Johnny Manziel Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What Is Johnny Manziel’s Net Worth and Career Earnings?

Johnny Manziel, a retired American football player, holds a net worth of $1 million. After making history as the first freshman to win the Heisman Trophy while attending Texas A&M, he entered the NFL draft in 2014. As a Heisman winner, he was anticipated to be selected among the top picks, possibly even the #1. However, personal issues and rumors significantly impacted his draft position, resulting in him being picked #22 by the Cleveland Browns after he made a personal call to convince the Browns’ quarterbacks coach of his dedication.

His career was troubled due to off-field challenges, such as alcohol abuse and frequent partying. The NFL even suspended him for breaking the league’s substance abuse policy.

Manziel’s NFL career spanned from 2014 to 2015, all with the Cleveland Browns. Following his time in the NFL, he had a short stint with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the Montreal Alouettes in the CFL.

In the next section, we delve into why conservative estimates had projected Johnny’s future earnings potential, from salaries to endorsements, at roughly $100 million. Ultimately, he earned $7.7 million in salary and around $10 million through endorsements, primarily from a contract with Nike that was later canceled.

According to a 2023 Netflix documentary, Johnny admitted to going on a $5 million “bender” during his most tumultuous times.

Contracts & Career Earnings

Johnny was expected to achieve earnings surpassing $100 million in salary and endorsements if he maintained even a moderate level of performance throughout an average NFL career. However, his actual earnings totaled $7.7 million in salary along with approximately $10 million from endorsements, summing up to $18 million in total career pre-tax earnings.

His inaugural NFL contract amounted to four years and $8.25 million with the Browns, which included a signing bonus of $4.3 million.

Combining his salary, signing bonus, and endorsements, Johnny Manziel collected $7 million in his rookie year. During that initial season, he managed a mere 175 passing yards, without any passing touchdowns but managed to score one rushing touchdown. On March 11, 2016, Johnny was released by the Cleveland Browns after accumulating a salary of $7,707,913. While with the team, he threw a total of seven touchdowns against seven interceptions.

The figure of $7,707,913 concluded his overall NFL career earnings.

As noted earlier, a 2023 Netflix documentary revealed Johnny’s assertion of having gone on a $5 million “bender” during and soon after his NFL years. It is highly probable that he received a high six-figure or low seven-figure payment for his participation in the documentary.

Family Wealth

During his rise as a college athlete, rumors circulated suggesting that Johnny came from a substantial oil fortune. In reality, much of this was an overstatement. Johnny clarified in his 2023 Netflix documentary that he exaggerated his family wealth to justify the income from autograph sales, which violated NCAA regulations at that time.

Nevertheless, it is accurate that Johnny has ties to oil wealth in his family history.

His great-great-grandfather, Joe Manziel, immigrated from Syria to the United States in 1907.

Johnny’s great-grandfather, Bobby Joe, hit oil in Texas in 1930 after previously drilling many unsuccessful wells. This triumph led to several productive wells, providing Bobby Joe a significant income that enabled the establishment of what is now known as “The Oil Palace,” a music venue in Tyler, Texas that can accommodate 7,000 attendees. Originally, Bobby Joe had envisioned the Palace as a boxing arena.

In 1956, he passed away, resulting in construction being stalled for nearly three decades. Ultimately, it was finished and inaugurated in 1983.

Bobby Joe’s son, named Bobby Joe Jr., found himself arrested in 1975, facing conspiracy charges related to a murder that year. While the murder allegations were dismissed, he was found guilty on cocaine trafficking offenses. Until his death in 2022, Bobby Joe Jr. managed The Oil Palace.

Johnny’s parents epitomize modesty and normalcy. During Johnny’s birth, they worked as bartenders. For a significant part of his career, Johnny’s father, Paul, was employed as a car salesman, operating a Honda dealership situated three hours away from their residence. Reportedly, he would return home only on weekends for several years. Johnny grew up in a typical family home located in Tyler, Texas, which currently has an estimated worth of $700,000. His parents continue to reside in this home.

In October 2015, a $400,000 lake house belonging to Johnny’s grandfather, Paul Manziel Sr., mysteriously burned down.

Endorsements

Throughout his short-lived NFL career, Johnny amassed millions from endorsements, most prominently with Nike. He also provided endorsement deals for Nissan, McDonald’s, and Panini America.

Prior to entering the NFL draft, while still anticipated to be a first-round selection with a promising future, Johnny secured a multi-year endorsement agreement with Nike worth several million dollars. Proposals were made by Under Armour and New Balance to partner with Manziel. Regrettably, in April 2016, just two years later, Johnny was dropped by both Nike and his agents amidst a series of off-field incidents.

Early Life

Jonathan Paul Manziel emerged into the world on December 6, 1992, in Tyler, Texas. With Italian and Lebanese heritage, he has a younger sister named Meri. Johnny’s parents have achieved considerable success and wealth through their investments in the oil and natural gas sectors.

The Manziel family, specifically Johnny’s parents, Paul and Michelle, are known as oil magnates, with an estimated worth ranging from tens of millions up to approximately $50-100 million. Their initial meeting was while working as bartenders. Michelle later transitioned into real estate, while Paul ventured into homebuilding and car sales. However, the family’s true wealth traces back to Bobby Joe Manziel, Johnny’s great-grandfather, who struck oil after relocating to Texas in the 1930s.

