Net Worth Ranker
What is Matt Leinart’s Net Worth?
As of 2024, Matt Leinart’s net worth is estimated to be $12 million. This figure is primarily derived from his career as a professional football player and his subsequent work as a television analyst.
Matt Leinart’s Career Earnings and Contract Details
Matt Leinart’s professional football career spanned several years, during which he accumulated a substantial portion of his net worth through contracts and salaries. His most significant contract was a six-year, $51 million deal with the Arizona Cardinals, signed in 2006. However, he was released by the Cardinals before the contract’s completion in 2010. From this contract, Leinart earned $14 million, despite not fulfilling the entire six-year term. Over the course of his NFL career, Leinart earned a total of $18 million in salary. This included his time with the Cardinals (2006-2009), Houston Texans (2010-2011), and Oakland Raiders (2012).
In 2010, after his release from the Arizona Cardinals, Leinart signed a one-year contract with the Houston Texans. Details of this contract were not publicly released, but it was speculated to be a smaller deal given his role as a backup quarterback to Matt Schaub. He returned to Houston the following year, although the financial terms of his renewed contract were not disclosed. In 2012, Leinart signed with the Oakland Raiders, backing up his former USC teammate Carson Palmer. The specifics of this contract were also not publicly available. It is believed to be a modest contract typical for a backup quarterback.
While with the Arizona Cardinals, Matt Leinart’s salary fluctuated based on performance and contract escalators. In his rookie season, he earned a base salary complemented by signing bonuses and potential incentives. In subsequent years, his earnings were structured to increase, provided he met certain performance benchmarks. However, injuries and changes in team dynamics impacted his playing time and ultimately limited his earning potential with the Cardinals. When he played for the Houston Texans and Oakland Raiders, he took pay cuts from his earlier Arizona Cardinals salary.
Early Life and Collegiate Career
Matt Leinart was born on May 11, 1983, in Santa Ana, California. During his childhood, he underwent surgery to correct strabismus, a condition commonly known as crossed eyes. To aid his recovery, he wore special glasses, which unfortunately made him a target for bullying. Leinart turned to sports as a coping mechanism. He attended Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, where he excelled in both football and basketball. In his junior year, he led the football team to a California Interscholastic Federation Division I co-championship. Leinart’s accomplishments were recognized when he was named the Gatorade California High School Football Player of the Year. These early successes laid the foundation for his future football career.
After graduating from high school, Leinart attended the University of Southern California (USC), where he played under coach Pete Carroll. He redshirted in 2001, and in 2002, he served as an understudy to senior quarterback Carson Palmer. Leinart had a breakthrough year as a sophomore when he was named the Trojans’ starting quarterback. The team finished the regular season with an 11-1 record. In the Rose Bowl, Leinart was named the game’s MVP. In his junior year, he led the Trojans to an undefeated season and won the Heisman Trophy. During the postseason, USC defeated Oklahoma 55-19 in the Orange Bowl, where Leinart threw five touchdown passes and earned MVP honors. He led the Trojans to another perfect regular season. They lost to Texas in the Rose Bowl. Leinart ended his collegiate career as USC’s all-time leader in touchdown passes and completion percentage.
NFL Career and Subsequent Ventures
In the 2006 NFL Draft, Matt Leinart was selected 10th overall by the Arizona Cardinals and signed a six-year contract with the team. In his debut in the fourth game of the season, Leinart threw two touchdown passes. He set an NFL rookie record with 405 passing yards against the Minnesota Vikings. He finished his first season with a 4-7 record across 11 starts. In his second season, Leinart was placed on injured reserve due to a fractured collarbone. After recovering, Kurt Warner took over as starting quarterback, relegating Leinart to backup. After Warner retired in 2010, Leinart was expected to regain his starter position. He continued to perform poorly, however, and was released by the Cardinals in September.
Following his release from the Cardinals, Leinart signed a one-year deal with the Houston Texans. He served as a backup to Matt Schaub. Schaub played all 16 games of the 2010 season, Leinart did not see any action. He returned to Houston the following year. In Week 12 of the 2011 season, Leinart debuted with the Texans after Schaub suffered a foot injury. Leinart fractured his collarbone in the first half of the game and was replaced. Leinart was released by the Texans in early 2012.
Leinart signed with the Oakland Raiders in the spring of 2012 as a backup to his former USC teammate Carson Palmer. In Week 16, Leinart entered the game with Terrelle Pryor after Palmer was injured. The following week, Pryor was given the start, and Leinart was not re-signed by the Raiders. In the summer of 2013, Leinart signed with the Buffalo Bills. However, Thad Lewis was given the position, and Leinart was released by the Bills.
Since retiring from professional football, Matt Leinart has transitioned into a career as a studio analyst for Fox Sports, focusing on college football coverage. While the specific details of his contract with Fox Sports are not publicly available, similar roles typically yield annual salaries ranging from $100,000 to $500,000, depending on experience, airtime, and market demand. Leinart also contributes to the Pac-12 Network and appears as a guest on various podcasts, adding to his income stream.
Matt Leinart’s Real Estate Investments
In June 2016, Matt Leinart purchased a home in Manhattan Beach, California, for $2.245 million. The property features a pool and a sports court in the backyard. While additional details, such as the square footage or specific address, have not been publicly disclosed, real estate records indicate that homes in the Manhattan Beach area with similar amenities and features generally range from 2,500 to 4,000 square feet. The purchase of this home is one of the few real estate investments publicly associated with Leinart, and it contributes to his overall net worth.
Personal Life
Matt Leinart has a son from his former girlfriend, Brynn Cameron, who played basketball at USC. Leinart married actress Josie Loren, with whom he has two sons. Leinart’s transition from being a professional football player to a media personality and analyst has allowed him to maintain a public profile and continue earning income post-retirement.
