Net Worth Ranker
What Is Baker Mayfield’s Net Worth?
Baker Mayfield, a prominent figure in American professional football, has cultivated a net worth of $50 million. This financial standing is primarily attributed to his successful career as a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL), marked by significant contracts, endorsements, and strategic financial decisions. His journey from a walk-on college player to the first overall draft pick underscores a narrative of both athletic prowess and financial acumen.
Financial Overview of Baker Mayfield’s NFL Career
Mayfield’s financial trajectory significantly accelerated upon entering the NFL. Selected as the first overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns, he secured a four-year contract worth $32.68 million in guaranteed salary. A substantial portion of this contract was a $21.8 million signing bonus, which provided an immediate boost to his earnings. Throughout his initial six seasons in the NFL, Mayfield accumulated earnings just shy of $50 million, demonstrating the lucrative nature of his early career.
In March 2024, Mayfield signed a three-year contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers valued at $100 million. This contract includes incentives that could potentially raise its total value to $115 million. Critically, the contract guarantees $50 million, ensuring a substantial financial foundation for Mayfield. This agreement underscores his market value and the Buccaneers’ commitment to Mayfield as their starting quarterback.
However, Mayfield encountered a notable financial challenge in 2023 when he filed a petition in an Austin, Texas, court. This petition sought financial records from an investment firm spanning from 2018 to 2023. The legal action aimed to investigate the whereabouts of $12 million that Mayfield had invested with these firms. Intriguingly, two of the companies involved were founded by Mayfield’s father, James Mayfield. The petition indicated uncertainty regarding whether the funds were competently invested, misappropriated, or subject to other irregularities. During the period in question (2018-2023), Mayfield’s gross earnings totaled slightly over $50 million. Accounting for taxes and fees, his net earnings were estimated to be around $20 million. Therefore, the potential loss of $12 million represented a substantial portion (60%) of his total net earnings during that time.
Early Life and College Career: The Foundation of Baker Mayfield’s Net Worth
Born on April 14, 1995, in Austin, Texas, Baker Reagan Mayfield is the son of Gina and James Mayfield. He has an older brother, offering a familial context to his formative years. Mayfield’s athletic journey began at Lake Travis High School, where he quarterbacked the Cavaliers to a 25-2 record over two seasons. Notably, the team secured the 2011 4A State Championship. By the end of his high school career, Mayfield had amassed 6,255 passing yards, 67 touchdowns, and eight interceptions, establishing himself as a three-star recruit. Despite receiving a few scholarship offers, he chose to walk on at Texas Tech University, demonstrating early initiative and self-belief.
In 2013, Mayfield was named the starting quarterback for the Red Raiders, marking a historic moment as the first walk-on true freshman quarterback to start an FBS season opener. His debut performance was remarkable, throwing for 413 yards and four touchdowns, earning him the Big 12 Conference Offensive Player of the Week award. Over the course of the year, he accumulated 2,315 passing yards and 12 touchdown passes. However, citing a miscommunication with the coaching staff, Mayfield left the program, setting the stage for his transfer to the University of Oklahoma.
Mayfield’s transfer to Oklahoma involved walking on for the Sooners. Big 12 transfer rules required him to sit out a year, but he secured the starting job the following season. In the 2015 season, he led the Sooners to the Orange Bowl, where they faced Clemson, ultimately losing 37-17. The subsequent year saw the Sooners win the Sugar Bowl 35-19 over Auburn, with Mayfield earning the MVP award. In 2017, Mayfield guided Oklahoma to their third consecutive Big 12 championship, defeating the TCU Horned Frogs 41-17. The Sooners’ journey ended in the 2018 Rose Bowl, where they lost 54-48 to the Georgia Bulldogs in the national semifinal game. Mayfield’s crowning achievement was winning the 2017 Heisman Trophy, receiving 732 first-place votes and a total of 2,398 points, becoming the first walk-on player to ever win the prestigious award. This accomplishment significantly enhanced his visibility and marketability, laying a strong foundation for his future NFL career and financial opportunities.
NFL Career Details and Contractual Agreements
Mayfield’s career with the Cleveland Browns began with considerable expectations, given his status as the first overall draft pick. His initial four-year deal with the team, valued at $32.68 million guaranteed, reflected this. Mayfield’s debut came in Week 3 against the New York Jets, where he stepped in for an injured Tyrod Taylor and led the team back from a 14-0 deficit to a 21-17 victory. Taking over the starting quarterback role, Mayfield contributed to a significant turnaround for a team that had struggled for several years, helping them achieve a 7-8-1 record.
During his rookie season, Mayfield set a new record for touchdown passes thrown by a rookie, surpassing Peyton Manning and Russell Wilson with 27, despite not playing the entire year. Over the following years, the Cleveland Browns underwent several coaching and offensive coordinator changes. Mayfield’s most successful season was in 2020, where he threw for 4,030 yards, 30 touchdowns, and nine interceptions, including a Wild Card Round playoff win over the Pittsburgh Steelers and a Divisional Round loss against the Kansas City Chiefs. In 2022, the Browns exercised Mayfield’s fifth-year contract option, worth $18.9 million guaranteed. However, Mayfield played through a partially torn labrum, impacting his performance in a season where the Browns missed the playoffs. The injury occurred after Mayfield threw an interception and attempted a tackle. He played through most of the season wearing a harness on his shoulder and later suffered a fractured humerus bone in the same shoulder. After sitting out the season finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Mayfield announced that he would undergo surgery.
In the offseason, the Cleveland Browns traded for quarterback Deshaun Watson, leading to Mayfield requesting a trade. On July 6, 2022, Mayfield was traded to the Carolina Panthers for a 2024 conditional fifth-round pick. The Panthers released him (at his request) in December 2022, after which he was picked up by the LA Rams. In March 2023, he signed a one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This contract provided him with a salary of $1.25 million and a signing bonus of $2.875 million.
Controversies and Legal Issues Impacting Mayfield’s Net Worth
Mayfield’s career has not been without its controversies. On February 25, 2017, he was arrested in Washington County, Arkansas, on charges of public intoxication, disorderly conduct, and fleeing and resisting arrest. The police report detailed that Mayfield was unable to walk in a straight line and had slurred speech. When asked to provide a statement, Mayfield reportedly became agitated and attempted to flee, resulting in his arrest on misdemeanor charges. He pleaded not guilty to all charges and was sentenced to complete 35 hours of community service and an alcohol education program. Such incidents, while not directly impacting his contract values, can potentially affect endorsement opportunities and public perception.
Additional Ventures and Early Career Details
Before achieving stardom, Mayfield worked as an Uber driver after transferring to Oklahoma from Texas Tech, as he was not guaranteed a starting job. In 2015 and 2016, he provided rides to fellow Oklahomans around Norman. Assuming an average of two rides per hour and approximately 30 hours of work per week, Mayfield earned around $590 weekly. Although this was a temporary venture, it reflects his resourcefulness and work ethic during his early career.
Personal Life: Marriage to Emily Wilkinson
Mayfield married Emily Wilkinson in July 2019. While details of their shared assets are not publicly available, marriage often influences financial planning and asset management decisions.