While growing up, Johnny participated in various sports, including football, basketball, baseball, and golf, but he chose to concentrate on football and baseball during his time at Tivy High School in Kerrville, Texas.

In high school, Johnny began his football experience as a receiver during his freshman year, shifting to quarterback in the fourth game of his sophomore season. As a quarterback, he quickly garnered considerable attention due to his remarkable statistics; during his senior campaign, he boasted a passing completion rate of 65.7%, accumulating 3,609 yards, 45 touchdowns, and only 5 interceptions. His achievements earned him numerous accolades, including the San Antonio Express-News Offensive Player of the Year (twice), the National High School Coaches Association Senior Athlete of the Year in Football, and a designation as a “Parade” All-American.

Several schools expressed interest in recruiting him, including Baylor, Colorado State, Iowa State, Louisiana Tech, Oregon Rice, Stanford, Tulsa, and Texas A&M.

College Career

Choosing to attend Texas A&M, Johnny secured an academic scholarship there. Following the NFL departure of quarterback Ryan Tannehill after the 2011 season, Texas A&M needed a new starter. Manziel beat out competitors Jameill Showers and Matt Joeckel for the starting quarterback position. His performance grabbed attention after he shattered Archie Manning’s longstanding total offense record during a matchup against Arkansas, followed by more impressive outings. Manziel gained recognition on Heisman Watch lists after leading Texas A&M to a win over top-ranked Alabama. He set records as the first freshman—and fifth player in NCAA history—to pass for over 3,000 yards and rush for over 1,000 yards in a season. Additionally, he made history as the first freshman to capture the Davey O’Brien Award and the Heisman Trophy. In his sophomore season at Texas A&M, he finished fifth in the 2013 Heisman Trophy voting.

Professional Career

Manziel opted to leave college football, bypassing his junior season at Texas A&M to enter the 2014 NFL Draft. Although he was predicted to be a first-round pick, doubts about his attitude lingered, causing hesitation among many teams. On draft day, 21 teams, including the Cleveland Browns, did not select Manziel. However, a text he sent to Browns quarterbacks coach Dowell Loggains ultimately swayed head coach Mike Pettine to draft him as the 22^nd overall pick.

His tenure with the Browns lasted only two seasons, both fraught with challenges. In his rookie season (2014), the NFL fined him $12,000 for an inappropriate hand gesture during a preseason loss to the Washington Redskins, leading to Brian Hoyer being named the starting quarterback for the season opener. The following season (2015), Manziel was demoted to third-string after videos of him partying surfaced online. On March 11, 2016, the Cleveland Browns released him after having paid him $7,707,913 in salary. Throughout his time with the team, he recorded seven touchdowns and seven interceptions.

After spending two years away from football, largely due to ongoing contract negotiations, he made a comeback in 2018 by signing a two-year contract with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the Canadian Football League (CFL). Unfortunately, he remained on the bench for six weeks before being traded to the Montreal Alouettes in July 2018. Ultimately, the CFL severed ties with Manziel, and he was released by the Alouettes as per league officials’ orders.

In March 2019, Manziel sought to return to professional football by joining the newly formed Alliance of American Football (AAF), where he was assigned to the Memphis Express team. However, the

The league filed for bankruptcy in April 2019 without having completed even a single season. Currently, Manziel is signed with the Fan-Controlled Football indoor league’s FCF Zappers.

Personal Life and Controversies

Engaged to Bre Tiesi in March 2017, Manziel married her in March 2018; however, they separated just a year later. In June 2021, Bre Tiesi welcomed a child with Nick Cannon. Additionally, in 2023, she joined the reality show “Selling Sunset.”

Despite being a gifted athlete, Manziel’s career has been overshadowed by various controversies and legal troubles. His first arrest occurred in June 2012, even before he appeared in his inaugural college football game. Allegedly, he became involved in a friend’s altercation and subsequently presented a fake ID to law enforcement. Nevertheless, he went on to be named the starting quarterback for Texas A&M University.

Throughout college and into his professional career, his inappropriate behavior continued, capturing considerable media attention. Notable incidents include being expelled from a fraternity party at the University of Texas, undergoing an NCAA investigation for allegedly receiving payments for autographs (where he was found not guilty), getting pulled over for an altercation with his then-girlfriend Colleen Crowley in the vehicle, and a 2016 Dallas Police Department probe regarding domestic violence allegations from Crowley (resulting in his indictment on misdemeanor assault charges). His off-field antics led to severe consequences, including the Cleveland Browns severing ties with him, the loss of his sponsorship with Nike, and two different agents terminating their relationship with him.

Blaming the Browns

In a 2018 interview on “The Dan Patrick Show,” Manziel attributed much of the blame for his struggles to his former team, asserting that they failed to recognize his flaws, particularly regarding his work ethic and motivation.

“If Cleveland did any of their homework, they would have known I wasn’t a guy who came in every day and watched film,” he stated on the show. “I wasn’t a guy who really knew the X’s and O’s of football.”

Real Estate

In May 2009, Johnny purchased a home in Avon, Ohio, for $400,000. He later listed this property for sale in May 2016 at $489,000 and accepted an offer of $480,000 by June 2016. Nowadays, he resides in Scottsdale, Arizona.