What is Russell Wilson’s net worth and salary?
Russell Wilson is a professional football player with a net worth of $165 million. He played for the Seattle Seahawks from 2012 to 2021 and has won one Super Bowl. Wilson is one of the highest-paid athletes in the world with a base NFL salary of $35 million per season, making him the highest-paid quarterback. Between June 2018 and June 2019, he earned $90 million from his various endeavors.
Russell Wilson’s Early Life and Athletic Achievements
Russell Wilson was born in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1988 and raised in Richmond, Virginia. He started playing football with his family before kindergarten and went on to excel in the sport throughout high school. Wilson earned numerous honors, including multiple all-district, all-region, and all-state recognitions, as well as Conference Player of the Year. He was featured in “Sports Illustrated” during his senior year and was also a standout athlete on his high school’s baseball and basketball teams.
Russell Wilson’s Baseball Career
Russell Wilson was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles straight out of high school in the 41st round of the 2007 MLB draft, making him the 1,222nd overall pick. Despite being drafted, Wilson opted to pursue a career in football and went on to become a star quarterback in the NFL.
However, Wilson still has the option to play Minor League baseball and has played for the Tri-City Dust Devils and the Asheville Tourists as a second baseman.
Russell Wilson’s College Career
Russell Wilson turned down a football contract with the Baltimore Orioles and opted to attend North Carolina State, where he played football successfully. However, he was never invited to the NFL’s Scouting Combine. In a surprising move, Wilson announced his intention to play professional baseball and reported to spring training with the Colorado Rockies in 2011. He had moderate success playing minor league baseball over the next two summers while also transferring to the University of Wisconsin-Madison. During the 2011 season, Wilson set the FBS record for passing efficiency and led the team to a Big Ten title and the 2012 Rose Bowl, which Wisconsin lost.
Russell Wilson’s NFL Career
In January 2012, Russell Wilson announced he was going to begin training for the upcoming NFL Scouting Combine and entered the 2012 NFL draft as a projected middle-round pick. The Seattle Seahawks chose him in the third round as the 75th pick overall. Wilson earned multiple honors while on the Seahawks, including being named Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year, PFF Offensive Rookie of the Year, and ranked #51 on the NFL Top 100 of 2013. He was a 2012 Pro Bowl selection. Wilson has been named to seven Pro Bowls and has started in two Super Bowls, winning Super Bowl XLVIII. He holds the record for most wins by an NFL quarterback through seven seasons (75) and is one of two quarterbacks in NFL history with a career passer rating over 100.
Russell Wilson’s Contract History
In 2015, the Seattle Seahawks signed Russell Wilson to a four-year contract extension worth $87.6 million, with a signing bonus of $31 million and $60 million guaranteed. Over the next four seasons, his base salary increased each year, reaching $17 million in 2019.
In 2019, Wilson signed a four-year $140 million contract extension with the Seahawks, including a $65 million signing bonus and $107 million guaranteed. He earned $35 million per year in his last two seasons with the team.
When Wilson joined the Denver Broncos in 2022, his previous contract with the Seahawks was carried over, entitling him to $24 million for the 2022 season and $27 million for the 2023 season.
Russell Wilson’s Philanthropic Efforts
Russell Wilson is a devout Christian who frequently shares his faith on social media. He was previously married to Ashton Meem, whom he met in high school, but they divorced in 2014 and now have an amicable relationship. In 2015, he began dating singer Ciara, and they pledged to be celibate until marriage. They got married in 2016 and have two children together.
Wilson is very active in the Seattle philanthropic community and visits the Seattle Children’s Hospital weekly during the NFL season. He also puts on the Russell Wilson Passing Academy, a youth football camp, during the offseason. In addition, he’s visited with soldiers at a local military base.
Wilson is the National Ambassador of the Charles Ray III Diabetes Association and has donated proceeds from his youth football camp to the foundation. He also co-hosts an annual charity golf tournament with NASCAR driver Kasey Kahne to benefit the Seattle Children’s Hospital. In 2016, Wilson’s Why Not You Foundation donated over $1 million to the hospital’s Strong Against Cancer program. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Wilson and his wife partnered with Food Lifeline to donate one million meals to those in need.
Russell Wilson Buys and Lists Multi-Million Dollar Homes
In 2015, Russell Wilson paid $6.7 million for a waterfront mansion in Bellevue, Washington. The two-story home features seven bedrooms, 6.75 bathrooms, and sits on two-thirds of an acre of property with views of Lake Washington, downtown Seattle, and nearby mountain ranges. It also has five fireplaces, a wine cellar, skylights, and a walk-in pantry. In April 2022, Wilson listed the mansion for sale for $28 million.
At the same time, Wilson and his wife, Ciara, purchased a mansion in the Denver area for $25 million, setting a record for the most expensive home sold in Denver. The 20,000 square-foot home boasts four bedrooms, 12 bathrooms, an indoor pool, game room, home theater, and basketball court.
