Rio Ferdinand has revealed that he is now earning nearly twice what he did at Manchester United, following his evolution from star athlete to media mogul.

Ferdinand was speaking on The Long Play Podcast, set up by journalist Jordan Macauley and billed as a show that ‘interviews the biggest people in sport to learn how they built their empires’.

‘In which year did you make the most money?’ Macauley asks Ferdinand, to which the former defender replies: ‘Probably the last few years.’

Across the hour-and-a-half episode, the pair discuss the highs and lows of Ferdinand’s transition from a decorated United centre-back who won six Premier League titles under Sir Alex Ferguson to one of the most recognisable digital media personalities in sport.

According to The Richest, Ferdinand’s net worth is now estimated at around £57 million, built from both his playing career and his post-football ventures, spanning television, online content, endorsements and business interests.

This far exceeds the peak earnings of his playing career, which was roughly £115,000-£120,000 per week, or £6million a year between 2008 and 2013 – as one of the world’s best-paid footballers.

Ferdinand’s current earnings far exceeds the peak wages of his playing career, which was roughly £115,000-£120,000 per week, or £6million a year between 2008 and 2013

Ferdinand was speaking on The Long Play Podcast, billed as a show which ‘interviews the biggest people in sport to learn how they built their empires’

Within his extensive portfolio is Rio Ferdinand Presents. The 47-year-old is also an investor in New Era Global Sports Management, a UK-based football agency, and continues his work through his charity, the Rio Ferdinand Foundation.

Beyond this, Ferdinand is a partner with LEOS Developments, a luxury property developer in Dubai, as well as owning Dubai-based company Football Escape – ‘Enjoy football in style in Dubai, with luxurious resorts, desert adventures, and endless entertainment’ – where the Ferdinand family are now based.

His ownership of Rio Ferdinand Presents – rather than being tied to a major external podcast production company like many of his contemporaries – gives him greater control not only over its output, but also over the financial rewards it generates.

Created in August 2024, nine months prior to his departure from TNT Sports after 12 years as pundit, it consistently ranks inside the top 50 most-listened to sports and football podcast in the UK and interviewing some of the biggest names in world football. Many of these are thanks to Ferdinand’s extensive contact list, with the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro and Paul Pogba.

Ferdinand, who grew up in Peckham, has stopped short of preaching the benefits of the tax-free life in Dubai, which has also been a contributing factor in helping him grow his wealth, but said that paying tax in the United Kingdom for ‘things which are falling apart’ is a ‘big question that needs answering’.

He told LBC last year: ‘If there were things like the health service and what not, and they were flying and working perfectly well then I think people wouldn’t mind paying tax.

‘But when things are falling apart, going wrong, you did sit there and go “well I’m paying all this tax, but is it really going towards the things that benefit the people that live here?” And that’s the big question that needs answering – and I think a lot of us know the answer to that.’

Ferdinand has also claimed he gets more family time since making the move. ‘My family is seeing me so much more and I’m spending some quality time with them and I think that’s just been a great thing for me,’ he said.

‘I love England and I’m a patriotic guy in that sense, but a new journey, a new chapter, something different, I think is a refreshing new chapter in my life.’

Ferdinand, who grew up in Peckham, has stopped short of preaching the benefits of the tax-free life in Dubai, which has also been a contributing factor in helping him grow his wealth

Part of Ferdinand’s work with New Era Sports Management is about educating young athletes to make better financial decisions for themselves.

This is something which Ferdinand reveals he has learned from experience, saying that he had been left ‘burnt’ by financial advisors in the past.

‘I’ve had good and bad experiences with property. Like a lot of footballers, especially the younger ones, I was burnt by some financial advisors,’ he said.

‘Again, I’ve been one of the lucky ones, where I’ve had other things going on to supplement those losses, so it’s been fine. I went through some moments of “woah, that person did that to me?”. Those piranhas are in the water.

‘In some cases with people, the building that I invested in isn’t even there. These guys have a way of catching you when you’re vulnerable, when you’re focusing on other things, on your career. They become a part of your family, but they’re just thieves, man, it’s crazy.

‘There’s where I think some families can play a part. If I was a family member that’s where I’d be sitting and to gatekeep. Not the agency.’