Manti Te'o has built a net worth of $3.5 million. The former NFL linebacker showed remarkable financial resilience and rebuilt his career after facing a major controversy that could have derailed his professional journey.
His NFL career brought him total earnings of about $10.4 million. The 2018 season proved most lucrative as he earned $1.7 million with the New Orleans Saints. Te'o played for several teams throughout his career, including the San Diego Chargers, New Orleans Saints, and Chicago Bears.
The 38th overall pick in the second round saw his career take an unexpected turn. A catfishing scandal made headlines and put him on America's Most Disliked Athletes list in 2013.
This piece takes a closer look at how Te'o built his $3.5 million fortune. We'll get into how the notorious hoax affected his career financially and explore his path to redemption. The story covers everything from his NFL contracts to his life beyond professional football, showing his complete financial comeback journey.
Manti Te’o’s Net Worth in 2025
Let's tuck into Manti Te'o's financial standing in 2025 and learn about how former NFL players rebuild their careers and finances after facing major personal challenges. His trip from a highly touted college prospect to someone who overcame one of sports' most bizarre scandals shows us what resilience and financial recovery look like.
How much is Manti Te'o worth today?
Manti Te'o's net worth stands at approximately $3.5 million in 2025. This number represents a remarkable achievement given the obstacles in his professional career. The amount might seem modest compared to NFL stars with nine-figure contracts, but it shows how Te'o knows how to manage his finances well despite career-altering circumstances.
His current financial position comes from both his NFL earnings and smart post-playing career decisions. Te'o has spread his income across different sources instead of depending only on the money he made during his playing days.
Te'o's financial trip hasn't been smooth sailing. The infamous catfishing scandal hit his draft stock hard, so his rookie contract took a hit too. Notwithstanding that, he landed deals with multiple NFL teams before moving to opportunities outside the league.
Sources contributing to his $3.5 million net worth
Te'o's wealth comes mainly from his NFL career earnings. He earned about $10.4 million in total salary during his seven seasons in the league. The New Orleans Saints gave him his biggest payday in 2018 at $1.7 million.
Te'o has added to his income through several channels:
- Media and broadcasting work – Te'o switched to media appearances after retirement and works with the NFL Network as an analyst. This role pays well and keeps him connected to football.
- Real estate investments – Te'o puts some of his money into property investments like many former athletes. While his portfolio details stay private, real estate usually helps retired professional athletes get stable long-term returns.
- Public speaking engagements – Te'o's life story makes him an engaging speaker on topics from resilience to mental health. His personal story creates speaking opportunities that bring both money and a platform to advocate.
- The Netflix documentary boost – Netflix's "Untold: The Girlfriend Who Didn't Exist" in 2022 brought Te'o back into the spotlight. The documentary helped fix his public image and created new chances for media appearances and endorsements that had disappeared after the scandal.
Te'o has also started exploring startup investments that match his interests. These investments usually make up a smaller part of athletes' portfolios but can pay off big when they work out.
His money management strategy aims for steady growth instead of flashy spending.
This approach works well for him and helps maintain financial stability even though his NFL career didn't reach the heights predicted during his amazing college years at Notre Dame.
On top of that, Te'o has become a mental health advocate. While this might not make him much money directly, it helps rebuild his personal brand and opens doors to other opportunities that might have stayed closed otherwise.
NFL Career and Contract History
Manti Te'o started his NFL trip with great promise, but faced challenges that shaped his financial future. His seven-season professional career saw earnings go up and down as he dealt with injuries, switched teams, and had varying performance levels.
San Diego Chargers: Rookie contract and early injuries
The San Diego Chargers picked Te'o 38th overall in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He signed a four-year deal worth $5.17 million. His rookie contract came with a $2.14 million signing bonus and guaranteed money over $3.10 million.
Te'o's early pro years were tough due to injuries that kept him off the field. He signed his contract just a day before his first NFL practice. A right foot injury in the preseason opener against the Seattle Seahawks delayed his debut. This kept him out of the rest of preseason and the first regular season game.
He made his NFL debut in week 4 against the Dallas Cowboys with three tackles. His time with the Chargers was marked by several injuries:
- 2013: Missed games due to foot injury
- 2014: Fractured foot in September limited him to 10 games
- 2015: Ankle injury sidelined him for four mid-season games
- 2016: Tore his Achilles tendon in September, ending his season
Te'o still managed to record his career-best 82 tackles in the 2015 season.
New Orleans Saints: Peak salary and performance
Te'o moved to the New Orleans Saints in March 2017 after his injury-filled time with the Chargers. He signed a two-year, $5 million contract with $600,000 guaranteed. These years brought him his highest NFL earnings.
