MoneyINC Logo
25+
Years of
Trust
13,000+
Articles
Written 
10M+
Annual 
Readers
300+
Global
Mentions

How Bo Jackson Achieved a Net Worth of $25 Million

Bo Jackson

Bo Jackson is a legendary athlete who rose to fame in the 1980s, becoming one of the few players ever to be named an All-Star in two major sports. He was a star running back for Auburn University and went on to become one of Major League Baseball's top home run hitters.

His NFL career with the Los Angeles Raiders included Pro Bowl selections and a Super Bowl appearance. Bo later became involved in golfing, charity work, business investments and endorsements following his retirement from professional sports.

With such a varied career, people often ask what Bo's net worth is today. According to CelebrityNetWorth.com, Bo has accumulated an impressive net worth of $25 million due to his successful athletic career as well as other ventures throughout his life. This article will explore Bo Jackson's early years, college football career, professional baseball and football careers, post-retirement activities and legacy that still lives on today.

Early Years and College Football Career

Growing up in Bessemer, Alabama, Bo Jackson was a natural athlete with an aptitude for sports. He excelled at football, baseball, basketball and track at McAdory High School in McCalla, Alabama and went on to attend Auburn University where he starred as their running back from 1982-1985.

His senior year saw him win the Heisman Trophy Award - awarded annually to college football's most outstanding player - becoming only the 8th person in history to do so.

Where Did Bo Play During His Professional Baseball Career?

Soon after his graduation from Auburn University, Bo Jackson was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in 1986 and played for them until 1990 when he joined the Chicago White Sox for one season.

Bo then played for the California Angels from 1991-1994, where he made three All-Star appearances and led the American League in home run hitting twice. He retired from baseball with a career batting average of .250 and hit 141 home runs during his 8 seasons.

Bo Jackson made a substantial amount of money during his tenure as an MLB baseball player. He earned around $8.6 million from 1986 to 1994 when he was playing for the Kansas City Royals, Chicago White Sox, and California Angels. Not only was Bo an incredible athlete, but he also had a sharp business sense which allowed him to maximize his earnings.

In 1990, after four years with the Royals, Bo negotiated a contract with the Chicago White Sox that included an estimated $5 million signing bonus. His brief stint with the White Sox in 1991-1992 saw him make over $2 million between salary and endorsements. Upon joining the California Angels in 1993, Bo signed a deal that paid him a whopping total of $11 million over three seasons - making him one of baseball's highest paid players at the time.

How Much Money Did Bo Make During His Professional Football Career?

During Bo's professional baseball career, he also signed on to play with the NFL's Los Angeles Raiders in 1987. His pro football career spanned four seasons until his retirement in 1990 due to injuries sustained while playing baseball that had caused too much wear and tear on his body. During this time, Bo was selected to two Pro Bowls and helped lead the Raiders all season long.

Bo Jackson earned a substantial salary while playing football in the NFL. During his four-year tenure with the Los Angeles Raiders, Bo was paid an estimated $4 million in salary and endorsements. His Pro Bowl selections qualified him for additional bonuses throughout those four seasons, bringing his total earnings up to around $4.75 million for his football career.

Bo's contract with the Raiders was unique as it allowed him to continue playing baseball with the White Sox during the baseball season, then join them on the field for their games during the football season. This arrangement worked well for both sides as it enabled Bo to earn more money while still focusing on both sports at an elite level.

Additional Benefits from his Football Career

Besides his salary and endorsements, Bo also gained other financial benefits from playing professional football. Additionally, Bo's performances in both baseball and football led to various sponsorships and endorsement deals which further supplemented his income during this period of his life.

Through a combination of salary, bonuses, sponsorships, and endorsement deals, Bo Jackson made an impressive amount of money from playing football in the NFL over his four-year tenure with the Raiders. His estimated overall earnings totaled around $4.75 million dollars which provided a healthy contribution to his current net worth of $25 million today.

What Has Bo Done Off The Field?

After retiring from professional sports, Bo Jackson had a variety of post-retirement activities such as golfing professionally, charity work for causes such as cancer research and medical centers, business investments and endorsement deals.

Bo has also appeared in video games. In the 1991 video game Tecmo Super Bowl for the Nintendo Entertainment System, Bo's avatar is all but impossible to tackle. This has led Kotaku to call him "the greatest athlete in video game history."

In addition to being represented in other games, Bo released Bo Jackson's Hit and Run the original Game Boy portable gaming system. The game offered both football and baseball. He also released on NES and IBM compatible computers a game called Bo Jackson Baseball.

What Are Some of Bo's Biggest Endorsement Deals?

Bo's career may have been relatively short compared to those of other professional athletes, but his star power enabled him to rack up major endorsement deals with several companies like Nike where he starred in the famous "Bo Knows" series. These endorsement deals alone earned Bo millions more than what he made on just his baseball salary.

When all was said and done, Bo walked away from his professional sports career having earned an impressive net worth of nearly $25 million through his combination of talents on and off the field.

The Legacy of Bo Jackson

The unbelievable performances that Bo displayed on both baseball and football fields during his career have left an indelible mark on fans' memories all around the world. Even though he retired from professional sports over 25 years ago, his highlight reel plays are still shown on TV and his name is still uttered in conversations about the greatest athletes of all time. He will forever be remembered as one of the most talented, versatile and dynamic athletes to ever live.

Bo Jackson left a lasting impression with both baseball and football fans alike through highlight reel plays that will never be forgotten. His achievements show just how amazing an athlete he was, and his legacy lives on today as an example of hard work, dedication, courage and excellence. There may never be another athlete quite like Bo Jackson - but his story will always inspire those looking to make their own mark in sports history.

You can also read:

Allen Lee

Written by Allen Lee

Allen Lee is a Toronto-based freelance writer who studied business in school but has since turned to other pursuits. He spends more time than is perhaps wise with his eyes fixed on a screen either reading history books, keeping up with international news, or playing the latest releases on the Steam platform, which serve as the subject matter for much of his writing output. Currently, Lee is practicing the smidgen of Chinese that he picked up while visiting the Chinese mainland in hopes of someday being able to read certain historical texts in their original language.

Read more posts by Allen Lee

Related Articles

Stay ahead of the curve with our most recent guides and articles on , freshly curated by our diligent editorial team for your immediate perusal.
As featured on:

Wealth Insight!
Subscribe to our Exclusive Newsletter

Dive into the world of wealth and extravagance with Money Inc! Discover stock tips, businesses, luxury items, and travel experiences curated for the affluent observer.
linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram