Athletes Who Spend Outrageous Amounts Of Money On The Most Ridiculous Things
Having access to a tremendous amount of money can be dangerous for some people, especially those who never had much of it or parents who were well-off. When star athletes make it to the big leagues, many of them aren't financially literate and it shows in their purchases. Even when they've made it for a few years and get to sign a huge contract, they'll usually be more inclined to splurge. Although some know how to maintain their savings and can make whatever purchases they wish, don't even get us started on what certain retired players do with their money. Here are the athletes that spend their fortunes on ridiculous things!
Tom Brady And His Luxury G550
As sensational as Tom Brady is, he's earned the ability to splurge. No matter if that means spending $50 million on a luxurious Gulfstream G550. His $26 million annual salary helps him be able to purchase things of this nature.
Now, Brady can take his beautiful wife Gisele Bündchen wherever she wants -- in style and in a hurry. As long as he's not practicing or preparing to win another Super Bowl, the airways are ready for Brady.
Michael Jordan Soars Through The Sky
It must be a g.o.a.t thing. Tom Brady has a precious jet, and so does His Airness, Michael Jordan. When you're a billionaire sports icon, you can spend (or waste) your riches however you wish.
Jordan purchased a customized "MJ-G550" for a whopping $30 million. He had his logo placed on the aircraft, and in 2017, he gave it a complete color change to an elephant print motif. The legend continues to fly with style, years after retirement.
Antonio Garay Bought What?!
When you see the biggest men on the football field, they may strike you as highly intimidating. While that can be true, deep down, some of them are as loving as any person you know.
Take Antonio Garay for instance. His wacky hairstyles are one thing, but when he spent $22.7 thousand on a custom Hello Kitty Smart Car Fortwo, that's when you should have known he was a softie. These cars, without any added modification, can go for as low as $12,000.
Aaron Rodgers Loves Sports
Super Bowl champion Aaron Rodgers isn't only a fan of the NFL, but he loves competition overall. One of his favorite athletes was Kobe Bryant, the former Los Angeles Laker. Bryant's final season was in 2016. The quarterback showed up and sat courtside, a ticket that cost over $11,000 according to SeatGeek. That's some kid's tuition.
Rodgers also owns a Culver's location. The fast-food chain is known for its burgers.
Tyson And Tigers
Have you ever heard of a car salesman who was capable of obtaining white Bengal tigers? We hadn't either, but when Mike Tyson was in jail, he called his car dealer up and asked for some tigers. Tyson had a desire to own supercars and large cats.
The car man secured three white Bengal tigers that cost $70,000 and another $4,000 a month to maintain. Thanks to going bankrupt, the championship boxer had to relinquish the felines in 2003. It’s still a mystery where they are now.
Floyd Mayweather Loves Spending
53-0 champion boxer Floyd Mayweather was in an on-again-off-again relationship with Shantel Jackson. If you're familiar with Mayweather, then you know he doesn't mind spending a few million in a matter of moments.
When the pair became engaged, he gave her a $10 million engagement ring. Sadly, they broke up shortly after he made the purchase. It's unclear if she returned it, but with a net worth as high as Mayweather's we're sure he didn't mind too much one way or another.
Big Bucks Spent On A Hummer
The former New York Yankee Alfonso Soriano had a 2005 model Hummer H2 that he absolutely adored. He purchased it new for $50,000. After that, he took things to a new level with customizations.
After four years of work, he ended up spending $100,000 to give it a complete makeover. It got to the point that you could literally spot Soriano from a mile away. He just might've been the one who invented that expression.
Johnson Really Wanted A Semi-Truck
Chad Johnson was one of the better wide receivers in the NFL during his prime. In 2011, during his last season, he purchased a semi-truck. Even if it's a bit head-scratching, there's no harm in that purchase.
The vehicle was no less than $100 thousand, but then you have to toss in the expenses of tricking it out. Johnson had his name put on the side, which we're sure cost him a pretty penny. For his sake, let's hope it kept some of its value.
The Man Loves Shoes
"Iso" Joe Johnson loves shoes. You probably have friends who say they're sneakerheads, and they probably are. But none of them compare to Johnson. There probably isn't anyone alive who has dedicated as much time to sneakers as Johnson.
He has more than one thousand pairs, and they're seriously taken care of. The hooper puts them in a closet that can fit about seven people. There's a bed, mirrors on the ceiling, TV, and a basketball hoop. You also have to use a fingerprint ID to gain access.
Iverson Loved Jewelry!
Usually, the adornment of jewelry rests solely in the hands of music artists. Allen Iverson was that at one point, but at the end of the day, he was a basketball player. At one point, Iverson was really short on money, primarily because he tried to live like he was still in the NBA after he was out.
When he played overseas, he made around $60,000 a month, but his expenses were $350,000. Iverson was still buying a lot of jewelry during this time and at one point, was forced to cough up $900,000 in court for the unpaid expenses.
Smile For The Camera
In 2009, some reports said that running back Chris Johnson missed the team bus to the game because he ran back to his hotel. The reason? He forgot his gold dentures. Maybe he couldn't do well without them?
