Michael Vick is a famous American football quarterback. He had the honor of playing 13 seasons in the NFL. Vick revolutionized the way quarterback position was played. He was nominated to Pro Bowls due to his brilliant rushing abilities. His net worth is estimated at $15 million.
Name: Michael Vick
Net Worth: $16 million
Date of Birth: June 26, 1980
Nationality: United States of America
Source of Wealth: American football player
Michael Vick’s Salary and Net Worth
Vick had signed multiple $100 million contracts. The first contract was a $130 million deal which he signed with the Atlanta Falcons in 2004. The contract had a time limit of 9 years but it couldn’t get past 2007 after Vick was suspended without pay by the NFL. The reason behind his suspension was felony charges he had been imposed on with.
He made his comeback by signing a 6 year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles. The deal was closed at $100 million and Vick had also included a clause in the contract to receive $36 million guaranteed payment. Throughout his career, he earned $125 million.
Early Life
Michael Vick was born in Virginia on the 26th of June, 1980. He was born to Michael Boddie and Brenda Vick. He spent his childhood in Ridley Circle Homes which was a public housing project. The neighborhood where he lived was infested with crime and financial depression. Precisely, it was located at the East End of Virginia.
His father used to work as a sandblaster in shipyards. His mother worked two jobs. His mother also obtained public financial assistance. Her parents also helped her support the poor family. He chose football as a means to fight off poverty and evade any involvement with gangsters. Deep down in his heart, he knew he could be a top NFL player and he followed that belief. Skipping all the hurdles that life threw his way, he stayed afloat and reached his destination.
Personal Life
Vick married Kijafa Frink in 2012. The couple had three children together. Vick also was involved in romantic relationships which include Tameka Taylor and Sonya Elliott. However it was his wife who helped him pass through extreme difficulties that he had been caught into. She never left him even after he went through tough times.
Michael Vick Career
Vick was picked by the Atlanta Falcons in 2001 NFL Draft, which made him the first African-American quarterback to be selected as the top choice. He made his debut in 2001 against the San Francisco 49ers. It was not before 2004 that he got back his form when he did 14 touchdowns coupled with 12 interceptions. In 2016, he became the first quarterback to rush for more than 1,000 yards in one session.
Controversy
His reputation took a nosedive in 2007 when he was found involved in a dog-fighting ring. Eventually, he was slapped with two years of jail term for committing crimes against animals.
Bankruptcy
About the time he entered prison, he was pressurized to declare bankruptcy because he owed about $18 million to different creditors. He earned about 12 cents per hour for wiping a mop on floors in the prison. When he came out of the prison, his net worth had sunk below zero into negative. He started working as a construction worker to make ends meet.
The court documents revealed that he had exhausted $30 million for paying creditors, taxes, lawyers, and accountants. As multiple bosses documented claims against him, he was driven to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. At that point, he was declared $50 million into debt. He came out debt-free by 2015. He scaled down his lifestyle to $300,000 a year to pay off his debts. One they were paid off, he once again scaled up his lifestyle.
NFL Again
His legal troubles snatched from his him the $130 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons. When he returned to NFL in 2010, he was named the Comeback Player of The Year. The next year brought him a sigh of relief when he signed a contract with the Philadelphia Eagles.
His impressive image helped him make a comeback. He managed to earn $49 million between 2010 and 2014.
In 2017, he switched his career and became a studio analyst, he now covers Fox NFL Kickoffs produced by Fox Sports tv series. He continues to earn a hefty sum of money from Nike and his clothing line namely V7. When he was imprisoned, he lost his 15-acre property in Virginia. It was purchased by a non-profit association for a meager amount of $590,000. The property was turned into a rescue center for dogs named Good Newz Rehabilitation Center. It is a haven for abused dogs.
Michael Vick Endorsements
Vick was close to signing a $2 million endorsement deal with Nike but lost it when criminal charges were leveled against him. However, when he was freed from prison, Nike once again signed him in 2011. This made him the only athlete whom Nike had resigned. Apart from that, Vick also worked with Unequal Technologies and MusclePharm.
Charitable Work
Vick supported the foundation of two big charitable foundations namely the Michael Vick Foundation and the Vick Foundation. The former supported poor kids and the latter helped at-risk youth by launching after-school programs in the district Atlanta.
Motivational lessons from Vick’s life
Success is something that doesn’t come easily to everyone. Successful people understand that your associations are more of a choice than compulsion. They can either yield positive results or negative results for you. You must not be willing to destroy your earnings or reputation by making bad choices.
Facts about Michael Vick
Michael Vick didn’t swing a bat or grab a baseball since the ninth grade. Still, he got selected in 2000 baseball draft by Colorado Rockies. He went through a senseless experience when he filled his eyelids with glue when he was three. He was in love with fishing. He also used to fish into James River since he was ten.
Famous Quotations
“In any offense you put me in, when things break down, I’m going to get outside the pocket and move … West Coast, East Coast. It doesn’t matter. I’m taking off if I have to, to make things happen.” Michael Vick
“It’s good to have critics because that’s what motivates you and helps you take your game to another level, They talked about Michael Jordan and said he didn’t have a jump shot. Do they say the same thing about me? I can’t throw the football and all that. Say whatever you want about me. It makes me strive harder.” Michael Vick