There's arguably never been an athlete more versatile than Vincent Edward Jackson. Better known as “Bo” Jackson, the multi-sport athlete played baseball and football at the highest professional levels. After graduating from Auburn University as a Heisman Trophy winner, Bo Jackson played running back in the National Football League for the then-Los Angeles Raiders and baseball for three different Major League Baseball organizations.
So how much is Bo Jackson worth? Let's take a look at his career salary information, endorsements and other business ventures.
Thanks to his career earnings, endorsements and other endeavors, Bo Jackson has an estimated net worth of $25 million. Beyond playing professional football and baseball, Bo Jackson became a household name through the “Bo Knows” Nike ad campaign and various other endeavors with Gatorade, Pepsi, AT&T and more.
Bo Jackson's Salary and Contract History
Bo Jackson football earnings and Bo Jackson baseball earnings totaled nearly $13 million over the entirety of his professional sports career. While this may not seem like a lot of money by today's standards, they were in the late 1980s and early 1990s when Jackson was breaking into the NFL and MLB. In fact, at the time, Jackson's NFL contract was the highest of any non-quarterback player in the history of the NFL.
Jackson had a longer MLB career than he did NFL. Here's a closer look at Bo Jackson contract information by sport:
Baseball:
- 1986: $60,000
- 1987: $330,000
- 1988: $338,000
- 1989: $610,000
- 1990: $1 million
- 1991: $1.01 million
- 1992: $2.41 million
- 1993: $1 million
Football:
- Jackson signed a five-year, $7.4 million contract with the Los Angeles Raiders in 1991 that allowed him to play both football and baseball. However, due to injury, Jackson only played four seasons. He earned $6.1 million of his contract, including bonuses.
Bo Jackson's Endorsements
During his career, Bo Jackson became a household name for his play on the field and diamond. His brand was also built via the “Bo Knows” advertising campaign with Nike. Bo Jackson endorsements also included deals with Pepsi, AT&T, Gatorade and Mountain Dew Sport. Often dubbed “the most persuasive athlete in advertising,” Jackson earns about $1 million per year from Nike. At the peak of his career, he earned about $3 million per year from Nike.
Jackson's other endorsement endeavors are believed to be worth about $2 million per year. In 2010, Jackson was believed to have earned $10 million from all of his endorsement deals for that particular year.
Bo Jackson's Career Earnings
Though Jackson's professional sports earnings would be nothing compared to the money that today's athletes make, he does hold the reputation of being the highest-paid non-quarterback football player when he was with the Los Angeles Raiders.
Because of the era in which Jackson landed, he is nowhere to be found on the list of richest baseball players or richest NFL players in history.
Between his stints in MLB and the NFL, Jackson earned a combined $12.9 million playing professionally. He likely could have earned even more had he not turned down a reported $7.6 million, five-year contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers out of college instead to ink a three-year deal with the Kansas City Royals.
Bo Jackson's Endorsements and Endorsement Earnings
As noted, Bo Jackson endorsed major brands and products including Nike, Gatorade, AT&T, Pepsi and Mountain Dew. The following is a breakdown of earnings from each major brand:
- Nike: Earned $3 million per year while playing sports, now earns about $1 million per year even though he's not associated with any product and his involvement with the brand is minimal.
- Pepsi and AT&T: The once combined brand was reportedly paying Jackson $500,000 per year.
- Gatorade: The endorsement deal was believed to be around $1 million per year.
Bo Jackson's Real Estate Holdings
Though Bo Jackson doesn't have any real estate holdings, he has been involved in a number of business ventures since his retirement as a professional athlete in 1994. He is a part owner of the Burr Ridge Bank and Trust in Burr Ridge, Illinois and he's also the part owner of the Bo Jackson Elite Sports Complex, also in Illinois. He's currently working on products known as “Hero Brand CBD” under the name “Promise Nutraceuticals.”
Bo Jackson is also a noted philanthropist, specifically for the fundraiser “Bo Bikes Bama” in his native state of Alabama, which raises funds to aid victims of tornadoes.