Thank goodness he doesn't have to worry about doing that anymore because he got gold implanted teeth! Estimates total up to $8.1 thousand for the six teeth. That's an expensive set of teeth he had in his mouth. We hope he never gets them knocked out!
Holyfield Blew Some Major Money For This!
Evander Holyfield didn't get a portion of his ear bitten off for no reason! During his boxing career, Holyfield earned $250 million. When he bought this mega-mansion for $14 million in Fayette County, Georgia, it was one of his biggest mistakes.
He had 235 acres of farm property to himself, so you can imagine how hard it was to maintain that much. In 2012, he got evicted, despite the thousands he spent trying to keep it.
Scottie And His Jet
Many have probably caught wind of this story, but we have to tell it once again. 2002 wasn't a great year for Scottie Pippen. The NBA champion wanted something luxurious, so he purchased a $4.3 million Gulfstream private plane.
He didn't know this plane needed work done on it before he could use it. The repairs it needed would've cost him one million dollars! As a result, the aircraft was on land for years, and Pippen sued his lawyer who didn't attend the inspection. Luckily, he won that case and was awarded $2 million.
Vick Just Wanted A Nice Pond
At one point in his life, Michael Vick wanted a fish pond at his home. The pond would cost him $85,000 to have it customized and installed, but that wasn't the end of it.
Vick also spent $48,000 on landscaping. The issue was that he was going through tough financial times at that point in his life, but he was still spending at an alarming rate. He blew through $3.5 million in six months.
One Bed, One Man, One Mega Check
Al Jefferson is a big man. He's no longer in the NBA, which probably makes him the biggest guy in the Chinese league. Now you get it, he's one large individual, which is probably why he spent $23,000 on a bed.
The dimensions of the bed were insane. It was ten by twelve feet! If you ask someone who lives in the Bay area, they will tell you that there are apartments smaller than that.
Vince Young Really Needed To Fly!
Before the start of the 2012 NFL season, the Buffalo Bills decided to release the former college star, Vince Young. Sadly, he had money problems because he would spend it in strange ways.
One example of this is when he wanted a "quiet, stress-free flight." Young decided to buy 120 of the 130 total seats available on a Southwest flight. It wasn't a private flight at all and ended up costing him at least $22,000.
Kyrie Irving Following In Iverson's Footsteps?
Kyrie Irving is an all-world talent. He helped LeBron James secure an NBA title for the Cleveland Cavaliers in what was one of the most exceptional performances we've seen from a duo on the court. He's earned his way to a fat paycheck.
With those checks, he likes to spend a large amount of it on jewelry. Reports are that his jewelry collection is worth at least one million dollars now. With all of his business ventures, you can expect that number to grow.
Anyone Want A Segway?
When Arian Foster was still in the NFL, he made a pretty questionable investment. In March 2012, Foster signed a healthy contract extension that made him $43.5 million richer. His first thought: buy ten Segways.
He gave them all to the offensive linemen as a token of his appreciation for blocking guys so well for him. They were top class Segways that cost him a little under $7 thousand each! The thing is, they could only carry up to 270 pounds, and these linemen weighed at least 300!
Shaq Bought A Load Of Shoes
As physically large as Shaquille O'Neal has been his entire life, he knows what it's like to struggle to find clothing that fits. The NBA icon wears an insane shoe size, and earlier in 2019, he helped a young man with the same issue.
Zack Kieth couldn't buy shoes for himself due to wearing a size 18. O'Neal found out via social media and bought the young man ten pairs. That would come out to a little under $1,000 that he spent.
Michael Jordan's Yacht Has A Basketball Court
As of 2018, Michael Jordan is the fourth-wealthiest celebrity thanks to his impressive playing career and Air Jordan line of shoes. With all that money means not only can you afford a $30 million jet, you can also afford an $80 million yacht.
The 230-foot-long yacht has eight cabins, a dining room, a full gym, and even a full-sized basketball court so he can fit in a game of hoops. According to TMZ, the costs don't stop there. He pays $840,000 a week just to maintain it and keep it operational in dock.
The Posh Mansion Woods Purchased
Tiger Woods was the most prolific golfer on the face of this planet. He won many tournaments and earned a ridiculous amount of sponsor money. With those funds, Woods decided to buy the priciest home an athlete could have.
Woods purchased a Jupiter Island, Florida mansion that sits on two waterfronts. It cost him $40 million, but after adding on to it, the total was around $60 million. He has four gold greens, a 6,400 square-foot gym, and an oxygen therapy room.
Messi Bought The Neighbors
Lionel Messi has a boatload of cash thanks to being a top-three soccer player in the world. Reports are that if any team wanted to buy him out, he's worth $340 million alone — a man this important can't have bothersome neighbors.
One time, Messi found his neighbors to be too much trouble, claiming they disturbed him and his family. What he did was buy out their house and made it an extension of his million-dollar estate.
Darius Miles Wanted Some Obscure Art
Once upon a time, not too long ago, Darius Miles was a pretty good basketball player. He once put 30-inch wheels on his car, but that doesn't compare to his wildest purchase.
