Diego Maradona Net Worth: Lifestyle & Career
Diego Maradona was a well-known professional soccer player, Argentine football coach, and manager whose net worth was $500,000 at the time of his death.
Maradona died on November 25, 2020, at the age of 60.
Diego was one of the highest-paid athletes in the world in the early 1980s, receiving several million dollars a year in pay and endorsements from businesses like Hublot, Puma, and Coca-Cola.
Maradona is a national hero in Argentina, having led the national team to a World Cup victory in 1986.
Diego’s dribbling technique was exceptional, and he wowed the crowd with stunning runs past numerous defenders.
Many people still see him as one of the greatest footballers of all time. Not to add that when the subject arises, the options usually boil down to Pele or Maradona.
Diego Maradona | Quick Facts
So, here are some quick facts about Diego Maradona, the professional footballer.
| Full Name | Diego Armando Maradona Franco |
| Net Worth | $500,000 |
| Birth Date | October 30, 1960 |
| Birth Place | Lanus, Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Nationality | Argentine |
| Ethnicity | Mixed (Guaraní (Indigenous), Spanish (Basque) & Italian) |
| College | Oregon State University |
| Zodiac Sign | Scorpio |
| Father’s Name | Diego Maradona Senior |
| Mother’s Name | Dalma Salvadora Franco |
| Sibling | Brothers: Hugo Maradona & Raul Maradona Sisters: Ana Maria Maradona, Rita Maradona, Maria Rosa Maradona & Elsa Maradona |
| Age | Died at the age of 60 |
| Weight | 70 kg (155 lbs.) |
| Height | 5 feet 5 inches (1.65m) |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Black |
| Build | Athletic |
| Marital Status | Divorced |
| Spouse | Claudia Villafane (1984- 2004) |
| Children | Sons- Diego Maradona Junior & Diego Fernando Maradona Daughters- Dalma Maradona, Gianinna Maradona & Jana Maradona |
| Affairs/ Girlfriends | Lucia Galan (1981-1982) Cristiana Sinagra (1985) Veronica Ojeda (2013) Rocio Oliva (2014) |
| Profession | Professional Footballer, Talk Show Host, Coach, Manager |
| Jersey Number | 10 |
| Salary | $150,000 (Per Month) |
| Debut | Club- 1976 International- 1977 |
| Team | Argentinos Junior, Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Napoli, Sevilla, Newell’s Old Boys, Argentina National Team |
| Position | Attacking Midfielder |
| Retirement | 1997 |
| Merch | Photo, Tribute Watch, World Cup Photo |
| Social Media | Instagram, Facebook |
| Last Update | December 2024 |
Diego Maradona | Net Worth and Income
Soccer legend Diego Maradona’s net worth was $500,000 at the time of his death.
Between 1984 and 1991, Maradona earned roughly $43 million while guiding Napoli to the Serie A title and helping Argentina win the World Cup – with his memorable Hand of God goal against England in the 1986 quarterfinals – yet he had only $500,000 when he died.
From the start, the well-known footballer drew a large sum of money.
Similarly, endorsements with Coca-Cola, Hublot, and a few other companies helped him ascend the financial ladder. At one point, his net worth was believed to be around $54 million.
Diego Maradona had a tax dispute with the Italian government dating back to his time as a player in Napoli.
Regrettably, his holdings were seized by the Italian tax authorities, and he was forced to pay enormous sums of money—currently estimated at 90,000 Euros.
Diego Maradona made $43 million in salaries between 1984 and 1991. After accounting for inflation, that equates to roughly $100 million in today’s money.
As a Coach
Maradona’s salary as manager of Gimnasia de La Plata, which was likewise a temporary contract until the end of the 2019-20 season, remains unknown.
The former Argentine manager was paid $150,000 (£118k) a month as Dorados’s head coach, equating to $1.6 million (£1.25 million) for the course of his 11-month contract.
