Johnny Manziel Net Worth (Money & Salary)

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

Johnny Manziel, a retired American football player, boasts a net worth of $1 million. His journey began with a historic win of the Heisman Trophy at Texas A&M, making him the first freshman to achieve this honor. This success led to his entry into the 2014 NFL draft, where expectations ran high for him to be a top pick, possibly even #1. Unfortunately, his draft stock fell due to rumors surrounding personal issues, leading to him being selected as the #22 pick by the Cleveland Browns, a choice he swayed by personally contacting the team’s quarterbacks coach to affirm his dedication.

His career was plagued by various off-field issues, including partying and substance abuse, which resulted in a suspension from the NFL for violating its substance abuse policy.

Manziel’s NFL career lasted from 2014 to 2015, entirely with the Cleveland Browns. Following his NFL stint, he spent a brief time with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the Montreal Alouettes in the CFL.

In the subsequent section, we will outline how conservative estimates anticipated Johnny’s potential future earnings, combining salary and endorsements, at around $100 million. Instead, he earned $7.7 million in salary coupled with approximately $10 million from endorsements, primarily stemming from a now-canceled contract with Nike.

In a Netflix documentary released in 2023, Johnny disclosed having engaged in a $5 million “bender” during his most controversial times.

Contracts & Career Earnings

Initially, Johnny was expected to earn over $100 million through salary and endorsements, assuming he maintained even moderate performance throughout a standard NFL career. Ultimately, he achieved a total of just $18 million in pre-tax earnings, with $7.7 million from salary and around $10 million from endorsements.

His inaugural NFL contract was a four-year agreement worth $8.25 million with the Browns, which included a $4.3 million signing bonus.

In his rookie season, combining salary, signing bonus, and endorsements, Johnny Manziel secured $7 million. Throughout that rookie year, he amassed only 175 passing yards alongside zero passing touchdowns, though he did manage one rushing touchdown. On March 11, 2016, he was released by the Cleveland Browns after they had paid him $7,707,913 in salary. During his stint, Manziel recorded seven touchdowns against seven interceptions.

This figure of $7,707,913 ultimately represented his complete NFL career earnings.

As previously mentioned, in the 2023 Netflix documentary, Johnny stated that he took part in a $5 million “bender” during and right after his NFL career. He likely received a low seven-figure or high six-figure payment for his participation in the Netflix documentary.

Family Wealth

As he rose to fame as a college athlete, speculation arose about Johnny’s connection to a vast oil fortune. However, most of this was a significant exaggeration. In his 2023 Netflix documentary, Johnny admitted to embellishing his family’s wealth to justify the money he made from selling autographs, which violated NCAA regulations at the time.

Nevertheless, it’s worth noting that Johnny does have ties to oil wealth through his family history.

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

Johnny’s great-grandfather, Bobby Joe, struck oil in Texas in 1930 after many failed drilling attempts. This successful endeavor led to several productive wells and provided Bobby Joe with a substantial income, enough to finance what is now known as “The Oil Palace,” a 7,000-seat music venue located in Tyler, Texas. Bobby Joe initially intended for the Palace to serve as a boxing arena.

He passed away in 1956, leading to a halt in construction that lasted nearly 30 years. Ultimately, it was finished and inaugurated in 1983.

In 1975, Bobby Joe’s son, Bobby Joe Jr., was apprehended and faced conspiracy charges related to a murder that year. Although the murder charges were dismissed, he was found guilty of cocaine trafficking. Bobby Joe Jr. operated The Oil Palace until his passing in 2022.

Johnny’s parents are quite ordinary and unassuming. They worked as bartenders at the time of Johnny’s birth. Johnny’s father, Paul, dedicated the majority of his career to being a car salesman and managed a Honda dealership located three hours away from their residence. For many years, he reportedly only returned home on weekends. Raised in a typical household in Tyler, Texas, Johnny’s childhood home is currently valued at approximately $700,000, and his parents continue to own and reside there.

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

Endorsements

Throughout his short NFL career, Johnny made millions from endorsements, prominently from Nike, while also endorsing brands such as Nissan, McDonald’s, and Panini America.

Prior to entering the NFL draft, when he was still anticipated to be a first-round pick with an extended career ahead, Johnny entered into a multi-year, multi-million dollar endorsement contract with Nike. Proposals were also made by Under Armour and New Balance to secure a partnership with Manziel. Regrettably, in April 2016, just two years later, Johnny was let go by Nike and his agents following a series of off-field scandals.

Early Life

Born on December 6, 1992, in Tyler, Texas, Jonathan Paul Manziel is of Italian and Lebanese heritage and has a younger sister named Meri. Due to their investments in the oil and natural gas sectors, Johnny’s parents are highly successful and affluent.

