Johnny Manziel Net Worth (Money & Salary)

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

Retiring from his career as an American football player, Johnny Manziel boasts a net worth of $1 million. He made history as the first freshman to win the Heisman Trophy while at Texas A&M, leading him to enter the 2014 NFL draft. Expectations were high for him as a Heisman winner, with predictions suggesting he could be selected as a top pick, potentially the #1 overall. However, due to personal issues that garnered significant attention, his draft stock fell dramatically. Ultimately, he was selected as the #22 pick by the Cleveland Browns, persuading the team’s quarterbacks coach of his dedication with a personal phone call.

Manziel’s career was plagued by off-field issues such as alcohol abuse and a lifestyle centered around partying. Additionally, the NFL suspended him after he violated the league’s substance abuse guidelines.

His stint in the NFL lasted from 2014 to 2015, during which he played exclusively for the Cleveland Browns. Following his NFL career, he had brief engagements with the CFL’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Montreal Alouettes.

As elaborated in the subsequent section, estimates regarding Johnny’s future earnings—including salary and endorsements—were conservatively forecasted to reach $100 million. In reality, he earned $7.7 million in salary and approximately $10 million from endorsements, primarily from a now-canceled deal with Nike.

In a documentary released on Netflix in 2023, Johnny revealed he had undergone a $5 million “bender” during his most turbulent times.

Contracts & Career Earnings

Initially, projections indicated Johnny could earn over $100 million from salaries and endorsements given even a moderate performance throughout an NFL career. Ultimately, he amassed only $7.7 million in salary along with around $10 million from endorsements, accumulating total pre-tax career earnings of $18 million.

His first contract in the NFL comprised a four-year deal worth $8.25 million with the Browns, which included a signing bonus of $4.3 million.

In his rookie season, when considering salary, signing bonus, and endorsements, Johnny Manziel garnered $7 million. That year, he made 175 passing yards, yielding no passing touchdowns but securing one rushing touchdown. On March 11, 2016, the Cleveland Browns released Johnny after compensating him $7,707,913 in salary. While on the team, he achieved seven touchdowns and seven interceptions.

The $7,707,913 amount is reflective of his entire NFL career earnings.

As mentioned earlier, in a 2023 Netflix documentary, Johnny disclosed that during and immediately after his time in the NFL, he experienced a $5 million “bender.” He likely received a fee in the high six-figure or low seven-figure range to be featured in the documentary.

Family Wealth

As his fame grew as a college athlete, rumors emerged that Johnny hailed from an extensive oil fortune. In reality, much of this claim was exaggerated. As he clarified in his 2023 Netflix documentary, he inflated the size of his family wealth to mask the money earned from autograph sales, which were prohibited by NCAA regulations at that time.

Nonetheless, it is accurate that Johnny has some ties to oil wealth in his family.

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

In 1930, Johnny’s great-grandfather, Bobby Joe, struck oil in Texas after a series of unsuccessful drilling attempts. This successful venture led to several more wells, providing Bobby Joe with a substantial income—sufficient to finance what is now known as “The Oil Palace,” a 7,000-capacity music venue located in Tyler, Texas. Originally, Bobby Joe envisioned the Palace as a venue for boxing events.

He passed away in 1956, leading to a pause in construction that lasted nearly 30 years. Ultimately, it was finished and opened its doors in 1983.

The son of Bobby Joe, named Bobby Joe Jr., faced arrest in 1975 and was charged with conspiracy related to a murder that occurred that year. Although the murder charges were dismissed, he received a conviction for cocaine trafficking. Until his passing in 2022, Bobby Joe Jr. managed The Oil Palace.

Johnny’s parents are ordinary and humble individuals. When Johnny was born, they worked as bartenders. Most of Paul, Johnny’s father’s professional life was dedicated to car sales, managing a Honda dealership situated three hours from their residence. For many years, he reportedly returned home only on weekends. Johnny was brought up in a typical household in Tyler, Texas, which is currently valued at approximately $700,000. His parents remain the owners and residents of the house.

A lake house valued at $400,000, owned by Johnny’s grandfather, Paul Manziel Sr., mysteriously caught fire in October 2015.

Endorsements

During his short NFL career, Johnny amassed millions from endorsements, particularly with Nike. He also promoted brands like Nissan, McDonald’s, and Panini America.

Just prior to entering the NFL draft, at a time when he was seen as a first-round pick with a promising future, Johnny secured a multi-year, multimillion-dollar endorsement contract with Nike. Additionally, proposals from Under Armour and New Balance aimed to sign Manziel. Unfortunately, two years later, in April 2016, due to a series of off-field issues, Johnny was dropped by both Nike and his agents.

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. His parents are notably successful and affluent due to their investments in the oil and natural gas sectors.