His biggest payday came in 2018 at $1.7 million. Te'o's first Saints season was solid as he led the team in tackles for loss. His role dropped in 2018 when he played in just five games despite being healthy.
The Saints brought Te'o back in December 2019 for about $805,000. He earned $189,411 of that amount while playing just three games.
Chicago Bears: Final NFL stint
Te'o's pro career wrapped up with the Chicago Bears. He joined their practice squad in October 2020 and earned $132,000. His Bears stint was short – he landed on the COVID-19 list in December 2020 before returning to the practice squad later that month.
His last NFL game was on January 9, 2021. The Bears moved him to the active roster for their wild card playoff loss against his old team, the Saints. His NFL career officially ended when his practice squad contract expired on January 18, 2021.
Total NFL earnings and bonuses
Te'o earned about $10.4 million during his eight-year NFL career. His earnings broke down like this:
- Base salary: $6.59 million
- Signing bonuses: $2.74 million
- Roster bonuses: $750,000
- Per-game roster bonuses: $1 million
- Workout bonuses: $100,000
The Chargers paid Te'o his biggest single-season amount in his rookie year (2013) at $2.54 million. He played for three NFL teams, with the Chargers making up about half his career earnings at $5.17 million.
The Catfishing Scandal and Its Financial Fallout
The catfishing scandal that shook Manti Te'o's life became the biggest factor that affected his net worth and earning potential. A heartbreaking story of loss ended up becoming one of sports' most bizarre controversies, with lasting money problems.
How the hoax unfolded
The deception started around 2009 when Te'o connected with "Lennay Kekua" on Facebook during his freshman year at Notre Dame. Their relationship grew through messages and phone calls, but they never met in person. Te'o received devastating news in September 2012 that both his grandmother and "girlfriend" had died within hours of each other.
Te'o dedicated his stellar senior season to their memories, and the story caught national attention. His performance led Notre Dame to an undefeated regular season and earned him Heisman Trophy finalist status. Everything changed in January 2013 when Deadspin published an investigation that showed Kekua never existed.
Ronaiah Tuiasosopo (who later came out as a transgender woman named Naya) created the fictional persona using another woman's photos. Notre Dame and Te'o had found the truth as early as December 26, 2012, but stayed quiet until after their national championship game.
Impact on draft position and lost earnings
Te'o was projected as a potential top-five or at least first-round NFL draft pick before the scandal. He dropped to the second round (38th overall) in the 2013 draft instead. This drop devastated his earnings.
The money impact hit hard and fast. His rookie contract with the Chargers came to $5.17 million over four years with a $2.14 million signing bonus. A 15th overall pick, his projected position, would have earned him about $9.4 million with a $5.2 million signing bonus.
The effects snowballed through his career. A similar player drafted 15th in 2013 earned $28.5 million over their career, while Te'o's total NFL earnings reached just $10.4 million – an $18 million difference.
Public backlash and media scrutiny
Te'o's financial losses came with brutal public mockery. Saturday Night Live parodied him, internet memes ridiculed him, and high-profile media personalities questioned his sexuality.
The media frenzy placed Te'o among "America's Most Disliked Athletes" next to Tiger Woods and Lance Armstrong. News coverage never let up, and he became what one source called "a walking punch-line".
The mental toll hit just as hard. Te'o later shared that he played his first three NFL seasons with constant anxiety and felt "numb" on the field. This affected his performance and, as a result, his earning potential.
The Netflix Documentary and Public Redemption
Netflix released a documentary that helped restore Manti Te'o's reputation and supported his personal healing. This came almost ten years after a catfishing scandal damaged his career prospects.
Overview of 'Untold: The Girlfriend Who Didn't Exist'
"Untold: The Girlfriend Who Didn't Exist" became Netflix's #2 movie right after its release on August 16, 2022. Tony Vainuku and Ryan Duffy directed this two-part documentary that gave a complete look at the hoax that made Te'o a national joke.
The documentary stood out from earlier coverage because it featured detailed conversations with the core team. Te'o, his family, and Naya Tuiasosopo (formerly Ronaiah), who created the fake Lennay Kekua character, all participated. Te'o wanted Tuiasosopo to take part and explained, "I wanted it to be the story… when this thing comes out I don't want it to just be one-sided".
How the documentary changed public perception
Public opinion about Te'o changed dramatically after the documentary aired. Many people who once ridiculed him now showed support and apologized. The documentary showed his human side and revealed how the scandal caused severe anxiety during his first three years with the Chargers.
The documentary's impact reached far beyond expectations. Te'o shared, "It's been amazing, bro, because it's been global. People in France, people in Germany, people in Africa. I've gotten messages in different languages".
