Why They Rank
Sold The Staubach Company for $613M. Two-time Super Bowl champion. Built a real estate empire from a $2.7M NFL career. One of the wealthiest former NFL players in history.
The Fortune
Roger Staubach earned approximately $2.7 million in his entire 11-year NFL career -- a sum that would barely cover a modern player's game check. But Staubach leveraged his fame as a two-time Super Bowl champion and Dallas Cowboys legend into one of the most successful post-athletic business careers in history. The Staubach Company, his commercial real estate brokerage, grew into a national powerhouse representing corporate clients in office leasing and tenant representation.
In 2008, Staubach sold The Staubach Company to Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) for approximately $613 million, making it one of the largest athlete business exits in history. Staubach's personal take from the sale was estimated at $300-400 million. He continued to work in real estate after the sale and has invested in multiple Dallas-area ventures.
Staubach's story is remarkable because he did not start his business career until after the Navy (he served four years of active duty) and his football career. He built The Staubach Company from scratch starting in his mid-30s and turned it into a firm worth over $600 million in less than 30 years. His net worth of $600 million makes him one of the wealthiest former NFL players in history, rivaling only Jerry Richardson and some team owners.
Wealth Source
NFL career, The Staubach Company (real estate), endorsements
Top Endorsements
Fun Facts
Staubach earned $2.7 million in his entire NFL career and turned it into over $600 million through real estate -- a return of over 22,000%.
He served four years of active military duty in Vietnam before joining the Cowboys at age 27, losing what most athletes consider their prime years.
His real estate company was so successful that JLL paid $613 million for it -- more than many NFL franchises were worth at the time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the richest athlete of all time?
Michael Jordan is the richest athlete of all time with an estimated net worth of $3.5 billion. His wealth comes primarily from the Jordan Brand, the sale of the Charlotte Hornets, and decades of endorsement deals. His NBA playing salary was just $94 million -- a fraction of his total fortune.
How do athletes build wealth beyond their playing salary?
The wealthiest athletes build wealth through endorsement deals, equity stakes in companies, brand ownership, franchise ownership, venture capital, and real estate. The key insight is taking equity over flat endorsement fees whenever possible -- turning short-term fame into long-term compounding assets.
Which athletes are billionaires?
As of 2026, four athletes have confirmed billionaire status: Michael Jordan ($3.5B), Tiger Woods ($1.3B), LeBron James ($1.2B), and Magic Johnson ($1.2B). Several others are approaching the threshold, including Arnold Palmer's estate ($875M), Lionel Messi ($650M), and Michael Schumacher ($600M).
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