Retired Indianapolis Colts QB Peyton Manning is enjoying his best life in retirement.
The 44 year old Manning played 13 years in the NFL.
He is one of those retired athletes/celebrities that is worth as much if not more in retirement as during this playing days.
In 2020, Peyton Manning’s estimated net worth is a mind-boggling $250 million.
But upon closer look, that really isn’t hard to believe.
NFL Player Earnings
At the peak of his playing career, he earned $18 million per season.
Forbes estimates that he made $249 million during the entirety of his NFL playing career.
But like most elite athletes, the real money comes from endorsements, and he had many.
Endorsements
Manning earned roughly $151 million in endorsement deals.
He appeared in 5 national ad campaigns following his 2016 Super Bowl victory and retirement.
Manning was the star of DirecTV and Nationwide Insurance ads.
He also appeared in ad campaigns for Buick and Gatorade.
ESPN Relationship
After his retirement from the game, every NFL TV broadcast network wanted him.
He turned down every network, and ESPN pursued him the longest.
ESPN wanted him to be a Monday Night Football announcer for the 2020 season.
In the end, Manning declined to work in that capacity but is working with ESPN on his own terms.
Manning has multiple programs on ESPN’s streaming platform ESPN+.
They are Peyton’s Places and Detail.
Peyton’s Places
The third season of Peyton’s Places will air in 2021.
This is a documentary-style program that follows Manning as he spends time with and interviews key figures of NFL history, past and present.
Manning is a natural in this capacity especially with his former foe Tom Brady.
Tom Brady wisdom 🐐
Brady + Manning reunited on the latest episode of Peyton's Places: https://t.co/p8bra5K1Ah pic.twitter.com/gqnVsyQleO
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 4, 2020
Detail
Peyton Manning really went there on Tom Brady's episode of Detail 😂 pic.twitter.com/nak2O89DOc
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) October 27, 2020
Manning’s show Detail gives us a glimpse into his football mind and what could have been had he chosen to be a commentator.
Papa John’s
Manning owned 31 Papa John’s franchises in the Colorado area.
He began purchasing locations in 2012 when he was endorsing Papa John’s.
At the time, Papa John’s was the official pizza of the NFL.
Papa John’s was replaced by Pizza Hut as the NFL’s official pizza in 2018.
Shortly before the change, Manning sold his Papa John’s franchises.
The Wealthiest Manning… So Far
Peyton is the wealthiest Manning so far.
His father 71 year old Archie Manning, who was an accomplished player and broadcaster in the era prior to big salaries, has a net worth of $10 million.
Peyton’s brother, 39 year old Eli, has 2 Super Bowl rings like his brother but cannot match his net worth.
Eli’s net worth is reported to be $150 million.
The oldest Manning brother is 46 year old Cooper, who was widely regarded as the most talented football player of the three, suffered from spinal stenosis and never played beyond high school.
Cooper hosts a show on Fox Sports called The Manning Hour, and his net worth is estimated at $13 million.
However, all eyes are focused on the third generation of Mannings, namely Cooper’s son Arch, a 15 year old high school player.
Arch is projected to be the top high school quarterback in the 2023 recruiting class.
If he fulfills the potential many believe he has, he could out earn his uncle Peyton.
NEXT: Should Philip Rivers Be The Colts Starter In 2021?
