Former New York Giants star Odell Beckham Jr has claimed that even a staggering $100 million NFL contract isn’t enough to comfortably retire on. Beckham rose to fame in 2014 after producing one of the greatest one-handed catches in league history. He later played for the Cleveland Browns before joining the Los Angeles Rams in 2021, where he scored the opening touchdown in the Super Bowl and helped secure the only championship of his career. After two injury-disrupted seasons with the Baltimore Ravens and Miami Dolphins, Beckham was released and is currently a free agent. According to Spotrac, his total career earnings from NFL contracts exceed $100 million.

Despite that figure, Beckham recently explained why such sums don’t guarantee lifelong financial security. Speaking on The Pivot Podcast, he highlighted how taxes and expenses drastically reduce headline numbers. “I always tell people, you give someone a five-year, $100 million contract—what is it really?” he said. “After taxes, that’s closer to $60 million. That’s about $12 million a year.” Beckham added that everyday spending quickly adds up.

“You buy a car, you buy your mom a house. Everything costs money. If you’re spending $4 million a year, that’s $40 million over five years,” he explained. “Now you’re really looking at $8 million a year. Can that last forever?” He also pushed back on public assumptions. “People who’ve never been in our position always say, ‘That would last a lifetime,’” Beckham said.

Off the field, Beckham has boosted his income through endorsement deals. In 2017, he signed a reported five-year Nike deal worth around $5 million annually, after Adidas attempted to lure him away. He has also partnered with brands including Head & Shoulders, Lenovo, and Foot Locker. These ventures have helped him build a reported net worth of around $40 million.