What is Deshaun Watson’s net worth?
The NFL has just handed Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson the biggest fine the league has ever given an individual. Can he afford to pay it?
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson has settled with the NFL on the matter of allegations of sexual misconduct against him, to the tune of an 11-game suspension and a $5 million fine. This is the largest financial penalty the league has ever given an individual, but it looks like the 26-year-old is good for it.
Watson’s rising star
The Houston Texans selected Watson in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft and signed him to a four-year, $13.84 million contract that provided him with an $8.21 million signing bonus. The Texans immediately got a return on their investment- the quarterback delivered an outstanding performance in his rookie year, and though an injury cut his season short. It was enough to earn him a place in the All-Rookie team.
His star continued to rise in the next three years, getting consecutive Pro Bowl nods from 2018-2020 as Houston’s primary starter and leading the Texans to back-to-back division titles in 2018 and 2019. With all this under his belt, Watson was in an excellent position to negotiate a higher rate.
In 2020, he signed a four-year $156 million contract extension that provided a $27 million signing bonus. This was a significant pay increase from his rookie contract, as this came out to a salary of $39 million per year.
With success comes endorsement deals, and Watson had these rolling in. He inked contracts with brands like Rolex, Nike, Beats by Dre, Gillett, and Miller Lite. These earned him around $8 million each year.
Watson’s shine tarnishes
Then 2021 came around, and lawsuits cropped up early in the year, accusing Watson of various instances of sexual misconduct and assault. This caused issues with his team, and he was kept on the sidelines for the whole season. Watson also lost some of his endorsement deals, including Nike and Beats by Dre.
Despite the controversy surrounding the quarterback, the Cleveland Browns traded for him and even gave him the highest salary ever for an NFL player. He signed a five-year $230 million contract, with a fully guaranteed signing bonus of $45 million.
At such a young age, Watson has brought in the big bucks, and according to Celebrity Net Worth, he currently has a net worth of $50 million, certainly enough to cover the fine that he has to pay in his settlement with the NFL.