Diego Maradona’s Net Worth in Different Currencies
Let’s have a look into Diego Maradona’s net worth in different currencies:
| Currency | Net Worth |
| Euro | € 462,990 |
| Pound Sterling | £ 389,423.25 |
| Australian Dollar | A$ 690,703 |
| Canadian Dollar | C$ 636,800 |
| Indian Rupee | ₹ 38,237,750 |
| Bitcoin | ₿ 12.60 |
Diego Maradona | Cars & Houses
Cars
Maradona had an excellent collection of automobiles, including his first Porsche 924 worth $112,928, a black Ferrari Testarossa, a BMW i8 worth $147,000, and a Rolls-Royce Ghost worth $350,000, all of which were put up for sale at JamesEdition in 2010.
Similarly, Maradona purchased the black Testarossa in 1987, when Ferraris were only available in red.
After Silvester Stallone and Michel Jackson, the footballer became Ferrari’s third customer to park the black Testarossa in his garage.
Moreover, the BMW i8 was one of Maradona’s most recent purchases, which he made while training in the United Arab Emirates.
One of Maradona’s most frequently used automobiles in recent years, the Rolls-Royce Ghost, was apparently included in his estimated $90 million estates.
Houses
Maradona purchased a house in Buenos Aires as part of his initial contract with the Argentinos Juniors in 1978.
The two-story mansion has been turned into a museum so that admirers may learn more about the icon’s early years.
The house, now called the “Maradona ‘House of God’ museum,” first opened its doors to the public in 2016.
Perez, the former Argentinos manager, spent £82,000 on the house.
At an auction on December 19, a house in the Buenos Aires’s upscale neighborhood of Villa Devoto that Diego Maradona gifted his parents after joining the famed Argentine soccer club Boca Juniors in the 1980s had a starting bid of $900,000.
Diego Maradona | Lifestyle
Diego Maradona’s net worth was $500,000 at the time of his death.
Maradona’s personality and style of life appeared to be beyond his means. When he stopped playing football, things got even worse.
Maradona’s post-retirement years were dominated by claims and exorbitant costs, thanks to several lovers and illegitimate offspring, as well as a $50 million tax obligation owed to the Italian authorities.
He luckily survived due to his immense stature and popularity in Argentina and the UAE’s and South America’s strong support, which includes Fidel Castro.
Diego Maradona married Claudia Villafane, his long-time sweetheart, on November 7, 1984. The couple’s two daughters were Dalma Nerea and Giannina Dinorah.
The couple divorced in 2004. He admitted to having an illegitimate kid, Diego Sinagra, who is today the head coach of Eccellenza Campania club Napoli United.
Addiction Issues
Diego Maradona’s cocaine addiction is well-known. From the 1980s through 2004, he was a drug addict, which had a negative influence on his health and profession.
His position did not appear to improve when he suffered a major myocardial infarction in 2004 as a result of a cocaine overdose, despite moving to Cuba and attempting to pursue a drug recovery program.
In 1991, he tested positive for cocaine and was expelled from Napoli. After playing two games in the 1994 World Cup, he tested positive for ephedrine.
Health Problems
Even before retiring from soccer, Maradona’s health and physical fitness began to deteriorate.
His lifestyle began to spin out of control while at Napoli, and he spent the most of the weeks partying.
He quickly became obese, reaching a weight of 280 pounds at one time. To deal with his obesity, he eventually underwent gastric bypass surgery in 2005.
Maradona, on the other hand, continued to misuse alcohol and was hospitalized in 2007 owing to hepatitis and the negative effects of heavy drinking.
In 2018, while watching Argentina play in the FIFA World Cup, he collapsed in the stands and required paramedic assistance.
On November 25, 2020, Maradona died of a heart arrest at his home in Buenos Aires. Just two weeks before his death, Maradona had surgery to remove a blood clot from his brain.
Diego Armando Maradona, who passed away at the age of 60, is regarded as a football god. His manner of life, however, with his addiction demons, had crushed him.
