This NFL superstar’s riskiest bet: receives his salary in Bitcoin, which skyrockets in value after record highs

Back in 2021, Odell Beckham Jr. took what looked like a bold – and maybe reckless - step: he asked for his $750,000 Los Angeles Rams salary in Bitcoin.

What happened to Beckham’s Bitcoin bet?

It was part of a partnership with Cash App, owned by Jack Dorsey’s Block (NYSE: XYZ). At the time, critics warned it was risky. When Bitcoin crashed the next year, falling nearly 80%, those critics sounded a lot smarter. But things change...

As of mid-July, Bitcoin has hit all-time highs above $120,000. Beckham took to X to say, “Sooooo Bitcoin is at an ALL TIME high today...safe to say we still happy with our decision.”

He’s got reason to be happy too. If he held through the crash – and that’s a big if – his original $750,000 is now worth roughly $1.47 million. After taxes, that still leaves over $1.1 million. Which would be almost three times what he would’ve kept had he taken the money in plain old dollars.

Which other players backed Bitcoin?

Beckham isn’t the only player who backed Bitcoin. Saquon Barkley and Russell Okung also took their earnings in crypto. At current prices, Barkley’s up about 260% while Okung’s bet is now worth $22 million. I wonder how many others are thinking they should have joined them.

Beckham is still with Cash App, still handing out referral bonuses. Oh, and he’s still tweeting, too.

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