Johnny Unitas was a legendary American football quarterback who played for the Baltimore Colts from 1956 to 1972. During his 16-year career, he set numerous records and won three NFL championships. But what was his net worth when he passed away in 2002? Let’s take a look.
Johnny Unitas’ Career Earnings:
Johnny Unitas earned nearly $1 million during his NFL career. However, most of this money was earned during the last few years of his career. In the early days of the NFL, players were paid much less than they are today. In fact, in 1957 the year after he signed with the Colts Unitas only made $7,500 per season! By 1971 the year before he retired he had increased his salary to $200,000.
Johnny Unitas’ Endorsements & Other Income Sources:
In addition to his salary from the NFL, Johnny Unitas also earned money from endorsements and other business ventures. For example, in 1968 he became an endorser for Wheaties cereal and appeared in several commercials for the brand. He also endorsed products such as cigarettes and beer. Furthermore, he owned several businesses including a restaurant chain, a car dealership, and an oil company.
Johnny Unitas’ Net Worth at Time of Death:
At the time of his death in 2002, Johnny Unitas had amassed a net worth of approximately $3 million dollars a considerable sum considering that most of it were earned during an era when player salaries were much lower than they are today. As one of the most successful quarterbacks ever to play in the NFL, it is no surprise that Johnny Unitas managed to accumulate such wealth over the course of his career.
Conclusion:
Johnny Unitas was one of the greatest quarterbacks ever to play in the NFL and despite playing during an era where player salaries were relatively low compared to today’s standards, he still managed to amass a net worth estimated at around $1 million by the time of his death in 2002. His success can be attributed to his skill on the field as well as savvy investments off it; including endorsements and business ventures such as restaurants and car dealerships which helped him increase his earning potential significantly over time. This just goes to show what hard work and dedication can achieve if you put your mind to it!