For soccer fans around the world, Pelé is one of the most recognizable names in the sport. But just how much is the Brazilian legend worth? In this post, we’ll explore the incredible net worth of arguably the greatest player to ever grace a soccer field and uncover the various sources of income that contribute to his vast wealth.
Introduction To Pele And His Wealthy Background
Pelé was born Edson Arantes do Nascimento on October 23rd 1940 in Minas Gerais, Brazil. He began playing organized football at age 12 for Bauru Athletic Club and soon rose to prominence with Santos Football Club. The precocious star made his professional debut with the team at only 15 years old, becoming their youngest ever player. Over the course of his remarkable career, he scored an astonishing 643 goals in 670 matches for Santos FC and later for New York Cosmos. It’s no wonder then why he is widely regarded as one of the best players in history, if not the absolute greatest.
Pele’s Professional Soccer Career And Earning Potential
During his active career, Pelé earned impressive salaries from both club sides and national teams. While exact figures remain confidential, it’s estimated that he earned around $20 million in salaries during his time with Santos FC alone. After joining the NASL side New York Cosmos in 1975, he reportedly commanded an annual salary of over $3 million which back then was considered astronomical. Besides these reported salaries, there have also been lucrative sponsorship deals throughout his illustrious career, adding to his already hefty net worth.
Analysis Of Pele’s Career Earnings From Salaries & Contracts
In addition to his matchday earnings, contracts and sponsorship deals, Pelé has leveraged his immense popularity by signing numerous endorsements with companies like Gillette, MasterCard, PepsiCo and Viagra among many others. Through these brand associations, it’s thought that Pelé has netted well into 8-figure sums since his retirement from the game.
Breakdown Of Pele’s Non-Soccer Related Revenue Streams
Asides from his incredibly successful on-field performance and off-field endorsement deals, Pelé has engaged in several business ventures to further increase his net worth. These include everything from investments in restaurant franchises to property development projects. In fact, some reports suggest that Pelé might be the owner of multiple properties across North America and Europe – however, specific details are still under wraps.
Assessment Of Pele’s Investments And Assets
On top of all that, Pelé holds significant shares in two oil companies: Petrobras and Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA). As such, any rise or fall in oil prices can directly affect Pelé’s net worth. Moreover, other investments by the soccer icon include assets held in gold, stocks and bonds. Taking into account all of these factors, it appears likely that his current portfolio could easily exceed more than half a billion dollars.
Income Sources For Pele After Retirement From Soccer
Since retiring from soccer in 1977, Pelé has had plenty of opportunities to continue making money. Some of these include continuing appearances in television commercials; being named ‘Global Ambassador’ of Corinthians SP; owning a sports agency that works with athletes including former Real Madrid striker Ronaldo; hosting various events; writing books; as well as engaging in other charity activities. All told, it seems safe to assume that even after leaving the game behind Pelé’s income streams were steady enough to maintain and grow his substantial wealth.
Celebrity Endorsements That Contribute To Pele’s Net Worth
No discussion about Pelé’s net worth would be complete without mentioning his major celebrity endorsements. Being an international icon for decades means that he has been able to land high paying endorsement deals with some of the world’s biggest brands such as Coca-Cola, Emirates Airlines, Nissan Motors and Volkswagen. Considering that his name still carries a lot of weight today, it’s very likely that Pelé continues to rake in big paychecks via brand partnerships.
Tax Implications On Pele’s Wealthy Lifestyle
Given his residence in Brazil, where wealthy individuals must pay taxes upwards of 27%, Pelé may potentially face hefty tax implications due to his massive fortune. Despite the country offering certain tax exemptions for its citizens abroad and favorable treatment towards self-employed people, Pelé may still owe a considerable amount of money each year due to investment gains or royalties associated with branding agreements and similar types of engagements.
Notable Charitable Contributions By Pele Throughout His Life
Of course, despite having amassed a fortune throughout his life, Pelé has been known to engage in philanthropic activities both domestically and internationally. Whether donating funds to build schools in impoverished areas or contributing time and resources towards charities supporting disadvantaged children, Pelé has made generous donations throughout his lifetime that have undoubtedly improved countless lives.
Conclusion – How Much Is Pele Really Worth Today?
At 79 years old, Pelé remains one of the richest athletes in history with an estimated net worth ranging anywhere between $100 million and $600 million according to different sources. With earnings coming from both soccer related incomes and non-soccer related revenue streams such as endorsements and investments, it’s clear that the retired footballer continues to enjoy financial success long after hanging up his boots for good.