Once upon a time, Drew Brees was just a little lad who loved football and hoped to go pro. Many however discouraged him, pointing to his small stature as the reason he would not succeed. The young lad, however, refused to be discouraged and pursued his dreams. Today, Brees is one of the best quarterbacks the NFL has ever seen.

In a dazzling career spanning two decades, he has recorded some unassailable achievements including one Super Bowl ring. He has also set numerous records and has received as many individual accolades. As the sun slowly sets on his pro career, Brees would retire a happy man as he helped himself to a net worth of $160 million.

Dissecting Drew Brees’ $160 Million Net Worth: The Various Ways He Made His Money

Given all he has accomplished in the NFL, one would expect Drew Brees to have built up a decent fortune and he does not disappoint. The legendary quarterback has a net worth of $160 million and most of it came from his on-field pay and earnings from endorsement deals.

The Quarterback Has Thus Far Earned Over 281.5 Million in On-field Pay

In the course of his professional career, Brees played for the San Diego Chargers from 2001 to 2005 and has been playing for the New Orleans Saints since 2016. What this means is that he has completed 20 seasons in the NFL, 20 seasons that have seen him earn over $281.5 million in on-field pay alone.

This is thanks to several juicy contract extensions with the New Orleans Saints, including a five-year deal worth $100 million in 2012, a one-year deal worth $24 million in 2016, and a two-year deal worth $50 million in 2018.

A Breakdown of His Career Earnings Over the Years

While Drew Brees is expected to earn $25 million in 2021, let’s take a lot at what he earned yearly since his career took off.

• 2001 – $2,165,000
• 2002 – $400,000
• 2003 – $980,000
• 2004 – $1,560,000
• 2005 – $8,078,000
• 2006 – $22 Million
• 2007 – $3 Million
• 2008 – $5 Million
• 2009 – $12,989,500
• 2010 – $6,689,000
• 2011 – $7,593,500
• 2012 – $40 Million
• 2013 – $10 Million
• 2014 – $11 Million
• 2015 – $19,005,422
• 2016 – $31,250,000
• 2017 – $13 Million
• 2018 – $27 Million
• 2019 – $23 Million
• 2020 – $25 Million

The NFL Star Makes as Much as $15 Million Yearly from Endorsement Deals

For a footballer headed for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, it shouldn’t surprise anyone that Drew gets a lot of offers from popular brands who want to have him as the face of their products and services. As such, the endorsement deals the quarterback has landed have become another lucrative source of income for him.

He has scored juicy sponsorships with the likes of Nike, Procter & Gamble, PepsiCo, Microsoft, and Wrangler. That’s not all, he has also made pacts with Verizon Communications, AdvoCare, Smoothie King, Carnival Corp, and Marriott International.

Forbes listed him among the world’s highest-paid athletes of 2020, submitting that he made $15 million from his endorsement deals in the year under review.

Drew Brees Owns Multiple Franchises and Has Invested in Waitr

Brees is also a savvy businessman and has invested in a food delivery service known as Waitr. He is also the owner of several fast-food franchises and has multiple outlets of Dunkin’ and Jimmy Johns.

It emerged sometime in 2019 that he had become an executive board member of Franworth, an equity firm with a portfolio of franchise brands. Below is a list of the franchises that the quarterback has been linked to:

• Dunkin’
• Jimmy Johns
• Walk-On’s Bistreaux & Bar
• Title Boxing Club
• Happy’s Irish Pub
• Live Well Exercise Clinic
• The Lash Lounge
• Cityrow

List of the Major Sources of the Quarterback’s Wealth 

• Salaries from his NFL Career – $281.5 Million
• Endorsement deals with popular brands – $15 Million yearly
• Income from the multiple franchises he owns

Drew Brees Was Only Worth $5 Million In 2005

The NFL star has come a long way in building his wealth and given the massive portfolio of franchises he owns, one can only expect that Drew Brees’ net worth would continue to grow in the coming years, even after he retires from the NFL.

