Eagles running back Saquon Barkley has capitalized on his recent success, including an NFL record for total yards and AP Offensive Player of the Year honors, by expanding his marketing presence. He is set to appear in 11 national television ad campaigns this season, a number that his agent, Ed Berry of CAA Football, described as unprecedented. These endorsements include partnerships with league sponsors such as Little Caesars, Nationwide, Wells Fargo, AWS, Old Spice, Disney, Red Cross, Beats, Nintendo, Lowe's, and EA Sports. Regional retailer Wawa is also expected to announce a significant deal. Frank Mahar, VP/Chief Legal Counsel at Genesco Sports Enterprises, noted the increased demand for Barkley due to his "defining excellence and performance."
Beyond endorsements, Barkley has strategically invested his nearly $80 million in NFL salary and bonuses since 2018. Instead of lavish spending, he has put millions into venture funds and tech startups, including Anthropic, Neuralink, Polymarket, and Founders Fund. He initially focused on traditional long-term investments like S&P 500 index funds and real estate, purchasing a $3.9 million home in Malvern, Pennsylvania.
More recently, Barkley has embraced riskier investments, notably in the mobile payments app Strike in 2021. He also plans to convert all his marketing and endorsement earnings to Bitcoin using the app. This strategy has reportedly been successful, with the price of Bitcoin more than tripling since then, potentially turning a $10 million income stream into a $35 million asset. He has funded over 10 startups, typically investing between $250,000 and $500,000 in each.
While Barkley's marketing and investment strategies have been robust, he also faced a $46,371 fine from the NFL for unnecessary roughness and improper use of the helmet in a game against the Kansas City Chiefs. This incident marked him as a repeat offender, bringing his total career fines to $113,246, despite not being flagged on the play itself.