Miles had the $100 bill Benjamin Franklin painted on the side of his vehicle's hood. That already sounds wild, but the craziest part was what Franklin had in his mouth. He made Franklin have a lit joint, which was very controversial at the time.
Arenas Had A Shark Budget
The former NBA All-Star, Gilbert Arenas was a funny individual. Now that he's out the league, he's showcasing his humorous side on social media, but something insane that he did while in the NBA was get a shark budget.
Documents from a settlement from his ex-girlfriend, the ridiculous things Arenas spent his money on came into the light. Arenas had a $6,500 monthly shark budget. He spent $5,000 on the food and an additional $1,500 on the keeper.
She Might As Well Be A Property Manager
Tennis superstar Serena Williams' guilty pleasure when it comes to spending isn't something you'd usually expect to see or hear. She isn't treating herself to special new rackets or candy, but instead, she buys property.
When Maverick Carter asked her how much she owned, her response was, "I don't know, a lot." She has properties in Paris, Manhattan, West Palm Beach, and many other luxurious destinations. She even regrets when she sells them according to her.
Taming A Gator
Former defensive player Darnell Dockett likes to play with danger, it seems. While he may be a pretty large guy, there are some things or animals you don't mess with unless trained.
Not long ago, the player tweeted, "I'm out here messing with these gators in everglades!" Then he said one of them almost bit him! Still, this wasn't enough to prevent him from spending $500 on a baby alligator that he would end up naming Nino.
Marquis Daniels Invest In Himself...
Former NBA player Marquis Daniels might've taken the term "invest in yourself" a little too far with this one. He ordered a piece of jewelry in the shape of his head.
The jeweler went to extra lengths by mapping out the dimensions of the basketball player's head using 3D laser technology. The final cost of this pendant is unknown, but the necklace is 1,300 grams of 14-karat gold. You can do the math and know that it's not cheap.
Risky Business For Owens
Terrell Owens made a fortune but lost way faster than he made it. He would learn from his mistakes, but not before he made an unpredictable investment in a bingo hall and entertainment complex.
The NFL policy said that players couldn't spend their money on entities like that, but Owens spent $2 million of his money anyway. To add insult to injury, the electronic bingo devices were illegal in Alabama. Owens would sue the attorney that encouraged him to make the investment.
Granger Builds A Batcave
There are millions of ways to blow through your money. We'd never imagine that building a Batcave would be one of them. Former Indiana Pacer All-Star, Danny Granger, put together a Batcave at his house.
"I was telling my fiancee I wanted to have — once again with the superhero thing — you know how Batman drives into a hidden cave? I'm serious. [The Superhero stuff] is just a big thing I've been a part of. I love Superman, love Batman. It's just the way I've been always," Granger said.
Shaq Loves Superman
Shaquille O'Neal has a ton of money. He's a savvy investor, and he made a boatload while in the NBA. That gives him a little freedom to spend his cash on unnecessary things like customized Superman luxury items.
The total amount he shelled out for this isn't public knowledge, but rumors are that he spent $15,000 on the bed alone. The custom SUV set him back around $45,000 as well. You don't come between a man and his love for Superman.
One Expensive Bathtub
Mike Tyson has a reputation for being wild. The legends of Tyson range from biting an opponent's ear (which is true) to buying Bengal tigers (also true). Something he wasted big cash on was a bathtub.
Out of all the blown money he's thrown out the window, we can't imagine that he'd want anything back faster than the $2 million he spent on his ex-wife Robin Givens. That all went towards a bathtub for her.
J.R. Smith Lashes Out
Not long ago, NBA player J.R. Smith purchased a Jesus pendant that put him $50,000 in debt with the jewelry company. They brought him to court because he wasn't paying the balance, which is odd because his NBA salary was pretty high.
He had to pay up $48,000, but not long after that, he purchased the armored truck from Fast Five. That cost Smith around $450,000! He had the money; he was only saving it for the vehicle.
Rodgers Like Buying Expensive Gifts
Aaron Rodgers makes the list again, but this time it's for purchases he did for others. Yes, he's one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the NFL, and he still gets sponsorships. You still have to be somewhat responsible, but we trust Rodgers.
In 2017, Rodgers decided to gift each offensive lineman with an ATV! They protect the quarterback as best as they can, so its the least he could do. It only cost him $20,000 for each one, no big deal.
A Hardy Statue
Professional wrestler Matt Hardy gets his fame from the notorious Hardy Boyz. Wrestlers spend their money different from other athletes, so keep that in mind. Matt Hardy took a step further from Marquise Daniels and got a statue of his head made.
He admires himself so much that he got the bust put in his home. There's no word on how much the thing cost, but it couldn't have been cheap. He has wrestling money, so he had enough.
Nelson Cruz Wanted To Cruise
We've heard of people buying the same model cars that police officers drive and making them look like cop cars. We haven't heard of anyone purchasing a fire truck for their hometown!
While the gift may be kind, it's also unusual. In 2012, baseball player Nelson Cruz said his hometown lacked any fire trucks and ambulances. Cruz felt that since he had the means to help, he would contribute to his community. The deed inspired American Medical Response to donate some ambulances as well.
