After earning $70,629,507 in NFL, Rob Gronkowski makes surprising revelation about his spending habits
Former NFL tight end Rob Gronkowski has revealed a financial strategy he used in his professional career. Gronkowski, who earned $70,629,507 through NFL contracts (via Spotrac), said he has not spent any of his NFL salary.
On the popular podcast "Bussin' With The Boys" on Wednesday, Gronkowski said he used to live well within his means. When asked if the rumor about his lack of spending was true, Gronkowski said:
"Technically. I'm very frugal, you know. I lived with a roommate my first couple of years. I didn't know how long the NFL was gonna last. I was a second-round pick, so it was like a four-year, $4 million deal. And I was like, if I play this contract out, I'll be set for life."
As a second-round draft choice in 2010, Rob Gronkowski signed a four-year, $4 million deal with the Patriots, far lower than first-round picks usually earn.
Rob Gronkowski on the hardships after retirement
The former Patriots star said he had a disciplined financial mindset during his playing days. He explained that even if his NFL career lasted only a few years, he believed he would be financially secure. He also spoke about the mental challenges of retirement, noting how the loss of structure affected him.
"Once you retire, that routine is completely thrown out the window," Rob Gronkowski said. "Now, it's up to you to schedule when you're going to work out, when you're going to study, when you're going to handle everything else. If you get off that routine, it really f**ks with you. You start feeling mentally weak, like you're all over the place, not doing the right things, missing workouts."
Gronkowski spent 11 years of his NFL career with the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and is widely regarded as one of greatest tight ends of all time. He won three Super Bowls with the Patriots and one with the Bucs.