Have you ever dreamed of becoming a famous athlete?
Making a name for yourself in the world of sports takes a lot of determination and stamina. In addition to talent, you need the drive to dedicate several hours each day to training.
Of the millions of people who excel at sports, only a small percentage make it to a professional team. Of those people, even fewer are able to become a household name and get rich along the way.
So, let’s take a closer look at Herschel Walker net worth and find out how the American football player made his millions.
Contents
Early Life
Herschel Walker was born in 1962 in the city of Augusta, Georgia. He is one of seven children and was raised in the Georgia town of Wrightsville. He had a stutter when he was a child and was overweight, causing him to be a little shy and withdrawn.
However, he managed to overcome his shyness at Johnson County High School by playing football, basketball, and competing in track. His natural talent thrust him into the spotlight, especially when he contributed to the Trojans’ first state championship win. In 1979 he won national high school scholar-athlete of the year at the Dial Award ceremony.
He also won several events on the Trojans track and field team and Georgia High School Association T&F State Championships. After graduating from high school, he briefly attended the University of Georgia. However, he dropped out to join the United States Football League.
Athletic Career
He signed with the New Jersey Generals in 1983. However, Oklahoma oil tycoon J. Walter Duncan sold the team to Donald Trump at the end of the 1983 season.
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys acquired Walker’s NFL rights in the 1985 NFL Draft. He was signed the following year and was given a five-year contract. In the season opener, he rushed for the game-winning touchdown with just a minute of play remaining. This helped the Dallas Cowboys secure a 31-28 victory against the New York Giants.
He achieved a franchise-record 292 yards of total offense during the week 15 game against the Philadelphia Eagles. This includes the NFL’s longest run of the year with an 84-yarder for a touchdown. He also became the 10th player in NFL history to accumulate more than 2,000 combined receiving and rushing yards in a season.
Minnesota Vikings
In 1989, the Dallas Cowboys traded Walker to the Minnesota Vikings for five players as well as six future draft picks. He played his first game for the team against the Green Bay Packers after a single 2½-hour practice session. He helped score a win for the Vikings and received three standing ovations from the crowd of 62,075 fans.
Philadelphia Eagles
In 1992, after playing for the Minnesota Vikings for three seasons, he was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles. He later became the first NFL player to achieve one-play gains of 90 or more yards in a single season. After three seasons at the Philadelphia Eagles, he signed a three-year contract with the New York Giants.
Dallas Cowboys
Herschel Walker returned to the Dallas Cowboys in 1996 as a third-down back and kickoff return specialist. After a series of additional achievements, he retired from the NFL at the end of the 1997 season.
Other Achievements
Herschel Walker competed as a member of the US bobsleigh team in the Winter Olympics in 1992 in Albertville, France. He competed as a brakeman in the two-man event along with Brian Shimer. The pair ultimately placed seventh in the event.
MMA
He appeared as a guest on the HDNet show Inside MMA as a guest in 2007. In 2009, he signed a contract with the MMA promotion company Strikeforce. Walker was 47 years old at the time and one of the oldest athletes to be signed to the company.
He began a 12-week training camp at the American Kickboxing Academy the same year. In January 2010, he made his MMA debut. He fought Greg Nagy and ultimately won.
Other achievements of note include:
- Fifth-degree black belt in taekwondo
- The Celebrity Apprentice contestant
- Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off Winner
Business Activities
Herschel Walker has proven that he has more to offer off the sports field. His career in the business world started in 1984 when he franchised a D’Lites fast food restaurant.
Renaissance Man Food Services
Herschel Walker created Renaissance Man Food Services in 2002. The company mainly distributes chicken products to companies across the United States. The same year, he founded H. Walker Enterprises in 2002 as an umbrella company for a number of business ventures.
To date, the former athlete has invested more than $13 million in various industries ranging from solar energy to healthcare. These include Herschel’s Mama’s Cookin® brands and Herschel’s Famous 34®. These divisions of the main company feature various chicken products and meals that showcase his mother’s recipes.