Te'o's response and emotional healing
Te'o found emotional closure through his participation in the documentary. He watched it with his family in Utah and called it "a healing experience". His Instagram post after the release showed gratitude for all the support: "It's been amazing to me to hear the battles that we're all facing… and how the documentary has given some of us hope".
Te'o's public forgiveness of Tuiasosopo in the documentary became a powerful moment: "I want everybody to know that if Ronaiah ever watches this, that I forgive him". This forgiveness helped him heal as he explained, "Forgiveness is powerful because, one, it's not only for the person that you're forgiving. It's also for yourself".
Life After the NFL: Business, Media, and Advocacy
Manti Te'o has built his $3.5 million net worth through business ventures, media work, and advocacy since leaving professional football.
Real estate and startup investments
Te'o jumped into entrepreneurship after his NFL career. He now leads HI 5 Homes, LLC and started Ohana Homes and Investing in San Diego. His property holdings stretch between San Diego and his home state of Hawaii. "I'm in real estate, I'm getting into oil companies in Texas, I'm doing commercial stuff, single-family home stuff, just stuff everywhere," Te'o said in a 2019 interview.
Te'o's investment portfolio goes beyond real estate. He puts money into tech startups like GrubMarket food delivery, Jaunt virtual reality, an unnamed ride-sharing app, and a mobile gaming platform. This smart mix of investments in different sectors helps protect and grow his wealth.
Media career with NFL Network
NFL Network welcomed Te'o as an analyst in 2024. He brings "passion, enthusiasm, and expertise to the sport's biggest stories" on shows like "Good Morning Football" and "GMFB: Overtime". A 2025 report shows Te'o stepped into a full-time role after Akbar Gbajabiamila left. He also joined Netflix's NFL Christmas Day games coverage.
Public speaking and mental health advocacy
Te'o has become a powerful voice for resilience and growth. His speech at the 2019 Hawaii Hall of Honor banquet was called "one of the most revealing and soulful messages ever heard". He now speaks about mental health, forgiveness, and resilience, earning $15,000 to $25,000 per talk.
Mental health stays at the heart of his post-NFL life. "I still see a therapist," Te'o shared. "I truly believe that mental health is one of the most important things… in order to love anyone else you have to love yourself first". He joined Transcend, a telehealth company that helps athletes, in July 2022.
Conclusion
Manti Te'o's financial comeback proves his resilience, building a $3.5 million net worth despite career setbacks. This piece shows how he bounced back from one of sports' most bizarre scandals to rebuild his reputation and finances. His NFL career earnings reached $10.4 million, even though he dropped from a projected first-round draft pick to the 38th selection.
The catfishing scandal severely affected his potential earnings. He lost roughly $18 million compared to his projected draft position. All the same, he showed remarkable resilience by broadening his income streams after football. His smart moves into real estate investments, startup ventures, and his NFL Network role helped maintain his financial stability.
Netflix's documentary "Untold: The Girlfriend Who Didn't Exist" changed Te'o's public image completely. People worldwide shifted their view of him from a punchline to someone they admired for his forgiveness and perseverance. His redemption story ended up creating fresh opportunities that had disappeared after the scandal.
Te'o's experience teaches valuable lessons about bouncing back financially. His diverse portfolio spans real estate, tech startups, media work, and public speaking. His patient and authentic approach to rebuilding his personal brand shines through his mental health advocacy and message of forgiveness.
Te'o's financial future looks bright. His expanding media presence with NFL Network and entrepreneurial ventures set him up for continued growth. Though his NFL career didn't match early projections, his business sense after football created a sustainable future.
His story reminds us that personal redemption often leads to financial success. The scandal temporarily knocked his earnings off course, but knowing how to rebuild both his reputation and finances shows his character. Few athletes have faced such intense public scrutiny, yet Te'o stands financially stable and inspires others by turning personal tragedy into triumph.
FAQs
Q1. What is Manti Te'o's current net worth?
Manti Te'o's net worth is estimated at $3.5 million, primarily accumulated from his NFL career earnings and post-football ventures.
Q2. How did the catfishing scandal impact Te'o's NFL earnings?
The scandal caused Te'o to drop in the NFL draft, potentially costing him around $18 million in career earnings compared to his initial draft projections.
Q3. What is Manti Te'o doing now after his NFL career?
Te'o currently works as an on-air commentator and analyst for NFL Network, and is involved in real estate investments and various business ventures.
Q4. How has the Netflix documentary affected Te'o's public image?
The documentary "Untold: The Girlfriend Who Didn't Exist" has significantly improved Te'o's public perception, transforming him from a subject of ridicule to an admired figure of resilience and forgiveness.
Q5. What other income sources contribute to Te'o's current net worth?
Besides his NFL Network role, Te'o's income sources include real estate investments, tech startup ventures, public speaking engagements, and mental health advocacy work.
