Could Patrick Mahomes become the NFL's first billionaire player? Tracing the rise of the future face of the NFL
For many NFL fans, Patrick Mahomes is falling into the "Tom Brady" zone in terms of just how long and how well he's dominated the league. Fans may be getting adjusted to his dominance, but the Kansas City Chiefs superstar's bottom has only continued to inflate.
Will the quarterback become the first billionaire in NFL history? Here's a look back at his career and a look ahead at what he stands to make.
Mahomes was drafted by the Chiefs in 2017 after the team started to feel like they hit a wall with quarterback Alex Smith. Even though the team routinely made the playoffs, they failed to advance too deep in the postseason.
However, once their new signal-caller took over, Kansas City jumped from a quality reputation to a dominant one. The team got a taste of Mahomes in Week 17 of the 2017 season when he debuted against the Denver Broncos.
The Patrick Mahomes contract is the biggest bargain in the history of sports
The Chiefs had locked up a playoff spot and decided to sit Alex Smith. Patrick Mahomes managed to win the game while playing with backups and that game was essentially the start of the Mahomes era.
Many expected him to struggle in his first starting season, but it was opposing defenses that struggled instead. No one could match his arm and dynamically explosive offense. In his first starting season, Mahomes threw for more than 5,000 yards, 50 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
By the end of 2019, he had already won his first Super Bowl. Up until that point, he had been playing on his rookie deal, but after taking home the Lombardi Trophy, Patrick Mahomes was in line for a massive deal. Fans were shocked when news broke about Mahomes' new salary.
Happy Patrick Mahomes contract anniversary day to you and yours. #Chiefs https://t.co/I3DedSKXA6
Shortly after the end of the 2019 season, it was announced that the Chiefs had signed him to a ten-year, $450 million deal, according to Spotrac. His previous contract was worth $16 million over four years.
At the end of the deal, Mahomes alone is expected to have roughly half a billion dollars. Right now, according to Clutch Points, he's worth $40 million.
How will Patrick Mahomes' Net Worth reach $1 billion?
Patrick Mahomes' current contract runs through the 2031 season. After the deal ends, he will be 37 years old.
As it stands, it would be a tall order to expect him to cross that threshold with mere paychecks alone. However, at that level, money makes money. On top of that, the quarterback will likely continue to have advertising deals to give him a boost.
The Chiefs could also give him another extension if he continues to play well. While the size of the deal may not be as big depending on when it's offered, it would still likely get him significantly closer.
Lastly, if Mahomes makes sound investments now, his net worth could grow to cross that one billion threshold.
Whether he invests in real estate, equity in companies, or in other ways, the quarterback has a great shot at setting a financial record for the league. That said, though, he cannot take it easy and coast and can't spend at the same rate he earns.
Will Patrick Mahomes dominate his finances as well as he's dominated the gridiron?