Pele

Pele is a great Brazilian footballer who has a staggering $115 million net worth. Pele wore the number 10 jersey for the Brazilian national team and a few other teams. However, seeing such a large sum attributed to him is not shocking.

He was the highest-earning athlete of his time, hailed as the greatest Brazilian to ever walk the pitch and one of the best players of his time.

Childhood

Pele was born on October 23, 1940, in the municipality of Tres Coracoes, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

His previous name was Edson Arantes do Nascimento.

He is the son of Fluminense footballers Dondinho and Celeste Arantes.

Similarly, Dondinho and Celeste named their son after Thomas Edison, the famed inventor.

Furthermore, as a child, he lived in poverty near Bauru, Sao Paulo.

He would work as a servant to make ends meet. His father was also the one who introduced him to football.

He would wrap socks and newspaper and bind them with a string because he couldn’t afford to buy a genuine ball.

Pele began his career as a member of amateur teams such as Sete de Setembro, Canto do Rio, So Paulinho, and Amériquinha.

Regardless of these stops, the Brazilian sharpened his skills in indoor sports.

Facts of Pele

Net Worth | Football Salary & Earnings

Pele accumulated a $15 million fortune throughout the course of his 37-year career.

Declaring him a national treasure by then-Brazilian President Lula da Silva only served to enhance his image and greatly increase his compensation.

He also set a record for scoring the most goals for a single club, Santos FC.

During his career, the legend spent two decades with Santos FC, and as he neared retirement, he transferred to the New York Cosmos, where he spent three seasons.

While this may be accurate, the real remuneration given to him by Santos FC is not publicly disclosed.

Similarly, when the Brazilian national treasure joined the New York Cosmos, he earned about $6 million by the end of his contract.

In addition, he made roughly $14 million in sponsorship deals.

On today’s footballing contracts and salary, the amount he made throughout his playing career may appear insignificant, but keep in mind that he was the highest-paid player in any sport.

Even at the age of 79, the great player earns more in a year than we do in a lifetime. he made a total of $15 million through football alone.

Films, Endorsements, and Book Publications

Pele’s principal source of income after retiring from playing was sponsorship deals.

He agreed to promote Puma, Hublot, Volkswagen, Subway, Emirates, and Santander as a result of this. To far, the retiring legend has made about $14 million from commercial contracts.

UNESCO, on the other hand, named the Brazilian Goodwill Ambassador in 1994.

He was named Extraordinary Minister of Sport by Brazilian President Fernando Henrique Cardoso because of his inspirational role.

After only a brief time in office, the football icon presented a law to combat football corruption, which is now known as the Pele Law.

When he was accused of laundering UNICEF funds, he elected to resign from his position.

Following that, the retired Santos great established a television firm to broadcast matches and other international competitions.

The company’s current state is hardly discussed in the media these days.

The renowned footballer had the opportunity to reflect on his life’s accomplishments, low times, and family after his retirement. As a result, he wrote a number of memoirs.

His novels were well-received and became best-sellers in his home Brazil and several other countries, making him a star in and out of the football world.

Similarly, he made his acting debut in 1969 with the television series Os Estranhos.

Not only that, but the Brazilian would return to filmmaking with a few more documentaries and films.

His popularity isn’t going away anytime soon, despite his retirement and aging body.

It’s because he’s in a position of authority, is a natural social worker, and travels as a guest of honor for various events on occasion.

Houses, Lifestyles, and Automobiles

The iconic retired star, known as The King, has a slew of financial assets and other properties acquired during and after his rise to fame.

It is safe to say that the Brazilian owns a wide range of cars and estates, and that he lives a lavish lifestyle.

Reportedly in January of 2018, the Brazilian purchased a house that has a value of $4 million.

The house is complete with a swimming pool, jacuzzi, sauna, a home office, a sports room, and a parking lot. With the sound of that, it must be quite lavish.

The compound is estimated to be laid out on a large acre of land. Similarly, the legend also purchased a sweet retreat at 156 Waterhole Road, near East End Waterfront, for a cheap $156k.

At present, the Hamptons retreat has a value of around $2.5 million. The house is spread on 3400 square foot land.

It is another extravagant property that he owns, which includes a pool, an outdoor shower, and a deeded access to a nearby beach.

In like manner, the property comprises a spacious, modern kitchen and an entertainment deck with a living room double the standard size. Finally, the Brazilian-born owns a beautiful collection of cars.

These range from Maserati, Jeep, Mercedes, and Fiat. Currently, the star maintains a low profile while roaming about and hence drives a modest Fiat 500.

Along with these, he highly treasures the cars he drove in his youth and proudly keeps them in his vintage collections.

Jersey

For the Brazilian national team and a few other teams, he wore the number 10 jersey. The number 10 is regarded as significant in Brazil and other countries since it was worn by a football icon.

Both Neymar and Ronaldinho have the same number. Here’s a shot of the renowned player in his number 10 jersey:

If we just look at the officially recognized fixtures, he scored 92 hat-tricks, which translates to 276 goals. In addition, in those 92 games, he scored more goals than most strikers do in their whole careers.

He scored 95 goals in 114 games for Brazil, and FIFA awarded him 77 goals from 92 recognized caps. As a result, he holds the record for most goals scored in Brazil.

He was the youngest player ever to be nominated to a World Cup squad, at the age of 17. He was also the youngest player ever to play in the World Cup.

These records have now been shattered. He, on the other hand, is the youngest player to ever win the World Cup.

Legacy

It is understood as synonymous with the word football. Him, the legendary footballer, is, in fact, considered the brand ambassador of football globally.

The Brazilian government considers him a national hero and a national treasure.

When the Nigerian Civil War unfolded throughout the 1960s and 1970s, it was stated that Brazil’s Santos F.C. would visit Lagos to demonstrate a few exhibition matches.

He played with the Santos F.C. then. The Nigerian government then demanded a two-day truce to allow the country to watch his play.

He is also regarded as the “Man Who Stopped the War” because his “football wizardry” halted the rioting.

He created a universe where football was redefined and footballers were loved even more. He also made history as the first athlete to appear on the cover of a video game.

A plaque was placed in the stadium to commemorate the renowned footballer’s goal in the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

“On this pitch on 5/3/1961, he scored the finest goal in the history of the Maracana,” the inscription reads.

When you say the term “football,” one out of every five individuals automatically thinks of him, and vice versa.

He is regarded as a role model for hundreds of people around the world, not just for what he accomplished on the field, but also for his excellent personality.

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Disease and Health

When his health was at its best, the football legend scored the most points. It is unavoidable for the human body to develop ailments as it ages.

His son revealed in February 2020 that the renowned football player is suffering from depression and rarely leaves the house. Him, on the other hand, ignores his son’s accusation of sadness.

He considers himself to be comfortable with aging and sees it as a wonderful phenomenon.

His health issues are worsening, making it impossible for him to move normally. The man who was famed for his kicking and running now has mobility issues.

He’s already embarked on the perilous 80s adventure.

We hope he becomes accustomed to the changes that come with growing older. May the renowned footballer live a long and happy life.