Manti Te'o's net worth currently stands at $3.5 million. The infamous catfishing scandal impacted his draft position and cost him nearly $8 million in potential earnings. His NFL career has brought in $10.4 million, with his highest salary reaching $1.7 million during his time with the Saints. Te'o's portfolio now spans tech startups and real estate investments.
Manti Te'o's NFL contracts and salary breakdown
Manti Te'o's NFL earnings tell a story of his career with different teams. His seven-year NFL career brought in $10.4 million, and his contracts changed by a lot as his role evolved in the league.
Rookie contract with the Chargers
The San Diego Chargers picked Te'o 38th overall in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He signed his rookie contract on May 9, 2013. The four-year deal was worth $5.17 million and included:
- A signing bonus of $2.14 million
- Guaranteed money of $3.18 million
- Annual salary breakdown:
- 2013: $2.54 million (rookie season)
- 2014: $640,110
- 2015: $956,009
- 2016: $1.11 million
Te'o's time with the Chargers came to an early end after an Achilles injury in 2016 sent him into free agency.
New Orleans Saints deal and peak salary
Te'o started a new chapter with the New Orleans Saints on March 21, 2017. He signed a two-year contract worth $5 million. The deal came with:
- $600,000 in guaranteed money at signing
- First year (2017): $2.35 million total compensation
- Second year (2018): $2.5 million total compensation
The 2018 season brought Te'o his highest NFL salary with a base of $1.7 million. He played in just five games that season. The Saints brought him back on December 3, 2019, with a one-year contract worth $805,000. He earned $189,411 that season.
Final stint with the Chicago Bears
Te'o's NFL journey wrapped up with the Chicago Bears. He joined their practice squad on October 20, 2020. His final professional chapter included:
- Earnings of $132,000 for the 2020 season
- A spot on the practice squad/COVID-19 list in December 2020
- A promotion to the active roster for the wild card playoff game against his old team, the Saints
- His practice squad contract expired on January 18, 2021
Te'o's NFL career brought in $10,424,620 before taxes and fees. He played eight seasons with three different teams.
Total career earnings and endorsement income
The simple contract numbers tell only part of Manti Te'o's financial story in professional football. His current net worth stands at $3.5 million, built through multiple revenue streams that shaped his overall financial status.
Manti Te'o career earnings from NFL salary
Te'o's seven-year NFL career with three teams brought in total earnings of $10.49 million, which edges above some reports of $10.40 million. His team-wise earnings break down as:
- San Diego Chargers (4 years): $5.25 million
- New Orleans Saints (3 years): $5.04 million
- Chicago Bears (1 year): $132,000
His career average annual salary reached approximately $1.31 million. The 2018 season with the Saints proved most profitable, earning him a base salary of $1.7 million, despite being sidelined for most games that year.
Bonuses and incentives over the last several years
Te'o's earnings grew beyond base salaries through:
- Signing bonuses totaling $2.74 million ($2.14 million from Chargers, $600,000 from Saints)
- Roster bonuses amounting to $1.6 million
- Workout bonuses of $100,000
- Performance incentives worth $80,789
These extra compensation elements made up much of his total guaranteed money, which reached $3.78 million throughout his career contracts.
Endorsement deals with Nike and Subway
Nike and Subway endorsements added to Te'o's NFL income. The infamous catfishing scandal affected his endorsement potential by a lot.
Te'o's team pushed hard for marketing deals with apparel companies before the scandal broke. His poor showing in the BCS title game stymied companies from closing endorsement contracts quickly.
His endorsement earnings stayed modest compared to NFL players with similar profiles. The 2015 endorsements brought in about $150,000. Companies became reluctant to sign him as a spokesman after the catfishing scandal, likely costing him millions in potential deals.
The scandal's timing hit harder than expected. His draft position dropped from a projected top-10 pick to the second round, which reportedly cost him around $8 million in potential earnings. This drop slashed both his contract value and future endorsement opportunities.
How Manti Te'o invested his NFL earnings
Many athletes struggle with money after their careers end. Manti Te'o took a different path and turned his NFL earnings into multiple income streams. His financial wisdom went far beyond his years on the field.
