Tom Brady
Photo: Barcex / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
In March 2016, the then-Patriots quarterback signed a contract extension that included a $28 million signing bonus, lowering his 2016 base salary from $9 million to just $1 million in the process. That saved him close to $2 million in lost game checks when his four-game suspension stemming from the “Deflategate” saga was upheld. He also makes plenty off the field, thanks to deals with brands including Under Armour and UGG Boots. He retired in 2023 after 23 NFL seasons and seven Super Bowl wins. The star has a current net worth of $131 million.