Net Worth Ranker
What Is Chad Johnson’s Net Worth?
Chad Ochocinco Johnson, a former NFL wide receiver and media personality, has an estimated net worth of $15 million as of 2025. His financial status is the result of his career in professional football, endorsements, and other ventures.
Chad Johnson’s Career Earnings in the NFL
During his 11 seasons in the NFL, Chad Johnson accumulated substantial earnings, primarily from his salaries. Playing for teams like the Cincinnati Bengals, New England Patriots, and Miami Dolphins, he made approximately $47 million solely from NFL salaries. Here’s a breakdown of his annual earnings:
- 2001 (Cincinnati Bengals): $300,000 salary + $1.4 million bonus
- 2002 (Cincinnati Bengals): $351,000
- 2003 (Cincinnati Bengals): $426,000 salary + $7 million bonus
- 2004 (Cincinnati Bengals): $526,000
- 2005 (Cincinnati Bengals): $1 million salary + $3.5 million bonus
- 2006 (Cincinnati Bengals): $2.75 million salary + $5 million bonus
- 2007 (Cincinnati Bengals): $2.5 million salary + $5 million bonus
- 2008 (Cincinnati Bengals): $3 million salary + $5 million bonus
- 2009 (Cincinnati Bengals): $4.5 million
- 2010 (Cincinnati Bengals): $3.5 million
- 2011 (New England Patriots): $925,000
- 2012 (Miami Dolphins): $0 (cut before making the regular season roster)
His total career earnings amounted to $46.678 million from NFL salaries alone. However, his financial situation has seen fluctuations, with significant portions being allocated to child support and other expenses.
Financial Challenges and Legal Filings
In the early 2010s, Chad Johnson faced financial difficulties that became public through court documents. During a 2013 court battle related to child support, Chad Johnson declared his total assets were worth approximately $5 million. He stated that he was experiencing a monthly loss of around $45,000, attributed to expenses such as child support for his eight children, mortgage payments, food costs, and car payments. His reported monthly income at the time was $3,000, equating to an annual income of about $36,000.
In November 2012, Johnson faced legal challenges when the mother of one of his children sued him for failing to make court-mandated child support payments of $5,250 for several months. Further court filings in June 2013 revealed that his expenses included $16,000 for child support, $9,000 for mortgages, $3,000 for food, and $3,000 for car payments. During this period, he listed his assets as just under $5 million, which included two houses and two luxury cars.
Other Ventures and Projects
Beyond football, Chad Johnson engaged in various ventures to augment his income and broaden his public profile. In 2010, he released “Mad Chad,” an iPhone game he co-designed with RockLive. That same year, he participated in season ten of “Dancing with the Stars,” partnered with Cheryl Burke, ultimately finishing among the final four competitors. He also starred in his dating reality show on VH1, titled “Ochocinco: The Ultimate Catch.” Additionally, he provided his voice and image to EA’s 2006 video game “NFL Street 3,” appearing on the game’s cover and narrating tutorials alongside Clinton Portis and Byron Leftwich.
Name Change and Marketing
In an effort to promote his personal brand and celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, Chad Johnson decided to be known as “Ocho Cinco,” which translates to “eight five” in Spanish, referencing his jersey number 85. He legally changed his name to Chad Javon Ochocinco on August 29, 2008, and was allowed by the Cincinnati Bengals to use it on his jersey. However, due to contractual obligations with Reebok, he continued to use “Johnson” on his jersey for the 2008 season before debuting his “Ochocinco” jersey in 2009. He later reverted to his original last name, Johnson, in 2012.
Early Life and College Football
Chad Javon Johnson was born on January 9, 1978, in Miami, Florida. He graduated from Miami Beach Senior High School in 1997. Initially, he attended Langston University but did not play football there. He then transferred to Santa Monica College in California, where he played football before being recruited by Oregon State University’s football coach, Dennis Erickson, in 2000. This transition to Oregon State marked a significant step in his path to professional football.
Professional Football Career Details
Chad Johnson’s entry into the NFL began in 2001 when the Cincinnati Bengals selected him in the second round of the draft, with the 36th overall pick. His early seasons were marked by strong performances, including setting a Bengals franchise record in 2005 with 1,432 receiving yards. However, his on-field achievements were often overshadowed by his flamboyant personality and behavior, which sometimes caused friction with team management.
Despite being named to the Pro Bowl team six times, the Bengals decided to trade Johnson in 2010. In July 2011, he was acquired by the New England Patriots but was released less than a year later. Subsequently, he signed with the Miami Dolphins in June 2012 but was released in August of the same year following an arrest for domestic abuse against his then-wife, Evelyn Lozada.
In 2014, Johnson signed a two-year deal with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League (CFL). However, he only played in five regular-season games in 2014. After not attending the mandatory spring training camp, he was suspended for the entire 2015 CFL season and was not offered a new contract. Since then, his only professional football appearance was in 2017, when he played one game for the Monterrey Fundidores in the Liga de Futbol Americano Professional de Mexico, catching three passes and helping the team win against the Saltillo Dinos.
Personal Life Events
Chad Johnson began dating Evelyn Lozada in early 2010 and proposed to her in November of the same year. They married in July 2012. However, their marriage was short-lived. On August 11, 2012, Johnson was arrested on domestic battery charges, leading to his release by the Miami Dolphins. Lozada filed for divorce three days later, which was finalized in September 2012.
Johnson accepted a plea deal that included a year of probation. However, a warrant was issued for his arrest in May 2013 for allegedly violating the terms of his probation. He turned himself in and was sentenced to thirty days in jail, although he was released after serving only seven days after apologizing to the court. Johnson has eight children from various relationships.
Assets and Investments
While specific details about Chad Johnson’s current assets and investments are not publicly available, his career earnings and ventures suggest a diverse portfolio. He has experience in real estate, as evidenced by his ownership of multiple houses during his financial struggles in the early 2010s. Additionally, his ventures into gaming, reality television, and endorsements indicate a willingness to invest in various opportunities. In a November 2021 appearance on the “Full Send” podcast, Chad claimed to have significantly more than $5 million, even displaying what he claimed was $15 million in his bank account. This suggests that his financial situation may have improved since his earlier financial difficulties.