Other notable business ventures include:
- Brightfield Renewable Energy
- Native Foods Cafe
- Customized Professional Pantry
Personal Life
Herschel Walker met Cindy DeAngelis Grossman in 1983 when the pair were in college. They later got married and have a son called Christian together. The couple got divorced in 2002 after nineteen years of marriage. He got engaged to Julie Blanchard in 2012, and the couple got married in 2021.
During his 2022 US Senate campaign, it was revealed that Walker had two other sons and a daughter. Up until this time, he had not publicly acknowledged these three children. He was accused of trying to hide his other children, which he has hotly denied.
It has been revealed that he had each of his four children with a different woman, which sparked further controversy. During his US Senate campaigns, Walker has stated that fatherless households are a major problem. However, it was highlighted that his own children grew up in fatherless households.
Mental health issues
Over the years, Walker has been very candid about his struggles with mental health. He revealed that he was diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder and has served as the spokesman for a mental health treatment program. In 2008 he wrote the book Breaking Free: My Life with Dissociative Identity Disorder in order to help people struggling with mental illness.
His book reveals that he has a dozen distinct identities, and some of these identities display extremely violent behavior. This includes playing Russian roulette in 1991 and being tempted to murder a man in 2001. His condition was finally diagnosed in 2001, and he started receiving professional help.
Awards and Honors
Trojan Way was officially renamed Herschel Walker Drive in honor of the former athlete in 2017. This is the street where Johnson County High School is located. The renaming ceremony took place during the annual Wrightsville Fourth of July celebration and parade.
Other awards and honors of note include:
- NFL two-time Pro Bowl selection
- 1985 USFL MVP
- 1980 NCAA National champion
- 1982 NCAA Heisman Trophy winner
- Three-time Unanimous All-American
- 1982 UPI College Football Player of the Year
- Georgia Bulldogs No. 34 retired
- American Academy of Achievement Golden Plate Award
- College Football Hall of Fame (1999)
Real Estate
The athlete has amassed an impressive real estate portfolio over the years. He currently owns twelve properties in the United States. The total value of these twelve properties is an estimated $20 million.
One of the largest of these properties is a 10,000-square-foot mansion in Las Colinas. The mansion boasts impressive views of Cottonwood Valley Golf Club. It was listed for sale in 2015 for $3.25 million.
The athlete also recently purchased another mansion in Georgia for a reported $11 million. This 10,500-square-foot home boasts several bedrooms and a dedicated guest suite. After purchasing the mansion, Walker undertook an extensive renovation project that set him back around $1 million.
Car Collection
The celebrity has a love for luxury cars and is known to have eight in his collection. This includes a Nissan GT-R, which perfectly attests to his discerning eye for high-performance models. His assets also include three luxury yachts.
Net Worth and Salary
Herschel Walker’s net worth is currently estimated to be $73 million. This includes a business income of $3 million annually and assets totaling $58 million. Around $3 million comes from business income, while an impressive $15 million comes from investments.
A breakdown of his annual salary includes:
- Renaissance Man Food Services – $100,000
- Sports marketing – $420,000
- Veteran’s Mental Health Spokesperson – $330,000
- Public Speaking Engagements – $400,000
Contracts and salary
The three-year contract he signed with the New Jersey Generals in 1983 netted him $5 million. During the first year of the contract, he earned a salary of $1 plus a bonus of $1 million. His salary remained the same in 1984, while it rose by $1.25 million in 1985.
He signed a five-year contract with the Dallas Cowboys in 1985 for $5 million for the 1986 season. Ten years later, he signed a three-year contract with the New York Giants. Signing this contract netted him a cool $4.8 million.
Interested in the Rich and Famous?
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Conclusion
Currently, Herschel Walker’s net worth is estimated to be $73 million.
