Drew Brees, a retired American professional NFL quarterback, boasts an impressive net worth of $160 million. His remarkable 20-year career began when he was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in 2001. After five seasons, he moved to the New Orleans Saints in 2006, becoming an iconic player for the franchise.
Brees led the Saints to their first-ever Super Bowl victory in 2010, earning the MVP award for his performance. He earned 13 Pro Bowl selections and one First-Team All-Pro title. Additionally, Brees won the NFL Offensive Player of the Year award twice and led the league in passing yards seven times. He is widely celebrated for his accuracy, leadership, and consistency throughout his career. When Brees retired in 2021, he held numerous NFL records, including career passing yards (80,358), career pass completions (7,142), and the highest single-season completion percentage (74.4%). Notably, Brees is the only quarterback to have thrown for over 5,000 yards in a season five times.
Beyond his football career, Brees made a significant impact off the field. He was known for his charity work, especially in New Orleans following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. His charitable efforts helped revitalize the city, making him a symbol of its resilience.
Earnings from NFL Career and Endorsements
Over his career, Drew Brees earned $270 million in salary alone. In addition to his playing career earnings, he also raked in significant endorsement income, at times making $15 million per year. One of his earliest contracts in 2005 was a one-year deal with the Chargers for $8 million. In 2006, Brees signed a six-year, $60 million contract with the Saints, which included nearly $22 million in bonuses.
Brees signed several major contracts during his career, including a five-year, $100 million deal (at the time the most guaranteed money in NFL history) and a two-year, $50 million contract in 2018. Between June 2016 and June 2017, he earned $50 million in salary, bonuses, and endorsements. His earnings ranged from $43 million to $45 million annually in subsequent years, showcasing his remarkable earning power off the field.
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Early Life
Drew Christopher Brees was born on January 15th, 1979, in Dallas, Texas. He grew up with one brother, and his parents divorced when he was just seven years old. Despite the challenging family situation, the two brothers formed a close bond and helped each other through difficult times.
Brees took an early interest in sports, particularly basketball and football. After suffering a serious knee injury, he focused on football and quickly became a promising quarterback at his high school. His statistics were impressive, with 50 touchdowns and 314 completed passes during his high school career.
College Football Journey
Despite his high school success, Brees wasn’t heavily recruited by colleges. Kentucky and Purdue were among the few universities that showed interest in him, and he ultimately chose Purdue for its strong academic reputation. In his second year at Purdue, Brees became the offensive captain and thrived under coach Joe Tiller, who implemented an unconventional offense called “basketball on grass.”
Brees led Purdue to numerous upsets, including a dramatic win against Ohio State in which he threw a game-winning 64-yard touchdown pass. His college career was full of accolades, and by the time he graduated with a degree in industrial management in 2001, Brees had broken many records and won numerous awards.
NFL Career: The Rise of a Star
Despite his outstanding college record, Brees faced skepticism from NFL scouts. However, he was eventually selected by the San Diego Chargers in the 2001 Draft. During his first season, Brees served as a backup quarterback to Doug Flutie. When Flutie suffered a concussion, Brees stepped in and impressed with over 200 passing yards and his first touchdown pass.
By 2002, Brees was the Chargers’ starting quarterback, but inconsistent performances led to Flutie being reinserted as the starter. In 2003, Brees took back the starting role, and by 2004, he had his best season yet, with a 65.5% passing completion rate and a 104.8 passer rating. That year, the Chargers won the AFC Western Division for the first time in a decade.
Despite his success, the Chargers saw a future with rookie quarterback Philip Rivers. After suffering a shoulder injury in 2005, Brees’ tenure with the Chargers was cut short. The team declined to offer him a new contract, leading Brees to sign with the New Orleans Saints. His shoulder injury did not hinder his career, and he led the Saints to multiple seasons of success, including a Super Bowl victory in 2010.
Legal Trouble: The Jewelry Lawsuit
In 2018, Brees and his wife Brittany were involved in a legal battle with La Jolla jeweler Vahid Moradi. They filed a lawsuit alleging that Moradi misrepresented the value of the diamonds he sold them, causing a significant financial loss. The Breeses claimed they had spent $15 million on various jewelry pieces under the assumption that they were good investments.
Moradi’s defense was sharp, arguing that Brees had aggressively purchased high-value items and later sought to undo the transactions when the jewelry failed to appreciate as expected. A jury sided with Brees and awarded him and his wife over $6 million in damages, settling the lawsuit in their favor.
Real Estate Ventures
Brees has invested in real estate throughout his career. In 2003, he bought a property near Carmel Valley, California, for $2.2 million. After living there for a while, he sold it in 2012 for a modest profit. He also purchased a property in New Orleans in 2006 for $1.575 million.
In 2019, Brees bought land in Lafayette, Louisiana, where he built Surge Entertainment, a 49,000-square-foot family entertainment and sports facility. The state-of-the-art facility offers a unique approach to family entertainment.
Brees also invested in a unit at the new Four Seasons New Orleans Hotel & Private Residences in October 2020. The unit, which cost several million dollars, offers stunning views of the French Quarter and the Mississippi River, along with a range of exclusive amenities.
Philanthropic Contributions
Drew and Brittany Brees have been deeply involved in philanthropy. In 2020, they pledged $5 million each to the Second Harvest Food Bank in Lafayette, Louisiana, helping communities in need. Through their Brees Dream Foundation, they have contributed over $35 million to various causes worldwide since its inception in 2003. Brees continues to make a lasting impact both on and off the field.
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