Paul and Michelle Manziel, Johnny Manziel’s parents, are oil magnates reportedly valued at tens of millions, potentially between $50-100 million. They first met while bartending, after which Michelle transitioned into real estate, and Paul ventured into homebuilding and car sales. Their family’s wealth largely stems from 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 ultimately concentrated on football and baseball during his time at Tivy High School in Kerrville, Texas.

During his high school football journey, he initially played as a receiver in his freshman year, switching to quarterback in the fourth game of his sophomore year. As a quarterback, he garnered attention for his outstanding stats; in his senior year, he achieved a passing rate of 65.7%, throwing for 3,609 yards with 45 touchdowns and just 5 interceptions. His achievements include being recognized as the San Antonio Express-News Offensive Player of the Year (twice), National High School Coaches Association Senior Athlete of the Year in Football, and a “Parade” All-American.

He was recruited by numerous schools, 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 received an academic scholarship and elected to play for the team. With quarterback Ryan Tannehill leaving for the NFL after the 2011 season, Texas A&M needed a new starter. Manziel outperformed his competitors, Jameill Showers and Matt Joeckel, securing the starting quarterback position. His performance began drawing attention when he surpassed Archie Manning’s 43-year-old total offense record in a game against Arkansas, continuing to deliver impressive performances. After leading Texas A&M to a victory over the top-ranked Alabama, he appeared on Heisman Watch lists. Manziel made history as the first freshman—and only the fifth player in NCAA history—to throw for 3,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards in a season. He also became the first freshman to win both the Davey O’Brien Award and the Heisman Trophy. In the 2013 Heisman Trophy voting, he placed fifth during his sophomore season at Texas A&M.

Professional Career

Deciding to forgo his junior season at Texas A&M, Manziel opted to enter the 2014 NFL Draft. Although he was projected as a first-round pick, lingering concerns about his attitude made many teams hesitant. On draft day, 21 teams, including the Cleveland Browns, overlooked Manziel, but a text he sent to quarterbacks coach Dowell Loggains eventually persuaded head coach Mike Pettine to select him as the 22^nd overall pick.

Manziel’s tenure with the Browns lasted just two seasons, filled with challenges. In his rookie season (2014), he was fined $12,000 for making a rude gesture during a preseason loss to the Washington Redskins, which led to Brian Hoyer being named the starting quarterback for the regular-season opener. During the 2015 season, Manziel was demoted to third-string quarterback after partying videos surfaced online. On March 11, 2016, the Cleveland Browns released him, 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 primarily due to ongoing contract negotiations, Manziel returned to the sport in 2018 by signing a two-year contract with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the Canadian Football League (CFL). Yet, he remained on the bench for only six weeks before being traded to the Montreal Alouettes in July 2018. Eventually, the CFL severed ties with Manziel, resulting in his release by the Alouettes on orders from league officials.

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

Personal Life and Controversies

Engaged to Bre Tiesi in March 2017, Manziel married her in March 2018, but they separated just a year later. In June 2021, Bre Tiesi gave birth to a child with Nick Cannon. By 2023, she became a part of the reality show “Selling Sunset.”

Despite his on-field talent, Manziel’s career has faced numerous controversies and legal issues. His first arrest occurred in June 2012, prior to his debut college football game. It was reported that he intervened in a friend’s altercation, which led him to display a fake ID when police arrived. Nonetheless, he was appointed as the starting quarterback for Texas A&M University.

His problematic behavior persisted during college and into his professional career, garnering substantial media scrutiny. Notable incidents comprise being expelled from a University of Texas fraternity party, an NCAA probe into alleged payments for autographs (which he was acquitted of), being pulled over for a dispute with then-girlfriend Colleen Crowley in the vehicle, and a 2016 investigation by the Dallas Police Department regarding domestic violence claims by Crowley (resulting in his indictment on misdemeanor assault charges). His off-field conduct brought about serious consequences, including the Cleveland Browns severing their ties with him, the loss of his sponsorship with Nike, and the termination by two separate agents as their client.

Blaming the Browns

On “The Dan Patrick Show” in 2018, Manziel expressed that his former team is responsible for failing to identify his deficiencies, particularly in relation to 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,” Manziel stated during the show. “I wasn’t a guy who really knew the X’s and O’s of football.”“

Real Estate

Johnny purchased a home in Avon, Ohio, for $400,000 in May 2009. He listed the property for sale at $489,000 in May 2016 and accepted an offer at $480,000 by June 2016. He currently lives in Scottsdale, Arizona.