While soccer is often seen as a path to wealth, there are players who were affluent before stepping onto the football field. These individuals enjoyed a privileged upbringing, not relying on the beautiful game to establish their wealth. Here are ten well-known footballers who were financially secure before even starting their football careers:
1. Faiq Bolkiah: As a member of the Brunei royal family, Faiq Bolkiah inherited significant wealth, being the nephew of the Sultan of Brunei, whose fortune is estimated at $20 billion. Despite his wealth, Bolkiah pursued a football career, playing for clubs such as Chelsea, Southampton, and Leicester City before joining Thai League 1 club Ratchaburi.
2. Mario Gotze: The German midfielder, famous for securing Germany’s World Cup victory in 2014, comes from a privileged background. His father, Jurgen Gotze, is a renowned professor who worked at Yale University in the 1990s, and Mario’s progression in football is often attributed to his father’s financial support and influence.
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3. Gerard Pique: Known as one of the wealthiest footballers globally, Pique’s family background also contributed to his financial security. His father is a successful legal representative and businessman, his mother serves as a hospital director in Barcelona, and his grandfather has been involved in coaching Barcelona’s youth team.
4. Kaka: Regarded as one of the greatest Brazilian footballers, Kaka hails from a well-off family. His father, an engineer, and his mother, a teacher, provided a comfortable upbringing for the gifted playmaker.
5. Robin Van Persie: The former Arsenal and Manchester United striker, Van Persie, enjoyed financial stability from his upbringing. His parents, respectable artists, supported him throughout his football journey.
6. Ahmed Mido: The original “Egyptian King” Mido, known for his time in the Premier League, is the son of former footballer Hossam Wasfi. After retiring, Hossam successfully established a travel agency, making Mido one of the players who were affluent before football.
7. Gianluca Vialli: Chelsea legend Gianluca Vialli grew up in a lavish 14th-century castle with his parents and siblings. His family’s background was notably affluent, with his mother once stating, “We are bourgeois, that’s what we are.”
8. Hugo Lloris: World Cup-winning goalkeeper Hugo Lloris was born into wealth, with a successful lawyer mother, Marie, and an investment banker father, Luc. Lloris, currently at Tottenham Hotspur, maintains his position as the second-choice goalkeeper.
9. Andrea Pirlo: The legendary midfielder, Andrea Pirlo, hails from a wealthy family in Brescia. His father founded a steel company in 1982, and Pirlo retains a stake in the business.
10. Frank Lampard: A Premier League great, Lampard, comes from a rich family with a father who was a professional footballer for West Ham. His uncle, Harry Redknapp, played a role in Lampard’s Premier League debut.