Some footballers accumulate generational wealth after their careers, like Thomas Gravesen, who made millions in Vegas. The former Everton and Real Madrid man had a respectable career before doing eye-catching things in retirement. Others have also found post-career success, like Mathieu Flamini who invested in the biochemical sector.
Several players in football have gone on to accumulate generational wealth. Some have achieved it through their playing days, with the likes of Oscar coming to mind, who has spent seven years in China taking home around £24m a year , signing a new deal months before the Chinese FA imposed a salary cap. Some, in fewer cases, have been born into wealth, such as former Chelsea and Leicester City academy winger Faiq Bolikiah, a member of the Brunei royal family, who has an estimated net worth of around £20b , with the next highest in the world being one Cristiano Ronaldo , who is worth a paltry-in-comparison £908m.
Several more have made a fortune in their post-playing lives. Sun Jihai, the first ever Chinese player and goalscorer in Premier League history, oversees HaiQui Sports, which boasts over 400 million users in China. Former Nottingham Forest striker Dexter Blackstock went on to develop a medical blockchain outlet, helping to prevent prescription medicine abuse, as well as investing smartly in property with a portfolio worth around £5m.
One player, however, made his wealth in a far, far more risky fashion. Enter Thomas Gravesen, the colou.