For someone who was worth only $5 million in 2005, Brees’ $160 million net worth is an inspiring tale of reaping the benefits of hard work. His rookie 4-year deal with the San Diego Chargers was worth only $3.6 million.

But then, his earning power soared as he continuously set himself apart as one of the finest quarterbacks in the league.

A Look at His Net Worth Over Time

• 2005 – $5 Million
• 2007 – $28 Million
• 2010 – $42 Million
• 2013 – $75 Million
• 2015 – $120 Million
• 2018 – $145 Million
• 2020 – $160 Million

Drew Brees’ Emergence Through the School System

Drew Christopher Brees is a native of Austin, Texas. He was born on January 15, 1979, and is the scion of two attorneys namely, Eugene Wilson Brees II, and Mina Ruth née Akins. Brees owes his athletic skills to both of his parents. His father played basketball for the Texas A&M Aggies men’s basketball team while his mother was a renowned high school athlete who lettered in as much as three sports.

In High school, at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, Brees was active in his school’s baseball, basketball, and football teams. While he did well in the first two, he was superb on the football field. Brees became famous after he led his school on an undefeated run (16-0) and a state championship in his junior year. The young lad finished his high school career with a stellar record of 314 completed passes for 5,461 yards with 50 touchdowns.

Drew Brees played out his collegiate career at Purdue University. He spent four years at the institution during which he completed his degree in Industrial Management. On the field of play, Brees distinguished himself as a quarterback and led the Boilermakers to the Big Ten Championship as well as a Rose Bowl appearance. He also set numerous records and was named the Big Ten’s best quarterback of the 1990s.

A Slow Start in the NFL

In 2001, Drew Brees joined the NFL draft and was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the second round as the 32nd overall pick. He made his professional debut on 4th November 2001 against the Kansas City Chiefs and recorded 221 passing yards and one touchdown. This marked his first and only game of the season as the team’s first-string quarterback returned from injury. Beginning from 2002, Brees served as the starting quarterback for the Chargers.

He retained this position for the next four years and contributed some impressive stats. Despite these facts, The Chargers were reluctant to offer him a long-term contract and this was due to the shoulder injury he had suffered in his fifth year with them. The franchise doubted whether Brees would make a full recovery and therefore, offered him a deal that was heavily-incentivized and based on output. The Texas native, however, rejected this knowing that he was worth much more.

Becoming a Legend in New Orleans

Drew Brees thus became a free agent and started shopping for a new team. Many of the teams he approached turned him down as a result of their concerns over his shoulder. It was only the New Orleans Saints who had faith in him and signed him to a six-year deal worth $60 million in 2006. Drew Brees has been with the Saints ever since then and has gone on to repay them for all the faith they showed in him. He has helped the team reach the playoff rounds on several occasions.

He is also responsible for helping the city win its first-ever Super Bowl trophy. This came in the 2009 season when he completed 363 of 514 passes for 4388 yards and 34 touchdowns as the Saints won 13 out of 16 matches. They made it to Super Bowl XLIV against the Indianapolis Colts in February 2010 and Brees once more contributed an outstanding 288 yards and 2 touchdowns as his team won 31 -17. His commanding individual performance fetched him the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player award.

His Litany of Accolades

Asides from his Super Bowl ring and MVP award, Drew Brees has also received other career honors including selection to the pro-bowl (13 times), NFL comeback player of the year (2004), NFL offensive player of the year (2008, 2011), AP Male Athlete of the Year (2010), Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year (2010) and the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award (2006).

The Walter Payton Man of the Year award is given to an NFL player who combines a brilliant year on the field with exceptional community service off the field. Brees won the award for his superb 2006 season which saw him record 26 touchdown passes and 4,418 yards. Off the field, the quarterback was quite active in efforts to rebuild the city of New Orleans following the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Apart from these honors, Drew Brees has also set several career and franchise records, some of which are still standing. The Texas native holds the NFL record for most career passing yards, most career pass completions, most regular-season passing touchdowns, most consecutive games with a touchdown pass, and most pass completions in a season, etc. No wonder he’s regarded as one of the purest passers that the NFL has ever seen.

