Five footballers who became incredibly rich including Arsenal hero turned billionaire

The former Arsenal star is just one player who has gone to make an enormous amount of money

Numerous professional footballers secure their financial futures upon retirement, courtesy of the extraordinary wages they command in today's game. Yet, there exists an exclusive group who have surpassed even that threshold and attained a level of prosperity most can only imagine.

Indeed, an ex-Arsenal midfielder is one of those. The Gunners icon is joined by an icon of the English game and two former Manchester United players who have subsequently ascended the ranks to eye-watering fortunes.

Completing the list, astonishingly, is an exceptionally wealthy forward who remains active. Here, we examine five footballers who have accumulated enormous bank balances.

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Mathieu Flamini

Former Arsenal midfielder Flamini founded GF Biochemicals nine years prior to retiring from professional football. He subsequently took on the position of CEO and is reported to possess a net worth of roughly £10bn

GF Biochemicals aims to provide a more environmentally friendly alternative to petrochemicals, facilitating product production whilst safeguarding the environment. Flamini has previously shared his post-football business ambitions, saying: "As a child I had two passions: football and sustainability."

The French midfielder made 246 appearances during two spells with the Gunners, leaving on a free transfer in 2017. The 42-year-old had two separate tenures at Arsenal, initially from 2004 to 2008 and then returning to the Emirates Stadium in 2013.

Louis Saha

The former United favourite now possesses a multi-billion net worth that exceeds his ex-United colleague Cristiano Ronaldo's by more than seven times. The French striker, now 47, featured at Old Trafford from 2004 to 2008.

He experienced a prosperous spell at Old Trafford, securing two league titles, the Champions League and the League Cup under Sir Alex Ferguson. His company 'AxisStars' is currently valued at a remarkable £4.3bn.

The extraordinary net worth of Saha's enterprise positions it over seven times Ronaldo's substantial £600m. The firm, co-founded by Kate Hamer, specialises in linking "professional athletes and entertainers, their peers and trusted partners".

Discussing his venture, Saha has said: "It is a hard process but it's so rewarding, because if I can help 100,000 people, it's the best thing I've ever done."

David Beckham

During his playing days, Beckham accumulated substantial wealth through wages, including the considerable sums from his LA Galaxy deal, where he reportedly earned £188m, alongside his multiple profitable endorsement agreements. He remains financially active through various sponsorship partnerships, as well as his ownership stake in Major League Soccer side Inter Miami.

The former England skipper invested in Miami during 2020 and has subsequently achieved worldwide prominence following the acquisition of Lionel Messi, with the franchise now valued at over £1bn.

As early as 2017, Beckham was estimated to have accumulated an impressive £600m throughout his career. The majority of his wealth today has been generated away from football, having secured partnerships with major corporations including Emporio Armani, Gillette, PepsiCo, H&M, Breitling and Adidas throughout the years, amongst others. His total net worth currently stands at approximately £415m.

Martin Braithwaite

At just 34, Danish star Braithwaite has amassed his wealth through property, a restaurant and a clothing brand. Branthwaite has even earned a spot on Forbes' list as one of the wealthiest footballers currently.

Now plying his trade for Brazilian Serie A team Gremio, the former Barcelona and Espanyol striker invested approximately £617,000 in 2017 alongside his uncle, which has since grown to £7.2m.

By the close of 2021, the venture had expanded to 25 times its original size, with Braithwaite and his uncle possessing 1,500 flats and an additional 500 under construction. His estimated net worth is around £220m.

Discussing his enthusiasm for property, he said: "It started with our family having been in the real estate business for a long time. Here, you will find that one of the ways you can build a fortune and secure your future financially is by investing in real estate."

Dave Whelan

Former Wigan Athletic owner Whelan boasted greater wealth than United legend Beckham during his peak years. The 89 year old held the position of chairman and proprietor of the current League One side for two decades, guiding them through an eight-season spell in the top flight, culminating in an FA Cup final triumph against Manchester City in 2013.

Whilst Whelan has stepped away from active involvement in football, he remains a prominent figure in British sport through his ownership of the retail chain JJB Sports.

Following the end of his playing days with Blackburn Rovers and Crewe Alexandra, he amassed his wealth by founding the chain, leveraging his market-trading experience.

The Sunday Times Sport Rich List valued Whelan's net worth at a substantial £190m, considerably exceeding Beckham's estimated £135m during that period. Whelan's fortune today is now calculated at over £162m.