Julian Edelman: From NFL Star To Media Mogul

How Much Money Has Julian Edelman Made?

Let’s talk about Julian Edelman. This guy isn’t just another athlete; he’s a legend who's earned $25 million during his career. As a wide receiver for the New England Patriots from 2009 to 2020, Julian wasn’t just another guy on the field. He was a game-changer. Before stepping onto the NFL stage, he played at the College of San Mateo and Kent State University. His hard work and dedication didn’t go unnoticed—he even got inducted into the Kent State Varsity "K" Athletics Hall of Fame in 2015. Julian’s career took off after being drafted 232nd overall in 2009, and he stayed with the Patriots until he hung up his cleats in April 2021. Back in 2014, he re-signed with the team on a four-year, $17 million deal. His NFL journey wasn’t just about touchdowns—it was about being named to the "USA Today" All-Joe Team in 2013 and winning not one, not two, but three Super Bowls.

But Julian’s story didn’t end on the field. After retiring, he joined the Paramount+ series "Inside the NFL" as an analyst. He also made a splash in Hollywood, starring in the 2023 film "80 for Brady." His acting career didn’t stop there—he even guest-starred in two episodes of the HBO series "Ballers" (2015–2016). Julian’s entrepreneurial spirit led him to executive produce the Showtime documentary "100%: Julian Edelman" in 2019. And in 2019, he launched a production company called Coast Productions with ad exec Assaf Swissa, signing a major deal with ViacomCBS in 2021. This guy’s got a lot going on, and it’s all paying off.

Big Money Moves: Contracts and Career Earnings

Now, let’s talk about the money. Over his NFL career, Julian earned a whopping $46 million just in salary. His last deal? A two-year, $18 million contract. That’s some serious cash, folks. And it’s all because of his talent, grit, and perseverance on the field.

Read also:

Michael Mitnicks Journey Unpacking His 2024 Net Worth And Career Highlights

Where Did It All Begin? Julian’s Early Life

Julian Edelman wasn’t born with a silver spoon. He was born Julian Francis Edelman on May 22, 1986, in Redwood City, California. His parents, Angela Gole and Frank Edelman, gave him a strong foundation. Frank, a mechanic who owns A-1 Auto Tech in Mountain View, California, taught Julian the value of hard work from a young age. Though he was raised in a Christian household, Julian had what he calls a "Jewish awakening" later in life. His family has a rich history—his paternal great-grandfather was Jewish and immigrated to England from Poland, while his great-grandmother had Irish Catholic roots. Julian wasn’t always the big guy on the block. As a freshman in high school, he weighed less than 100 pounds until he had a growth spurt. But that didn’t stop him from becoming the quarterback of the Woodside Wildcats, leading them to a perfect 13–0 record during his senior year.

College Days: Building the Foundation

Julian’s college journey wasn’t easy, but it was filled with achievements. After high school, he spent a year at the College of San Mateo, where he broke records by rushing for 17 touchdowns and 1,253 yards. He then transferred to Kent State University in Ohio, studying business management while playing as the quarterback for the Golden Flashes. In his senior year, Julian was the team’s leading passer and rusher, scoring 13 touchdowns. He broke a single-season school record set by Joshua Cribbs in 2003. Even though he left Kent State to enter the 2009 NFL Draft, he came back later, earning a Bachelor of Integrative Studies degree in 2019. Julian said it best: "To fulfill a promise with my parents is ultimately one of the biggest reasons why I came back. My whole journey has been a team effort, and that team I’m talking about is my family."

