Pelé Net Worth: Soccer Career & Lifestyle
The man whose name is synonymous with soccer; ambassador of world soccer, the man himself, Pelé’s net worth is an astonishing $100 million.
Hailing from the remotest place imaginable and having reached the top of the game, the legend’s wealth is the last thing that resembles him.
One of the most famous figures in sports, Pelé is regarded as the greatest player of all time. As a matter of fact, FIFA has labeled him “the greatest.”
To date, the who’s who in soccer, Pelé, has several unchallenged records that can easily overwhelm the so-called GOAT of today’s generation.
In 1999, International Olympic Committee named Pelé Athlete of the Century.
Similarly, Time listed him as one of the 100 Most Important People of the 20th Century.
Talking about his achievements, Pelé has scored 1,279 goals in 1,363 games, a far cry from today’s generation’s players reach.
The number is also recognized as a Guinness World Record.
Pelé | Quick Facts
Before getting to the specifics, here are a few known facts about the legendary footballer Pelé:
| Birth Name | Edson Arantes Do Nascimento |
| Known As | Pelé |
| Net Worth | $100 Million |
| Date of Birth | October 23, 1940 |
| Place of Birth | Três Corações, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil |
| Nick Name | Dico |
| Religion | Christian |
| Nationality | Brazilian |
| Zodiac | Scorpio |
| Ethnicity | Afro-Brazilian |
| Languages | English, Brazilian |
| Qualifications |
|
| Father | João Ramos do Nascimento (Dondinho) |
| Mother | Celeste Arantes |
| Siblings | Zeca Nascimento (Borther) and Maria Lúcia Nascimento (Sister) |
| Children | Kelly Cristina, Jennifer, Edson, Joshuwa, Celesta, Sandra Machado, and Flavia Kurtz |
| Age | 84 Years Old |
| Height | 5′ 8″/1.73 m/173 cm |
| Weight | 80 kg/178 lbs |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Distinctive Features | Big Eyes, Thin Lips, Downward Pointed Nose |
| Sexual Orientation | Straight |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Spouse’s Name | Marcia Aoki |
| Partners | Anizia Machado, Rosemeri dos Reis Cholbi, Lenita Kurtz , Maria da Graça “Xuxa” Meneghe, Assíria Lemos Seixas |
| Profession | Football Player, Humanitarian, Actor, Film Producer |
| Manager | Pelé Comércio Empreendimentos Participações Ltda |
| Shirt Number | 10 |
| Positions | Attacking Midfielder, Forward |
| Teams | New York Cosmos, Brazilian National Team, Santos |
| Active Since | 1953-Present |
| First Match | Santos FC (1956) |
| First Film | O Preço da Vitória (1959) |
| First TV Show | Os Estranhos (1969) |
| Favorite Player | Bile |
| Endorsements | Hublot, Puma, Subway, Emirates, Santander, Volkswagen, Emirates, Procter & Gamble, Santander, Golazo |
| Social Media | Instagram, Facebook, Twitter |
| Merch | Signed Shirt Brazil, Signed Bicycle Kick Photo, Edson Signed Baseball |
| Last Update | December 2024 |
Pelé | Net Worth & Income
The greatest soccer player of all time, Pelé’s net worth as of December 2024 is an astounding $100 million.
Pelé has amassed a sensational net worth from his extremely successful and lucrative soccer career.
In addition to soccer salaries, Pelé garnered quite a handsome amount from his brand sponsorships and clever investments.
Known for his tremendous sportsmanship on the field, Pelé has bagged an astonishing fortune enough for him to be one of the highest-earning athletes in the world.
The man spent more than 37 years of his career on the field chasing the checkered round object and earned $15 million.
In addition to that, he was declared a national treasure by the Brazilian President which only aided in boosting his reputation and considerably bumped his paycheck.
The soccer legend bagged roughly $14 million through his endorsement deals with some prominent companies.
While his actual salary from Santos FC is not available to the public, he must have made a fortune from the club, considering the 18 years he spent with them.
In 1975, Pelé signed the most lucrative deal of his career with the New York Cosmos of the National Independent Soccer Association.
His three-year contract paid him $7 million pretax.
About $2 million from the contract went to Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as a tax.
So, Pelé earned $5 million from Cosmos, which equates to around $26 million in today’s money.
Let’s not forget the fact that this happened way before soccer became mainstream worldwide.
Net Worth of Pelé in Different Currencies
Let’s exchange Pelé’s net worth in different currencies, including the cryptocurrency Bitcoin.
| Currency | Net Worth |
| Euro | €94.83 Million |
| Pound Sterling | £79,53 Million |
| Australian Dollar | A$141.50 Million |
| Canadian Dollar | C$128.43 Million |
| Indian Rupee | ₹7,652,330,000 |
| Brazilian Real | R$497.27 Million |
| Bitcoin | ฿2,633.59 |
Pelé | Houses & Cars
Houses
Soccer legend Pelé had a beautiful waterfront home in East Hampton, New York, United States.
He had purchased the mansion back in 1979 for $156,000.
Over the years, he had extended the home into a luxurious 3,500 square feet abode.
Needless to say that the house had beach access.
However, in 2018, he sold the lavish home for $2.85 million.
Aside from that, Pelé currently enjoys his retired life on his turf of Brazil.
Cars
So what’s more exciting than his East Hamptons home?
Well, his car collection!
Over the years, Pelé has purchased some of the sickest wheels, enough to make any car fanatic drool.
Though he bought luxury cars later in his career, his first car, however, was Volkswagen Beetle, which he got as a prize during his first year in Santos FC.
He was 18 at the time.
