17 Famous Athletes Who Live Below Their Means

Most sports stars love showing off their fancy cars and huge mansions. It’s pretty normal to see them living large with their millions, buying everything from private jets to designer clothes.

But some famous athletes choose to live differently. They’re smart with their money and live way below what they could afford. These sports heroes prove that having lots of money doesn’t mean you need to spend it all.

Kawhi Leonard

Image Credit: “Kawhi Leonard” by Dirk DBQ is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/?ref=openverse.

The NBA superstar still drives the same 1997 Chevy Tahoe he’s had since high school, even though he’s worth millions. He uses coupons at stores and keeps his old phone until it stops working completely. Leonard even lived in a two-bedroom apartment during his first few years playing pro basketball. He doesn’t care about fancy things and focuses more on saving for the future.

Kirk Cousins

Image Credit: “Kirk Cousins & Dalvin Cook Vikings NOV2022” by All-Pro Reels is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

The Minnesota Vikings quarterback got a $84 million contract but sleeps in his parents’ basement during the off-season. He drives a dented GMC Savana passenger van that he bought from his grandma for $5,000. Cousins is known to use his wife’s minivan for daily trips and keeps most of his money in the bank.

John Urschel

Image Credit: “File:John Urschel.JPG” by Jeffrey Beall is licensed under CC BY 3.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/?ref=openverse.

The former Baltimore Ravens player drove a used Nissan Versa while making millions in the NFL. He spent his free time solving math problems and later became a math professor at MIT. Urschel lived on just $25,000 a year during his football career and put everything else into savings. He shows that being smart with money is cooler than showing it off.

Alfred Morris

Image Credit: “Alfred morris 2015” by original: Keith Allisonderivative: Diddykong1130 is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

When he played for Washington, Morris kept driving his 1991 Mazda 626, which he nicknamed Bentley. His teammates teased him about the car, but he didn’t care. He got the car for just $2 when he was in college and refused to upgrade even after signing big contracts. Morris spent more money fixing up his old car than buying a new one because it meant something special to him.

Daniel Norris

Image Credit: “Daniel Norris” by IDSportsPhoto is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

The baseball pitcher lived in a Volkswagen van during spring training despite earning millions. He shops at thrift stores and limits himself to spending $800 a month. Norris grew up learning the value of a simple life from his parents, who owned a bike shop. He proves that happiness doesn’t come from expensive things.

Ryan Broyles

Image Credit: “File:OklahomaSooners-CincinnatiBearcats-Broyles-Underwood-Reception.jpg” by John Silks is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

The former Detroit Lions player stuck to a $60,000 yearly budget when he played in the NFL. He drove regular cars, lived in a normal house, and spent lots of time learning about investing. Broyles worried about ending up broke like many other players, so he made smart money choices from day one. Now he teaches other athletes about managing their money wisely.

Joe Smith

Image Credit: “Joe Smith shooting” by compujeramey is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

The MLB pitcher made over $60 million in his career but lives in a modest home and drives regular cars. He shops at normal stores and uses airline miles instead of flying private. Smith learned about saving money from watching other players lose their fortunes. He focuses on making his money last rather than showing it off.

Giovani Bernard

Image Credit: “Giovani Bernard 2019” by Erik Drost is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

The NFL running back lived with roommates during his rookie year and drove his girlfriend’s mom’s minivan to practice. He kept living simply even after signing bigger contracts. Bernard grew up watching his dad work hard as a dry cleaner, which taught him to respect money and not waste it.

Tori Bowie

Image Credit: “From lower center – Tori Bowie, Dafne Schippers and Veronica Campbell Brown racing at the 2016 Doha Diamond League” by Bob Ramsak is licensed under CC BY 4.0.

The Olympic sprinter still lives in the same small town where she grew up and drives a basic car. She keeps her lifestyle simple despite winning gold medals and making good money from racing. Bowie spends more time training and helping her community than buying expensive things.

Paul Goldschmidt

Image Credit: “CINvARI – Paul Goldschmidt (30416699627)” by Hayden Schiff from Cincinnati, USA is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

The MLB star uses a backpack he’s had since high school and drives normal cars. He lives in a regular house and doesn’t buy fancy clothes or jewelry. Goldschmidt believes in saving for retirement and his kids’ future instead of spending on things he doesn’t need.

DeAngelo Williams

Image Credit: “DeAngelo Williams” by MikeKalasnik is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

During his NFL career, Williams never spent more than 10% of his salary each year. He kept driving his first car and lived in a regular neighborhood. Williams learned about saving from his mom, who worked multiple jobs to support the family. He honors her memory by being careful with his money.

Jeremy Lin

Image Credit: “Jeremy Lin Adidas” by Gene Wang is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

When he played for the Knicks, Lin slept on his teammate’s couch instead of getting an expensive apartment. He still shops at normal stores and doesn’t buy fancy things. Lin believes in giving back to others instead of spending on himself. He uses his money to help kids get better education.

Brandon Ingram

Image Credit: “Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram (49487799403)” by Erik Drost is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

The NBA star still lives in the same three-bedroom house he bought as a rookie. He keeps his spending low and focuses on helping his family and community. Ingram learned about money management early and sticks to a budget despite making millions. He proves that staying humble leads to long-term success.

Trevor van Riemsdyk

Image Credit: “Defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk” by All-Pro Reels is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

The NHL player had roommates during his first few seasons to save on rent. He still clips coupons and looks for deals when shopping. Van Riemsdyk drives a regular car and lives in a modest home. He knows that hockey careers can be short, so he saves as much as possible.

Marlon Humphrey

Image Credit: “Marlon Humphrey Baltimore Ravens 2021 (cropped)” by AlexanderJonesi is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

The NFL cornerback lived with his parents during his first two seasons to save money. He keeps track of every dollar he spends and avoids buying expensive things. Humphrey believes that showing off wealth is pointless and focuses on building long-term financial security. He wants to make sure his money lasts long after his playing days are over.

Glover Quin

Image Credit: “Glover Quin” by Pete Sheffield is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

The former NFL safety lived on 30% of his income and saved the rest. He drove the same car for years and lived in a normal-sized house. Quin spent time learning about business and investing instead of shopping for expensive things. He now helps other players make better money choices

Rob Gronkowski

Image Credit: “Rob Gronkowski 200310-D-WD757-0955 (49648888663)” by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/?ref=openverse.

During his NFL career, Gronk didn’t spend any of his salary money. He lived only on his endorsement earnings while saving his entire NFL paycheck. He wears his favorite clothes until they’re worn out and doesn’t buy expensive jewelry. Gronkowski learned about money management from his dad and stuck to those lessons even after becoming famous.

12 Canadian Sports Teams That Rival Their American Counterparts

Image credit: “Switzerland vs. Canada” by s.yume is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/?ref=openverse.

12 Canadian Sports Teams That Rival Their American Counterparts

18 Canadian Sports That Aren’t Hockey

Image Credit: RF._.studio from Pexels

18 Canadian Sports That Aren’t Hockey

12 Canadian Retirement Havens That Won’t Break the Bank

Image Credit: Monica Silvestre from Pexels

12 Canadian Retirement Havens That Won’t Break the Bank

Joy Fadogba

Joy Fadogba is a passionate writer who has spent over a decade exploring and writing about lifestyle topics. With a fondness for quotes and the little details that make life extraordinary, she writes content that not only entertains but also enriches the lives of those who read her blogs. You can find her writing on Mastermind Quotes and on her personal blog. When she is not writing, she is reading a book, gardening, or travelling.