When people hear “$100 million contract,” they assume instant generational wealth, a financial safety net that should last forever. But according to Odell Beckham Jr., that perception couldn’t be further from the truth.
In a recent conversation on The Pivot, Beckham broke down the real math behind the numbers, revealing a reality most fans never consider. For him, the idea that a $100 million deal equals lifelong financial freedom is one of the biggest misconceptions in sports.
“When you’ve sacrificed your whole life to get here and you’re like, yeah, I played 10 years in the league… I always explain this to people. I’m like, bro, you give somebody a five-year, a hundred million dollar contract, right? What is it really? It’s five years for 60.”
From the outside looking in, that line alone may shock people, but Beckham goes deeper.
After taxes, agent fees, cost of living, and mandatory expenses tied to being a professional athlete, Beckham says the contract begins shrinking quickly.
“We’re getting taxed… that’s $12M a year. You know that you have to spend, use, save, invest, flaunt, whatever… I’ma buy a car. I’m getting my mom out of my house. I’m gonna do everything. It costs money.”
For many Black athletes, especially those who grew up without generational wealth, the first big contract isn’t just about lifestyle upgrades. It’s often about taking care of family, catching up to peers who had financial head starts, and navigating a world they were never taught to prepare for.
Beckham points out that even a responsible spending plan can significantly reduce what’s left.
“So if you spend $4 million a year, that’s really 40 million over five years… and now you start breaking down the numbers. It’s like that’s a five-year span of where you’re getting $8 million. Can you make that last forever?”
The simple answer? Not easily.
A five-year earning window, even at the highest levels, is not the same as a lifetime of sustained wealth. Especially in a profession where injuries, trades, and unforgiving timelines can end careers overnight.
For Beckham, the criticism often directed at athletes for “going broke” ignores deeper systemic issues.
“And you always hear the people who ain’t us and ain’t been in a position like, oh, well that would last a lifetime. Yeah… they are giving me that. I didn’t ask for the certain dollar amount or whatever, but we weren’t taught about no financial literacy.”
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