Net Worth Ranker
What Is Bo Jackson’s Net Worth?
Bo Jackson, a retired professional baseball and American football player, has amassed a net worth of $25 million. This valuation reflects his successful career, endorsement deals, and strategic business ventures.
Bo Jackson’s Career Earnings and Contracts
During his professional career, Bo Jackson earned $6.8 million in baseball salary and $6.1 million in football salary. In 1986, Nike offered Bo $100,000 per year if he played baseball and $1 million if he also played in the NFL. At the peak of his playing career, Jackson operated under a 5-year $7.4 million contract with the Los Angeles Raiders and a one-year $2.4 million deal with the Kansas City Royals. Additionally, he secured $500,000 per year from Pepsi and AT&T combined, and $1 million each from Nike and Gatorade. In the early 1990s, his combined earnings from salary and endorsements reached $6 million annually, equivalent to approximately $11 million today after adjusting for inflation. Bo Jackson’s career demonstrated an unparalleled blend of talent and marketability, making him one of the most recognizable athletes of his time.
Bo’s relationship with Nike significantly boosted the company’s revenue. The “Bo Knows” commercial series, launched in 1989, is considered one of the most influential advertising campaigns. Nike’s cross-trainer shoe sales jumped from around $40 million per year to $400 million within a year of the campaign’s launch, capturing 80% of the global market. Nike honors Bo with the 60,000-square-foot Bo Jackson Sports and Wellness Center at its corporate campus in Beaverton, Oregon, featuring elite training facilities, a basketball court, and an indoor track. Despite retiring from professional sports, Bo continues to receive at least $1 million per year from Nike as a token of gratitude for his contributions.
Early Life
Vincent Edward “Bo” Jackson was born on November 30, 1962, in Bessemer, Alabama, as the eighth of ten children. He attended McAdory High School, where he excelled in football as a running back and in baseball, hitting 20 home runs in 25 games. He also broke state track records and won Alabama’s state title for decathlon twice. In 1982, the New York Yankees drafted Jackson, but he chose to attend Auburn University on a football scholarship, fulfilling a promise to his mother to be the first in his family to attend college. At Auburn, he played baseball and participated in track and field, showcasing his extraordinary athletic versatility across multiple sports.
Baseball Career
Initially destined for professional football, Jackson’s path shifted after an incident with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who selected him in the 1986 NFL Draft. Following a visit to the Buccaneers’ team facilities, he was barred from his senior college baseball season due to NCAA violations. Believing this was a deliberate attempt by the Buccaneers to steer him towards football, Jackson refused to sign with them. Instead, he chose to play baseball for the Kansas City Royals, who drafted him in the 1986 amateur draft.
Jackson signed a three-year, $1.07 million contract with the Royals and played 53 games with their Class AA minor league affiliate, the Memphis Chicks. Called up to the majors in September 1986, he became a key part of the Royals’ roster in 1987. His career with the Royals saw him become an All-Star in 1989, hitting 32 home runs that same year. After being released by the Royals in 1991 due to injury, the Chicago White Sox offered him a three-year contract guaranteeing $700,000 per season with a performance-based upside of $8.15 million. With the White Sox, he played two seasons, in 1991 and 1993, missing the 1992 season due to hip replacement surgery. Jackson concluded his professional athletic career in 1994 with the California Angels, retiring at the age of 32. Jackson’s ability to transition between baseball and football underscored his remarkable talent and determination.
Football Career
In the 1987 NFL Draft, Jackson was selected in the seventh round by the Los Angeles Raiders. Al Davis, the Raiders’ owner, allowed him to play both baseball and football simultaneously, leading to a five-year, $7.4 million contract. This contract enabled Jackson to finish each MLB season before joining the Raiders, even if it meant missing NFL games. Davis also offered Jackson the highest salary of any non-quarterback player in NFL history at the time, along with a $500,000 signing bonus.
During his four seasons in the NFL, Jackson rushed for 2,782 yards and 16 touchdowns, averaging 5.4 yards per carry. He also caught 40 passes for 352 yards and two touchdowns. His last professional football game in January 1991 resulted in a dislocated hip, leading to avascular necrosis of his left hip joint, ultimately requiring a hip replacement. This injury led to the Royals releasing him and significantly impacted his athletic career until his retirement in 1994. The dual-sport star was earning an annual base salary of $1.65 million with the Raiders at the time of his injury. Bo Jackson’s tenure in professional sports was marked by exceptional athletic ability and groundbreaking endorsements, solidifying his financial success and legacy.
Other Work
Bo Jackson has been featured in numerous video games, including “Tecmo Bowl” for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), “Bo Jackson’s Hit and Run” for the original Game Boy, and “Bo Jackson Baseball” for NES and IBM-compatible computers. He has also appeared in “ESPN NFL Football,” “NFL Street 2,” “Madden 15,” and “Madden 16.” Additionally, Jackson made television appearances on shows like “ProStars,” “Married…with Children,” “Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman,” “Diagnosis Murder,” and “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.” Jackson’s multimedia presence has further solidified his status as a pop culture icon.
Business Ventures
Jackson is part of an investor group that owns The Burr Ridge Bank and Trust in Burr Ridge, Illinois, a Chicago suburb. He is also the part-owner and CEO of the Bo Jackson Elite Sports Complex, an 88,000-square-foot multi-sport facility in Lockport, Illinois, established in 2007 with partner John Cangelosi. Jackson has invested in the food company N’Genuity. Jackson’s involvement in these ventures underscores his entrepreneurial drive and business acumen.
Personal Life
Jackson is married to Linda, a rehabilitation counselor, and they have three children: sons Garrett and Nicholas, and daughter Morgan. After retiring from sports, Jackson completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Family and Children Development at Auburn University in 1995. Bo Jackson maintains a relatively private personal life, focusing on family and business ventures. He fulfilled his promise to his mother by completing his college education after his professional sports career, demonstrating his commitment to personal values.
