckham told The Associated Press.
By 1995, at 20 years old, he was a full-time starter, and gained major traction in ‘96 when he scored a goal against Wimbledon from behind midfield. This skill inspired the phrase “bend it like Beckham," which was turned into a movie starring Kiera Knightley in 2002.
Beckham would stay with Manchester United until 2003, when he was acquired by Real Madrid. He went on to play for the L.A. Galaxy from 2007 to 2012 and spent his final year as a professional athlete with Paris Saint-Germain.
What is David Beckham's net worth?
David Beckham and wife Victoria Beckham have a net worth of around $514 million, according to Insider. He reportedly enjoys spending his money on art, luxury cars and international real estate.
Beckham also enjoys collecting body art, as is on display in his many underwear campaigns. The Mirror claimed in 2015 that his 60-plus tattoos have cost him more than $65,000.
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What is David and Victoria Beckham's net worth combined?
Together, David Beckham and former member of the Spice Girls Victoria Beckham are worth $514 million, per Insider. Other sources put their combined fortune a bit lower, at $450 million, but they’re plenty rich regardless.
Who is richer, David Beckham or Victoria?
It’s hard to say definitively who is the wealthier between David and Victoria Beckham. The pair have been married since 1999 and their individual net worths are unknown. Both have contributed mightily to the family bank account, most notably with David’s two-decade soccer career and Victoria’s music career with the Spice Girls.
However, certain clues lead us to believe that David has earned more over the years. Insider reported that David made an estimated $800 million during his soccer career, whereas Bustle reported that the Spice Girl empire pulled in a similar amount. Seeing as Spice Girl money was split at least five ways, and the rest of the Spice Girls are significantly less wealthy than Victoria and David, it can be assumed David has brought the larger sum of riches to their marriage.
How much money did David Beckham make from MLS?
Beckham played for the L.A. Galaxy from 2007 to 2012 and was highly rewarded for it. His five-year, $250 million contract set records at the time, a number that enticed him across the Atlantic and to Major League Soccer for the very first time.
His actual salary was much lower than the total contract figure, which was inflated to include potential endorsement earnings. All in all, he earned $32.5 million in salary, or $6.5 million per year. For context, the next-highest-paid player on the Galaxy was Landon Donovan, who made $900,000 per year.
But the most lucrative part of the contract would be a clause enabling Beckham to purchase an extension team for a set fee of $25 million. Sure enough, eight years after he left the Galaxy, his expansion team Inter Miami officially joined MLS.
Is David Beckham the highest paid soccer player?
During his years as a pro player, and certainly in the U.S., Beckham was one of the highest-paid soccer players in the world. In fact, in order for the L.A. Galaxy to sign him they had to wait two years for the league to pass the so-called “Beckham Rule,” which allowed teams to spend above the salary cap on certain players.
How much does David Beckham make from endorsements?
Pro athletes make the bulk of their money from endorsements, and a decade after hanging up his cleats David Beckham is still cleaning up in that respect.
In 2014, he launched his company DB Ventures to manage his endorsements, including his “lifetime” $160 million deal with Adidas. Over the years, in addition to Adidas, Beckham has inked deals with H&M, Maserati, Armani and PepsiCo, among others. Beckham sold 55% of DB Ventures in 2022 for more than $230 million, according to London’s The Times.
It’s unknown exactly how much he makes per year from endorsements, but some sources put the figure around $42 million.
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How much did Beckham make from the World Cup?
Last year, Beckham became an ambassador for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The decision was met with much controversy due to Qatar’s record of human rights violations and treatment of homosexuality.
Responding to the criticism, a spokesperson for Beckham told CNN: “We understand that there are different and strongly held views about engagement in the Middle East but see it as positive that debate about the key issues has been stimulated directly by the first World Cup being held in the region. We hope that these conversations will lead to greater understanding and empathy towards all people and that progress will be achieved.”
Beckham’s role as an ambassador was initially reported to be a 10-year gig that would pay him $277 million. However, this figure has since been corrected to $177 million by Insider, whereas SuperSport says it actually may be a three-year, $15 million deal with an option for extension. Whatever it is, Beckham’s reputation took a hit for signing.
How does David Beckham earn his money now?
Since his retirement from playing soccer, Beckham earns his money through co-ownership of the Florida-based soccer club Inter Miami, as well as his multiple multi-million-dollar endorsement deals.
What businesses does David Beckham own?
David Beckham founded the company DB Ventures in 2014 to manage his endorsement deals. He’s since sold 55% of the business to Authentic Brands Group, but has sizable stakes in many businesses, including the MLS club Inter Miami.
Who is richer, David Beckham or Cristiano Ronaldo?
Soccer stars David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo have remarkably similar net worths. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Ronaldo is a bit richer with a net worth of $500 million to Beckham’s $450 million. However, Insider estimates Beckham’s worth at $514 million, which would put him on top (albeit with help from wife Victoria, as their net worths are combined).
Ronaldo does have the edge on Beckham in current earnings, though. He sits at No. 1 on Forbes’ list of the world’s highest-paid athletes, with a salary of $136 million.
How much did David Beckham pay for Messi?
“This will be up there with the biggest moves in American sporting history,” David Beckham said, per The Athletic. The move he’s referring to? Inter Miami’s recent signing of renowned Argentinian soccer player Lionel Messi. According to Sportico, Messi’s deal will pay him around $150 million over the two and a half years.
“I never thought I would have the same feeling as an owner as I had when I was a player,” Beckham said. “When I got the phone call, I had the feeling I had when I walked out at Old Trafford or Wembley. I was like, ‘We’ve just beaten all competition to sign the greatest player to ever play our game.’”
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