As he got more famous and rich, his preference for cars changed. Pelé owned a BMW and the classic Aeron Willys 2600.
Similarly, Mercedes gifted him Mercedes-Benz 250 W114 and 280-s.
However, as he is getting older, his body is starting to give up on him. So currently, he has a modest Fiat 500 for his daily commute.
As of December 2024, Pelé ‘s net worth is a staggering $100 million.
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Pelé | Lifestyle
So how does the legendary player leads his life?
Well, to be honest, our hero leads a pretty modest lifestyle. Let’s face it, he is not as fit as he used to be.
He used to rule the field in his active playing days, but his body and stamina are not the same today.
The 84 years old needs the assistance of a walking frame to move here and there.
Similarly, aside from his physical strength, the GOAT suffers from depression.
As a matter of fact, his son announced that Pelé was suffering from depression in February 2020.
Which is the reason why he hardly leaves the comfort of his home.
Nonetheless, he still enjoys matches every now and then.
As for his personal life, the soccer legend has married three-time and has had numerous high-profile relationships.
Likewise, he also has several illegitimate children from different women.
His first marriage was with Rosemeri Reis Cholbi. They had two daughters and split in 1982.
He was romantically involved with TV presenter Xuxa from 1981 to 1986.
Xuxa was just 17 when they began dating.
Moreover, Pelé married Assíria Lemos Seixas, a gospel singer in April 1994. They had twins through fertility treatments.
However, the couple split in 2008.
In total, Pelé had seven children, a few of which he has refused to acknowledge.
Furthermore, Pelé underwent surgery to remove a tumor on the right side of his colon in September 2021.
He was readmitted to ICU a few days later. However, he was released to begin chemotherapy on 30 September 2021.
Besides, Pelé was accused of a corruption scandal in 2001 that reportedly stole $700,000 from UNICEF.
However, nothing was proven, and UNICEF also denied it.
Pelé | Charity
Coming from a humble beginning, Pelé knows what it’s like living in scarce, which is why he tends to give much time to humanitarian work.
He was appointed UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador in 1994.
Through the foundation, he has worked for several children’s related causes.
For his contribution to the organization and community, Pelé was awarded the “Children in Need” award in 2012 by UNESCO.
Similarly, he founded Pelé Foundation in 2018, which works to empower children and eradicate poverty.
In 2016, he raised a staggering $4.90 million by auctioning off more than 1,600 items for charity.
Likewise, before that, he brought together other sporting stars to a charity auction and raised million by auctioning off around 229 items.
The items auctioned included David Beckham’s AC Milan jersey, Pelé’s shirt, and Cristiano Ronaldo’s items.
Pelé | Movies & TV Shows, Books, and Endorsements
Movies & TV Shows
Pelé has made appearances in several documentaries, TV shows, and films over the years.
In 1969, Pele appeared as Plínio Pompeu in TV show named Os Estranhos.
Similarly, he was Dr. Arantes in O Barão Otelo no Barato dos Bilhões.
Some of his other acting credits include O Salvador da Pátria, Sfide, and Hotshot.
Likewise, he appeared as himself in Pele: Birth of a Legend
Books & Endorsements
It was not just TV shows that Pele dwelled in. He has also sprinkled some magic in the world of words.
In 2006, Pelé published his autobiography titled Pele: The Autobiography, in which he describes his childhood, soccer career, and retirement.
Moreover, endorsement deals are always a steady source of income for any athlete, and our legend Pelé is no exception.
Throughout his career, his name has been associated with a bunch of high-profile brands and companies.
Brazilian president bestowed Pelé with Extraordinary Minister of Sports in 1998.
However, after several accusations of corruption and money laundering, Pelé resigned from the post.
Some of the brands Pelé has endorsed over the years include Hublot, Puma, Subway, Emirates, Santander, Volkswagen, Emirates, Procter & Gamble, Santander, and Golazo.
Furthermore, Pelé sued Samsung Electronics in March of 2016, seeking $30 million in damages claiming violations under the Lanham Act for false endorsement.
As of December 2024, Pelé’s net worth is a whopping $100 million.
Pelé | Career
Born to a footballing family, Pelé’s father, Dondihno, played at a professional level.
He was raised alongside his two siblings.
He grew up in a poverty-stricken environment, and despite the fact he had to work most of the time to provide for his family, he learned to play football from an early age.
Since his father played soccer professionally, he taught Pelé various skills.
Young Pele’s family was so poor that they could not afford a soccer ball and instead played with a grapefruit.
Growing up, Pelé began to play indoor football for youth clubs in Brazil.
In 1956, Pelé went to Sao Paulo to try out the professional club Santos FC.
He impressed the coach at Santos FC and signed a professional contract with the club in June of 1956.
Pelé’s net worth as of December 2024, is an enormous $100 million.
Unknown Facts About Pelé
- Throughout his career, Pelé won nine Sao Paulo State Championships and two World Club Championships.
- His name Edson Arantes do Nascimiento, was inspired by American inventor Thomas Edition.
- He signed with Santos at the age of 15.
- Pelé received the Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award from former South African president Nelson Mandela.
FAQs
Who is better Maradona or Pelé?
Despite playing the roughly same number of matches throughout their respective career, Pelé is far better than Maradona, considering their career stats.
Pele has scored 77 international goals, while Maradona has just 34. Whatever the case is, Maradona is also considered one of the greatest of all time.
Did Pelé break his knee?
Yes. In 1958, Pelé missed the first two games of the tournament because of a knee injury.
How did Pelé get that nickname?
While at school, Pelé used to pronounce the name Bilé as Pile, and hence his classmates started calling him Pelé.
P.S. Bilé was the local Vasco da Gama goalkeeper.
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