Photo by: Mark Robinson/ Stringer/ Getty

The 2016 UEFA European Championship is currently underway and a lot of England’s success in the tournament, both Thursday against Wales and beyond, is relying on captain and forward Wayne Rooney. And with the increased attention the Euro 2016 has received in the United States, where soccer (or football, if you prefer) doesn’t receive the same level of attention as the rest of the world, search phrases such as “Wayne Rooney net worth” and questions such as “How old is Wayne Rooney?” have begun to trend as people seek more info about this man they’re being told is an ace player.

That said, just how rich is Wayne Rooney? Well, he’s about $145.0 million rich!

That’s right, the 30-year-old is currently reported to be worth $145.0 million, making him one of the world’s highest-paid athletes—in the top 50 for all sports and the top 10 for soccer. Aside from his important current role leading the England football team, Rooney is also the captain of Manchester United and, at least at one point, was the richest player in the Premier League. This should come as no surprise given his storied and successful football career.

Wayne Rooney Net Worth Breakdown

Net Worth $145.0 million
Annual Income (2016) $53.8 million
Annual Income (2012) $32.6 million
Salary $26.1 million
Manchester United 4-Year Contract $104.0 million
Initial Everton Contract Over $18,000/week
Endorsements $6.0 million
Value of Cheshire House (Mansion) $17.8 million

Beginnings

Born in 1985, Wayne Rooney was born in Croxteth, Liverpool, and is of Irish descent. He began his football career in Everton, on the Liverpool Schoolboys, where he got his first of many career achievements, setting a record for most goals in one season with 72 (the record was broken in 2010). His senior debut came in August of 2002, though a defining moment wouldn’t come until October when his last-minute goal ended Arsenal’s 30-game unbeaten streak.

In 2004, Rooney signed a contract with Manchester United for a salary of about $36.0 million, the highest pay for a player under 20 ever (Rooney was 18 at the time). He made a powerful debut with the team on September 28, 2004, scoring a hat trick; this was another record, as he became the youngest player in the Champions League to do so. His first trophy with the team came in 2006, when Manchester United won the League Cup, with Rooney scoring twice in the final.

Wayne Rooney Stats

Since his debut, Wayne Rooney has accumulated quite a resume in the world of professional soccer. Over the course of his career, which includes 700 games and almost 55,000 minutes on the field, Rooney has scored 313 goals: 17 with Everton (2002-2004), 245 with Manchester United (2004-present), and 51 with the England national football team (2003-present). He has also picked up numerous accolades, including several Player of the Year awards and three PFA Premier League Team of the Year awards (which, despite the name, is given to individuals). This is on top of the various championships he has won with Manchester United, such as their five Premier League victories.

Personal Life

Wayne Rooney’s relationship with wife Coleen Rooney (née McLoughlin) is a high school romance. The pair met in secondary school, and they married in 2008 after having been together for six years. He claimed to have lived a wild life before getting married, including paying for the services of prostitutes, calling himself “young and stupid.” Mrs. Rooney is a celebrity in her own right, being a TV personality even before her marriage.

The Rooneys have three sons together. The couple welcomed their first child, son Kai Wayne, in November of 2009, followed by the second, Klay Anthony, in May of 2013. The third and most recent son, Kit Joseph, was born just this year, in January. The family lives in a lavish house in Cheshire, which is said to have cost $17.8 million.

Rooney’s personal life, however, has not been without controversy. In 2006, British tabloids accused the star of assaulting his wife at a nightclub. These accusations were proved false, and the tabloids were forced to pay approximately $142,000 in damages, which Rooney gave to charity. He was also sued for libel by his former Everton manager due to claims made in his autobiography; Rooney apologized and they settled out of court.

Thanks to his fame and subsequent riches, Rooney also keeps an impressive car collection featuring many expensive, high-class vehicles. Included in his collection are an Aston Martin Vanquish, a Bentley Continental, a Mini Cooper, an Audi RS6, and a Lamborghini Gallardo.

Endorsements

As with any major celebrity athlete, Wayne Rooney holds many endorsement deals for popular products. Deals over the course of his football career include Nike, Ford, Nokia, and British supermarket chain Asda. He also once had a deal with Coca-Cola, but that relationship ended due to a matter relating to Rooney’s private life. The star also has an ongoing book deal with HarperCollins to pen five books over 12 years, of which three have been released so far. Overall, his endorsement deals are estimated to add about $6.0 million to his net worth.

Sources:

“Wayne Rooney Net Worth,” Celebrity Net Worth, last accessed June 15, 2016; http://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-athletes/richest-soccer/wayne-rooney-net-worth/.

“Wayne Rooney,” Forbes, last accessed June 15, 2016; http://www.forbes.com/profile/wayne-rooney/.

Arrowsmith, R., “Sunday Times Sport Rich List 2013: Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney tops Premier League players with £51m fortune,” The Daily Mirror, April 27, 2013; http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/sunday-times-sport-rich-list-1857552.

Badenhausen, K., “Wayne Rooney Signs $104 Million Contract With Manchester United,” Forbes, http://www.forbes.com/sites/kurtbadenhausen/2014/02/22/wayne-rooney-signs-104-million-contract-with-manchester-united/#52cbd46814dc.

Fifield, D., “Rooney signs Everton deal and starts on £13,000 a week,” The Guardian, January 18, 2003; https://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/jan/18/newsstory.sport2.

“Stats,” Official Wayne Rooney web site, last accessed June 15, 2016; http://www.officialwaynerooney.com/stats.

Roy, S., “Wayne Rooney Net Worth 2016,” Sporteology.com, April 29, 2016; http://sporteology.com/wayne-rooney-net-worth-2016/

Gaines, C., “WAYNE ROONEY: How England’s Biggest Soccer Star Makes And Spends His Millions,” Business Insider, May 30, 2014; http://www.businessinsider.com/wayne-rooney-salary-cars-houses-2014-5?op=1.