Paul and Michelle Manziel, Johnny’s parents, are wealthy oil moguls estimated to hold a net worth ranging from tens of millions to possibly $50-100 million. Their first meeting occurred while both worked as bartenders. Michelle transitioned to a career in real estate, while Paul pursued building homes and selling cars. However, the family’s wealth traces back to Bobby Joe Manziel, Johnny’s great-grandfather, who discovered oil upon relocating to Texas in the 1930s.

While growing up, Johnny participated in various sports, including football, basketball, baseball, and golf; however, he ultimately chose to concentrate on football and baseball as a student at Tivy High School in Kerrville, Texas.

In his high school football journey, Johnny initially played as a receiver in his freshman year, but during the fourth game of his sophomore year, he transitioned to the quarterback position. As a quarterback, he drew attention for his remarkable statistics; in his senior season, he achieved a passing completion rate of 65.7%, totaling 3,609 yards with 45 touchdown passes and 5 interceptions. His accomplishments included accolades like 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 being named a “Parade” All-American.

Numerous schools sought his recruitment, including Baylor, Colorado State, Iowa State, Louisiana Tech, Oregon Rice, Stanford, Tulsa, and Texas A&M.

College Career

Choosing to play for Texas A&M, Johnny secured an academic scholarship there. Following quarterback Ryan Tannehill’s exit to the NFL after the 2011 season, Texas A&M had an opportunity to fill his role. Manziel bested competitors Jameill Showers and Matt Joeckel, securing the starting quarterback position. His breakthrough came when he surpassed Archie Manning’s longstanding total offense record during a matchup against Arkansas, and he continued to showcase his talents. After steering Texas A&M to a win over the top-ranked Alabama, Manziel found himself on Heisman Watch lists. He set records as the first freshman (and only the fifth player ever) in NCAA history to pass for 3,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards within a single season. Furthermore, he became the first freshman in history to receive the Davey O’Brien Award and the Heisman Trophy. For his sophomore year at Texas A&M, he placed fifth in the 2013 Heisman Trophy voting.

Professional Career

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

Manziel’s tenure with the Browns lasted only two seasons, both fraught with challenges. His rookie year (2014) involved a $12,000 fine from the NFL due to a controversial gesture made during a preseason game against the Washington Redskins, resulting in Brian Hoyer being designated the starting quarterback for the regular-season opener. Subsequently, during the 2015 season, Manziel was relegated to third-string quarterback status after videos of his partying lifestyle surfaced online. On March 11, 2016, the Cleveland Browns terminated Manziel’s contract after compensating him $7,707,913 in salary. Throughout his stay with the team, he recorded seven touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Following that, he was out of football for two years, largely due to protracted contract negotiations, until his return to the sport in 2018 with a two-year contract with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the Canadian Football League (CFL). However, he spent only six weeks as a benchwarmer before being traded to the Montreal Alouettes in July 2018. Eventually, the CFL severed its relationship with Manziel, leading to his release by the Alouettes at the behest of league officials.

In March 2019, Manziel attempted to re-enter professional football by joining the newly formed Alliance of American Football (AAF), where he was designated to the Memphis Express team. Nevertheless, theIn April 2019, the league filed for bankruptcy, having failed to complete even a single season. Currently, Manziel is signed with the FCF Zappers in the Fan-Controlled Football indoor league.

Personal Life and Controversies

Engaged to Bre Tiesi in March 2017, Manziel married her in March 2018. Unfortunately, they separated just a year later. Bre Tiesi welcomed a child with Nick Cannon in June 2021 and joined the cast of “Selling Sunset” in 2023.

While Manziel exhibited remarkable athletic talent, his career has been overshadowed by various controversies and legal issues. His first arrest occurred in June 2012, prior to even participating in his first college football game. Reportedly, he attempted to intervene in a dispute involving a friend, but ended up getting involved himself, presenting a fake ID to the police following the incident. Nevertheless, he was named the starting quarterback for Texas A&M University.

His troubling behavior persisted through college and into his professional career, capturing extensive media attention. Notable incidents involved being removed from a University of Texas fraternity party, an NCAA inquiry regarding alleged payments for autographs (from which he was acquitted), being pulled over while arguing with then-girlfriend Colleen Crowley, and a 2016 investigation by the Dallas Police Department due to domestic violence allegations from Crowley (which ultimately led to his indictment on misdemeanor assault charges). The consequences of his off-field actions included the Cleveland Browns severing ties with him, the loss of his sponsorship deal with Nike, and the termination of his contract by two different agents.

Blaming the Browns

In a 2018 appearance on “The Dan Patrick Show,” Manziel pointed fingers at his former team for failing to acknowledge his flaws, particularly regarding his dedication and motivation.

“If Cleveland had done their homework, they would have discovered I wasn’t someone who came in every day to review film,” Manziel stated during the show. “I wasn’t a person who truly grasped the X’s and O’s of football.“

Real Estate

In May 2009, Johnny acquired a home in Avon, Ohio, for $400,000. He placed the home on the market in May 2016 for $489,000 and ended up accepting $480,000 in June 2016. He currently resides in Scottsdale, Arizona.