Pro Football: The Rise of a Legend

The New England Patriots drafted Julian in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft, signing him to a four-year contract with a $48,700 signing bonus. But the road wasn’t smooth—Julian missed the team’s Week 1 game due to an ankle injury. However, he led all receivers during the Patriots’ Week 2 game against the New York Jets. Then came a broken arm in a game against the Tennessee Titans, but he bounced back strong, scoring his first NFL touchdown in Week 10. During the 2010 season, Julian set a Patriots record with an average of 15.3 yards per return, the second-highest average in the NFL at the time. In 2011, Julian was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week after the Patriots’ Week 11 game against the Kansas City Chiefs. The following week, he even earned a nomination for the NFL’s "Hardest Working Man" title. The Patriots reached the AFC Championship in January 2012, making it to Super Bowl XLVI, where they narrowly lost to the New York Giants by just four points.

Julian’s 2013 season was remarkable—he became the league’s leader in career punt return average (13.0 yards per return). The Patriots played in Super Bowl XLIX in February 2015, defeating the Seattle Seahawks 28–24. His fellow players ranked him #91 on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2015. In November 2015, Julian underwent surgery after injuring his left foot and didn’t return until the team’s January 2016 Divisional Round game against the Kansas City Chiefs. He climbed the ranks, being ranked #87 in 2016 and #71 in 2017 on the NFL Top 100 Players list. The Patriots won Super Bowl LI in February 2017, defeating the Atlanta Falcons 34–28. In June 2017, Julian signed an $11 million, two-year contract extension with the team, but a torn ACL sidelined him for the rest of the season. The Patriots lost Super Bowl LII to the Philadelphia Eagles without Julian, but they bounced back the following year, winning 13–3 against the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII. Julian was named Super Bowl MVP that year. In May 2019, he signed an $18 million, two-year contract extension, but a minor knee surgery in October 2020 landed him on the injured reserve list. On April 12, 2021, Julian announced his retirement after the team ended his contract due to him failing a physical.

Beyond the Field: Julian’s Personal Life

Julian’s personal life has been just as interesting as his career. He had an on-again, off-again relationship with model Adriana Lima in 2016 and 2017. He also had a casual relationship with model Ella Rose, and their daughter, Lily, was born on November 30, 2016. Julian opened up about fatherhood in a 2019 interview with "Haute Living," saying, "Fatherhood is such a huge challenge, especially with Ella’s profession and my profession, balancing giving my daughter the time and energy she desires and needs. You have your craft, and you’re working towards being the best you can possibly be, something you’ve been working towards your whole life since you were 8 years old. Then all of a sudden, your priorities change. You’re not living for yourself anymore; you’re living for your little girl now. That’s how my parents lived for me, so that’s all I really know."

Julian’s life hasn’t been without its ups and downs. After injuring his ACL in 2017, he took banned substances to help with his recovery, which led to a four-game suspension at the start of the 2018 season. In January 2020, Julian faced a misdemeanor vandalism charge in Beverly Hills after allegedly damaging a car by jumping on the hood, but the charge was dropped after he paid for repairs. Julian also showed his support for victims of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting in October 2018 by wearing an Israeli flag hat after a November 4th game against the Green Bay Packers. During a December 16th game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, he wore customized cleats featuring the hashtag #strongerthanhate, later posting a photo of the cleats on social media with the names of the victims in the caption.

Read also:

Nicole Brown Simpson Net Worth 2024 Her Wealth And Financial Legacy

Honors and Recognition: Julian’s Achievements

Julian’s hard work has earned him numerous accolades. He was named to the Second-team All-MAC in 2006 and was selected for the New England Patriots All-2010s Team and All-Dynasty Team. He’s a three-time Super Bowl champion (2015, 2017, and 2019) and was named Super Bowl MVP in 2019. In 2022, he even earned a Sports Emmy nomination for Emerging On-Air Talent for "Inside the NFL."

Where Does He Live? Julian’s Real Estate

Julian’s not just about the gridiron—he’s also got some serious real estate. He owns a 3,184 square foot home in Foxborough, Massachusetts, built in 2006, with four bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms, which reportedly cost $776,300. He’s also owned a condo in Boston’s Back Bay and a home off of Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles. This guy’s got his feet firmly planted in some of the most desirable neighborhoods in the country.