Diego Maradona | Charity
Maradona’s humanitarian activities are underappreciated. He has, however, volunteered for a variety of charities, including UNICEF.
In 2010, he participated in a shootout game hosted by one of his sponsors, Hublot, to help fund $500,000 for a children’s charity.
Diego Maradona | Movies & Investments and Endorsements
Diego Maradona | Movie
Asif Kapadia directed a film on Diego Maradona in 2019 titled Diego Maradona. The movie was based on never-before-seen footage of Argentine footballer Diego Maradona.
It also includes articles written by Diego Maradona after he left FC Barcelona in 1984 to join S.S.C. Napoli, where he won two Serie A titles and the 1988-89 UEFA Cup.
In addition, the film grossed €966,936 ($1,174,464) in the United Kingdom and over $1,443,342 overseas, for a total of $2,617,806.
When it was released in North America, it did not do well at the box office.
Investments and Endorsements
Diego Maradona’s net worth was $500,000.
It’s impossible to deny that Diego Maradona had a difficult existence as he grew older. In his grandeur, though, he received $8 to $10 million in endorsement deals.
The companies that Maradona endorsed became famous around the world because of Maradona’s proud chest and magical feet.
Puma X Maradona
Puma was one of Maradona’s cornerstones. He wore their kits for the majority of his career.
The King Maradona Super, a sneaker devoted to Maradona, was also introduced by the firm.
“Puma is mi major amigo,” meaning “Puma is my best friend,” says a young Maradona in one of the company’s earliest advertisements.
Maradona was also frequently seen sporting Puma clothing.
Coca-Cola
Similarly, another most famous company that Maradona inked a deal with was Coca-Cola.
The Argentine star supported the company in his early days.
Others
Besides the above-mentioned brands, Maradona has endorsed other brands too.
Maradona visited India almost a decade ago to promote a jewelry line created by Kerala businessman Boby Chemmanur.
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Diego Maradona | Career
Diego Maradona made his professional debut with Argentinos Juniors in 1976, just before his sixteenth birthday. During his five years with the club, he played 167 games and scored 115 goals.
Boca Juniors signed him for $4 million in 1981 after he made an immediate impact at the national level.
Similarly, after a disappointing World Cup campaign, he only stayed with the side he grew up supporting for a year before transferring to Barcelona in 1982.
Following the World Cup loss, he was transferred to FC Barcelona in Spain for a world record fee of $5 million.
He was hampered by illness and injuries throughout his career with the club, despite winning the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup.
Meanwhile, he led Argentina to a World Cup victory in 1986. Throughout the tournament, he led his team from the front, asserting his influence in every game.
He scored five goals and made five assists in the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and finals against England, Belgium, and West Germany.
He continued to captain Argentina in the 1990 FIFA World Cup, with the only difference being that he was less powerful than before.
Similarly, he was named head coach of Argentina’s national team in 2008, a position he held for eighteen months until the 2010 World Cup.
Facts About Diego Maradona
- Maradona was awarded the Golden Ball at the 1986 FIFA World Cup.
- In a 2002 FIFA poll, his second goal against England in the quarter-final match of the 1986 World Cup was voted the “Best Goal Ever Scored in a World Cup.” The Argentinos Juniors named their stadium after him the next year.
- Diego used to sleep with his football inside his shirt as a child because he was afraid of it being stolen.
- He was named one of the Greatest 10 World Cup Players of All Time by the New York Times in 2010.
FAQs
What exactly caused Maradona’s death?
After suffering a heart attack, Diego Maradona died on November 25, 2020, at his house in Dique Lujan, Buenos Aires Province.
What was Maradona’s jersey number?
For both FC Barcelona and Argentina, Maradona wore the number 10 jersey.
Is Diego Maradona the greatest player ever?
Diego Maradona has been cited as the greatest ever by legendary soccer players such as Lionel Messi and Zinedine Zidane.
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