Drew Brees Met His Wife In a College Party

Brittany Brees (née Dudchenko)

• Date of Birth: September 18, 1976
• Occupation: Undetermined
• Duration of Marriage: 2003 – Present
• No of Kids with Brees: 4

Drew Christopher Brees is married and his wife is none other than his college sweetheart, Brittany Dudchenko. Brittany is a native of Syracuse, Indiana, and was born in September 1976. She attended Wawasee High School Syracuse before moving on to Purdue University which is where she first met her future husband.

From what we gathered, the couple met at a party in college. Recalling the first time they met, Drew related that he made a fool of himself and had to wait for six months to gather the courage to talk to her again. To accomplish this, he had to manipulate his way to get an invite to a party he knew Brittany would attend.

He eventually talked to her again, they had their first date and were set for marriage in 2003. The couple tied the knot on the 8th of February 2003 and have been together ever since then.

Brittany Has Been a Very Supportive Wife

To the best of our knowledge, Brittany has no other job apart from supporting her husband and managing their home. She has supported her husband throughout the highs and lows of his career including injury worries, Super Bowl Triumph, and a Black Lives Matter controversy.

As it happened, the Quarterback had opined that it’s not alright for NFL players to kneel during the national anthem to protest police brutality on African Americans. He was bashed for this that he had to issue an apology. In support of her husband, Brittany issued an apology as well.

Brittany is the co-founder of The Brees Dream Foundation. The non-profit supports cancer research as well as those suffering from the disease. They have also donated huge sums to various charitable projects including the rebuilding of New Orleans following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.

Drew and Brittany are Parents to Four Children

The couple has expanded their family, welcoming a total of four children. They are Baylen Robert, Bowen Christopher, Callen Christian, and Rylen Judith. The Brees family resides in New Orleans, Louisiana, and also has a vacation home in San Diego California.

Baylen Robert Brees (Son)

• Date of Birth: January 15, 2009
• Occupation: Undetermined

Baylen is the first child of the couple. He has a thing for painting shoes and is quite athletic but it remains to be seen if he would pursue a career in sports or settle for something else. Like his parents, he has already taken to charity. His father related that he had raised over $11,000 for COVID-19 Relief.

Bowen Christopher Brees (Son)

• Date of Birth: October 19, 2010
• Occupation: Undetermined

Bowen is the second child of the family and the second son of his parents. He is athletically inclined but is too early to tell what the future holds for him. However, whatever he decides to do, we are certain he would get the support of his parents.

Callen Christian Brees (Son)

• Date of Birth: August 15, 2012
• Occupation: Undetermined

Callen is the third child and son of the NFL star and his wife. Other than being one of his parents’ kids, there is hardly anything else there is to know about Callen. Anyways, he’s a tough kid as he once wrestled a bear.

Rylen Judith Brees (Daughter)

• Date of Birth: August 25, 2014
• Occupation: Undetermined

Rylen is the baby of the family and the only daughter of her parents. She has a lot of growing up to do and doesn’t concern herself with thoughts about the future.

Body Measurements and Fitness Regime

If there is one fact that nearly derailed Brees’ career, it was his height. The quarterback is 6 feet 0 inches (1.83m)) tall which is below the NFL’s 6 feet 4 inches prototype size for quarterbacks. This small stature dogged Brees’ progress starting from high school. Despite having a stellar high school career, he did not receive many college offers as most schools were put off by his small stature. This issue reared its head up again when he wanted to go pro in 2001. Many scouts sneered at his below height and he dropped from a first-round pick to second-round pick.

The young lad, however, did not let this fact to demoralize him but has gone on to make a name for himself in the NFL. Apart from his height, Brees weighs 95 kg (209 lbs.) with a chest-length of 46 inches whereas his arms measure 16 inches. The QB has relied on renowned fitness trainer, Todd Durkin, to keep him in tiptop shape since 2003. His fitness regimen comprises multi-dimensional ab rollouts (for training abdominal muscles), band splitters (to strengthen muscles in other areas of the body), and 300-yards shuttles (for conditioning and endurance).