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Really frugal (not cheap) big-time professional athletes

halfcentmanhalfcentman Posts: 1,498 ✭✭✭
in Sports Talk
Not that I want anyone stalking anyone, but I was wondering if anyone knew of athletes who were very frugal, despite the fact they make millions of dollars per year.

As I stated in the heading, guys like Tiger Woods and LeBron James don't count, because they have lavish spreads but are lousy tippers according to reports.

What I am looking for, as an example, is a guy who makes something like $10M/year who drives a 5-year-old car and lives in a modest home.

It's just a curiousity.

Greg

Comments

  • VikingDudeVikingDude Posts: 1,346 ✭✭✭
    It's probably the ones that you never hear of in the news.
  • coinkatcoinkat Posts: 23,111 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Starting at 10M a year sort of limits the field. I suspect there are some regular guys out there

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  • larryallen73larryallen73 Posts: 6,061 ✭✭✭
    You occasionally read about these guys in Sports Illustrated/ESPN articles. They still drive their old pick-up trucks and stuff like that. Sadly they are few and far between. I just can't remember any names.
  • PowderedH2OPowderedH2O Posts: 2,443 ✭✭
    The Lions used to have a linebacker named Mike Cofer that was known for his budget. He would pack peanut butter sandwiches on road trips and then pocket the food money he was given. Teammates used to make fun of him for his frugality.
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  • orioles93orioles93 Posts: 3,474 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I know he wasnt an athlete and probably isnt the most popular of people right now, but you could say Joe Paterno was one of the most frugal people around. He lived in the same small house for over 50 years, and never once owned a computer. He was always know as being a frugal person even though he made a lot of money.
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  • TheCARDKidTheCARDKid Posts: 1,496 ✭
    I wonder how Warren Buffett has been able to maintain such a simple life. Maybe not as many crazies in Omaha?

    I think he still lives in the same house as 40 years ago, simple routines, neighborhood diners, etc. He's gotten a lot more media exposure in the last 10 years with the internet, CNBC, etc. If he can live peacefully, some of these athletes can probably drive Fords.

    There was a cool Jeter documentary on HBO, 3k hits. He lives in a penthouse/condo in New York.
  • CDC4CDC4 Posts: 276
    David Eckstein, MLB player, was known for his frugal spending, I think ESPN did a story on how he still had his Nissan that he had in the minor leagues.


    I suspect Jeter has other cars, but for the documentary he drove the Ford because it was being filmed and Ford is one of his endorsements.


    Luther Wright, Former NBA Player, purchased an annuity that would pay him $50K a year with his rookie NBA contract.


    Given the alarming statistics of how many professional athletes are broke after playing, more of them should defer portions of their salaries into something that will be paid to them in the future.

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  • perkdogperkdog Posts: 30,658 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Speaking of deffered salary payments...

    The New York Mets placed Bonilla on unconditional waivers in 2000. He spent the 2000 season playing for the Atlanta Braves. The Mets agreed to pay out the remainder of Bonilla's contract by deferring the $5.9 million that he was due. The Mets will pay him 25 equal payments of $1,193,248.20 every July 1 from 2011 until 2035, assuming an annual interest rate of 8% during the period 2011–2035. Im not sure if that was because of Bonilla being frugal or not but that is a sweet and smart deal!
  • CDC4CDC4 Posts: 276
    The Bonilla contract absolutely takes the cake.
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  • royalbrettroyalbrett Posts: 620 ✭✭✭
    I'm sure it would be no surprise to anyone, but I heard that Barry Sanders drove a car that was a few years old back when he was playing.
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  • stownstown Posts: 11,321 ✭✭✭
    There's the long standing rumor that Joe D would wash his car by driving in the rain, rather than paying for a car wash.
    So basically my kid won't be able to go to college, but at least I'll have a set where the three most expensive cards are of a player I despise ~ CDsNuts
  • halfcentmanhalfcentman Posts: 1,498 ✭✭✭


    << <i>I'm sure it would be no surprise to anyone, but I heard that Barry Sanders drove a car that was a few years old back when he was playing. >>



    Thanks for the posts, guys.

    My grandfather used to tend bar at the Hillside, NJ Elks in the 1950's and early 1960's. Phil Rizzuto would sit at the bar drinking water, waiting for someone to say "Hey, you're Phil Rizzuto, let me buy you a drink."

    He also did not tip well. "Cheaper than a free lunch, but a nice guy" my grandfather called him to his dying day.
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