Real estate properties in Hawaii and San Diego
Real estate forms the life-blood of Te'o's investment strategy, with a portfolio worth about $8 million. His property assets include:
- A luxury home in La Jolla, San Diego worth about $2.6 million
- A residential property on Oahu, Hawaii valued at $1.5 million
Te'o stays active in real estate through his companies. He started Ohana Homes and Investing in San Diego, a real estate program that builds mutually beneficial alliances between agents, contractors, and investors. He also leads HI 5 Homes, LLC as CEO, another real estate investment firm in San Diego.
Tech startup investments and risks
Te'o put about $5 million into tech startups. He showed he was willing to take calculated risks. His tech investments include:
- Virtual reality company Jaunt (which Verizon later bought)
- Food delivery app GrubMarket that grew substantially
- A ride-sharing application
- Mobile gaming platform
These choices show Te'o's forward-thinking mindset, though they come with risks. He researched each company thoroughly before investing. He believed in their long-term potential despite the volatile nature of tech startups.
Stock market portfolio and diversification
Te'o's investment strategy spreads across different types of assets. His total investment portfolio is worth about $15 million. He pays close attention to the stock market as a way to build wealth.
Professional management plays a key role in Te'o's stock investments. He knows the market can be tricky because not everyone has access to the same information. This integrated approach to managing money helps alleviate risks while setting up his net worth to grow.
Te'o built a strong financial foundation through real estate, technology ventures, and traditional securities. This foundation should support him well beyond his playing days. His financial knowledge stands out among former NFL players.
The long-term financial impact of the catfishing scandal
The catfishing scandal changed Manti Te'o's financial future and sent shockwaves through his career. His personal embarrassment quickly became a professional burden that still affects his net worth today.
Loss of first-round draft status and millions
Te'o was set to be a top-10 pick just five months before the 2013 NFL Draft. His draft stock crashed after the catfishing story emerged and he performed poorly at the NFL combine. He dropped out of the first round completely. This drop devastated his finances:
- At projected #5 pick: Four-year, $20 million contract with about $10 million guaranteed
- Actual 38th pick: Contract worth roughly $500,000 yearly with only $2 million guaranteed
- Total estimated loss: Over $8 million on his rookie contract alone
This early financial blow created an earnings gap he couldn't close, even with a decade in the NFL.
How the scandal affected endorsement potential
Te'o "aggressively pursued endorsement deals" as college football's defensive star before the hoax news broke. The scandal's timing crushed his marketing value:
- He was ready to become that year's #1 college football endorser
- Companies backed away from using him as their spokesperson
- Nike and Subway deals came through but at much lower values
- His poor BCS championship game made companies even more hesitant
Sports economist Patrick Rishe noted, "His endorsement value took an even bigger hit" than his contract losses. This meant millions in lost lifetime earnings.
Recovery through media and public support
People first saw Te'o as either naive or dishonest. His public image started improving gradually. The 2022 Netflix documentary "Untold: The Girlfriend Who Didn't Exist" changed the narrative by showing Te'o as a victim rather than the culprit.
The documentary revealed his mental health struggles and anxiety that hurt his NFL performance. Te'o described his early NFL years: "I'm questioning everything. Every day was just trying to figure out how to get rid of this anxiety, this numbness".
His openness about his experience has helped rebuild his public image. This could lead to new financial opportunities beyond his football career.
Conclusion
Manti Te'o turned a devastating scandal into a lesson in financial success. The catfishing ordeal initially cost him millions in potential earnings. He bounced back by making smart choices in real estate and tech startups that built his net worth to $3.5 million. His story shows that career setbacks don't determine financial success.
FAQs
Q1. What was Manti Te'o's total earnings during his NFL career?
Manti Te'o's total career earnings from his NFL salary amounted to approximately $10.49 million over seven years, playing for three different teams.
Q2. How did the catfishing scandal impact Manti Te'o's financial prospects?
The scandal significantly affected Te'o's draft position, resulting in an estimated loss of at least $8 million on his rookie contract and substantially diminished his endorsement potential.
Q3. What is Manti Te'o's current net worth?
As of 2025, Manti Te'o's net worth is estimated to be $3.5 million, despite the financial setbacks early in his career.
Q4. How has Manti Te'o invested his NFL earnings?
Te'o has diversified his investments across real estate properties in Hawaii and San Diego, tech startup ventures, and a stock market portfolio, with his total investment portfolio valued at approximately $15 million.
Q5. What is Manti Te'o doing now after his NFL career?
Since 2024, Manti Te'o has been working as an on-air commentator and analyst for NFL Network, leveraging his football experience in a new career path.
