Net Worth Ranker
What Is Bob Whitfield Net Worth?
Bob Whitfield, a retired American football player, has an estimated net worth of $1 million. His professional career, spanning from 1992 to 2006, included stints with the Atlanta Falcons, Jacksonville Jaguars, and the New York Giants. Whitfield’s financial situation has been subject to public scrutiny, particularly due to his divorce from Sheree Whitfield, a reality television personality.
NFL Career and Earnings
Whitfield’s NFL career was highlighted by a six-year, $30 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons, signed in December 2000. This contract included an $8 million signing bonus and an average annual salary of $3 million. However, in August 2002, Whitfield restructured the deal to provide the Falcons with more cap space. His base salary was reduced from $2.3 million to $750,000, and he received a $1.55 million guaranteed signing bonus. Of the $30 million contract, Whitfield earned the $8 million signing bonus and approximately $6 million prior to the restructuring, totaling around $16 million from that contract alone. This does not include earnings from his contracts with the Jaguars and Giants.
During his NFL career, Whitfield played in 220 games, starting in 176 of them. He was recognized as a Pro Bowler in 1999 while playing for the Falcons. His consistent presence as an offensive lineman contributed to his overall career earnings, though specific figures beyond the Falcons contract are not publicly available.
PatchWerk Recording Studios
In 1993, Bob Whitfield founded PatchWerk Records in Carson, California, leveraging his NFL earnings to support the debut album of a high school friend, rap artist Ras Kass. The album’s moderate success led to a licensing deal with Priority Records. Two years later, in 1995, Whitfield established PatchWerk Recording Studios in Atlanta, transforming a 7,500-square-foot former art studio. This venture coincided with the rise of the Atlanta hip-hop scene, positioning PatchWerk as a key player in the industry.
Between 1995 and 2009, PatchWerk Recording Studios was the site of over 600 gold and platinum albums. Prominent artists such as Outkast, Ludacris, Nelly, Gucci Mane, Young Jeezy, Beyoncé, 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg, and Whitney Houston recorded at the studio. Outkast recorded their album “Atliens” at Patchwerk. Ludacris recorded his first two albums at PatchWerk. At its peak, Patchwerk charged $200 per hour, or $2,775 per day. According to Bob’s LinkedIn, he divested from PatchWerk in 2009. He remains CEO of the multi-media branch of the company, PATCHWERKS, INC.
Divorce and Financial Disputes
Bob Whitfield’s divorce from Sheree Whitfield in 2008 brought financial matters to the forefront. Although Bob paid child support for their two children, Sheree’s request for alimony was denied by the courts. Despite her appeal, citing a lack of formal education and skilled trade, the court upheld the decision, leading to the loss of their shared home.
In 2012, Sheree sued Bob for failing to pay his $2,142 monthly child support for 38 months, totaling $81,396. Bob claimed an inability to pay due to financial constraints. An agreement was eventually reached where Bob paid Sheree $75,000 for the missed payments, followed by $1,000 per month for 12 months, reverting to $2,142 per month thereafter. This legal battle further impacted Bob Whitfield’s net worth and public image.
Atlanta Mansion and Foreclosure
In September 2000, Bob Whitfield purchased an 8,500-square-foot mansion in Atlanta for $2.395 million. The property was listed for sale at $2.8 million in 2007, amid their separation and pending divorce. Due to the housing market crash and economic downturn, the Whitfields ultimately lost the home to foreclosure. The mortgage company acquired the property for $1.1 million. Later, the home was sold for $2.75 million in 2017 and again in June 2023 for $3.6 million. The foreclosure significantly affected Whitfield’s assets, contributing to his reduced net worth.
Early Life and Education
Bob Lectress Whitfield was born on October 18, 1971, in Carson, California. He attended Banning High School in Wilmington, California, before enrolling at Stanford University. Whitfield immediately made an impact at Stanford, starting as a true freshman. After his junior season, he declared for the NFL draft, where he was selected by the Atlanta Falcons as the eighth overall pick in 1992. He was inducted into the Stanford Football Hall of Fame in 2011. Demonstrating a commitment to education, Whitfield returned to Stanford in 2012 to earn an economics degree.