Over the years, Herschel Walker has proven himself to be a talented and dedicated athlete. He has shown that he has the drive and competitive spirit to thrive and rise to the top. After retiring, he applied the same discipline and dedication to the business world.
The former athlete attributes much of his success to his strong work ethic. He firmly believes that it is possible to achieve anything if you are willing to work hard. This has been applied to all aspects of his life and has helped him to become a multi-millionaire.
FAQs
What is Herschel Walker’s greatest accomplishment as a football player?
Herschel Walker’s greatest accomplishment as a football player was winning the Heisman Trophy in 1982 as a junior at the University of Georgia.
What is Herschel Walker’s motivational speaking all about?
Herschel Walker’s motivational speaking is all about inspiring people to be their best, physically, mentally, and emotionally. His encouraging words aim to motivate individuals to push their boundaries and embrace their potential.
Where can I find Herschel Walker’s books and what are they about?
Herschel Walker’s books are available on Amazon and other prominent online retailers. He has written several books, including “Breaking free: My Life with Dissociative Identity Disorder,” which is about his personal struggles and how he has overcome them.
How has Herschel Walker contributed to philanthropy?
Herschel Walker has been involved in several philanthropic activities throughout his career. He founded the Herschel Walker Foundation in 1983, which aims to promote education, health, and wellness among youth. He also supports various charitable organizations, including the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the American Red Cross, and the Special Olympics.
What is Herschel Walker’s brand of health products?
Herschel Walker’s brand of health products is called “Herschel Walker’s Fitness Challenge.” The program is designed to help individuals achieve their health goals through a combination of diet and workout plans.
How has Herschel Walker contributed to the entertainment industry?
Herschel Walker has been a part of the entertainment industry since his retirement from football. He has appeared on several reality TV shows, including Dancing with the Stars and Celebrity Apprentice and even has his own reality TV show called “Herschel’s Farm.”
What has Herschel Walker accomplished in the MMA industry?
Herschel Walker is also known for his MMA career. He had his first professional MMA fight in 2010 at the age of 47 and won his debut with a technical knockout in the third round.
What is Herschel Walker’s biggest business venture?
Herschel Walker’s biggest business venture is his food company, Herschel’s Famous 34, which he started in 1999. The company sells pre-packaged food products that cater to the health-conscious consumer.
What was Herschel Walker’s performance in Dancing with the Stars?
Herschel Walker appeared on season eight of Dancing with the Stars and was eliminated in the fourth week of the competition. He and his dance partner, Edyta Sliwinska, danced the salsa and the foxtrot.
What is Herschel Walker’s workout routine?
Herschel Walker’s workout routine includes a combination of cardio, weightlifting, and bodyweight exercises. He also emphasizes the importance of stretching and flexibility.
How has Herschel Walker dealt with his dissociative identity disorder?
Herschel Walker has been vocal about his struggles with dissociative identity disorder, a mental disorder where a person has two or more distinct personalities. He has spoken about how he uses prayer, exercise, and other coping mechanisms to manage his disorder and live a healthy life.
What is Herschel Walker’s ranch like?
Herschel Walker’s ranch is a sprawling 65,000-acre property in Texas. He breeds horses and has over 2,000 cattle on the ranch. The property also features a hunting lodge and a training facility for professional athletes.
Does Herschel Walker still support the Georgia Bulldogs?
Herschel Walker has always been a fan of his alma mater, the University of Georgia Bulldogs. He is often seen at their games and events and has also made donations to the school’s athletic department.
What does Herschel Walker’s self-storage business offer?
Herschel Walker’s self-storage business, Herschel’s Lock and Safe, offers premium self-storage solutions for customers who are looking for secure and reliable storage options. The company has several locations across Georgia.
What is Herschel Walker’s advice for young athletes?
Herschel Walker’s advice to young athletes is to focus on discipline, hard work, and perseverance. He stresses the importance of being dedicated to one’s sport and to always strive to be better.