Tom Brady retires as the highest-paid NFL star, but could make even more as a crypto-preneur

The King of the NFL… Could become the king of the NFT. Yesterday, seven-time Super Bowl champ Tom Brady announced his retirement from football on Twitter and Insta. Over 22 seasons, Brady set all-time passing, touchdown, and win records, establishing himself as the GOAT — greatest of all time. Brady is also the highest-earning NFL player ever. He earned $293M on the field and $160M off the field through sponsorships for companies like Under Armour and Subway. Between touchdowns, he also cofounded several businesses:

• Blockchain Brady: Last year Brady and partners launched Autograph.io, a platform that sells collectible NFTs featuring famous athletes like Naomi Osaka, Tiger Woods, and… Tom Brady. In January it raised $170M. Brady and his wife, Gisele Bündchen, also took a stake in crypto exchange FTX last June (even appearing in its ad).
• Brady has cofounded wellness-coaching biz TB 12 Sports (60-min. sessions for $200), apparel co. Brady Brand (T-shirts for $140), and content shop 199 Productions (Brady’s expected to star in its upcoming film).

Old GOAT, new tricks… Brady helped write the playbook for the pro athlete side hustle, using his dominance to create a huge fan base — and then selling products to those fans. Others have followed the same formula:

• NBA greats LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Steph Curry have all helped found sports-media companies in the past decade.
• Tennis icon Serena Williams has cofounded jewelry, apparel, and investment companies. Meanwhile, Maria Sharapova and Cristiano Ronaldo have launched candy, footwear, and fragrance brands while still competing.