Damar Hamlin's Net Worth: The Wealthy MVP You Can't Ignore

A college football player from the University of Pittsburgh, Damar Hamlin played his second season as a safety for the Buffalo Bills in 2023. He was a reserve player in 2022 and became a regular starter for the 2022–2023 season. What is Hamlin's net worth?

Hamlin was playing in the game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Jan. 2, 2023, when he suddenly collapsed on the field after making a tackle. Unlike with most football-related injuries, Hamlin didn't jump back up ... in fact, he didn't even move. Many medical professionals had to rush onto the field and perform CPR. Here's what happened to Damar Hamlin and an health update on his health.

The NFL world was left in shock on Jan. 2 after a rare medical emergency on the field sent Hamlin to a medical center in Cincinnati. Hamlin had just tackled Tee Higgins of the Cincinnati Bengals during Monday night's game when he slumped to the field unconscious.

The mood at Paycor Stadium quickly shifted from frenzied excitement over the big game to silence as fans, teammates, and everyone present worried for Hamlin. Hamlin tackled Higgins around nine minutes into the first quarter of play. Higgins slammed into Hamlin's head and chest area.

Medical personnel on hand quickly began to administer CPR, working for at least 10 minutes on the collapsed Hamlin. As the The New York Times noted, one professional "appeared to administer an IV." Hamlin was transported in an ambulance to a nearby hospital.

More than nine days after suffering the tragic injury, Hamlin was finally released from medical care and was able to return to his home in Buffalo, ESPN announced on Jan. 11. Hamlin underwent a series of tests and medical evaluations before being released. Bills coach Sean McDermott would leave it up to Hamlin to decide when he wanted to return to the Bills' training facility.

In April 2023, Hamlin was cleared by physicians to return to the playing field.

Hamlin's condition was so shocking and dangerous that the game was first suspended for about an hour after the incident and was eventually postponed. Former NFL player Donté Stallworth noted how unique it was for the league to postpone the game due to player injury, CNN reported.

Twitter and other social media sites blew up with messages of support for Hamlin and his family following his collapse. Many insisted that game play shouldn't continue, and many players were visibly distraught watching Hamlin receive treatment.

Hamlin, a sixth-round draft pick in 2021, is in his second season as safety for the Bills. His four-year contract is to pay him about $3.64 million, breaking down as follows:

• $660,000 for year one
• $825,000 for year two
• $940,000 for year three
• $1,055,000 for year four

As he neared the end of his second season, Hamlin's net worth was estimated to be around $1.485 million. He also got a $160,000 signing bonus. As of May 2023, Hamlin's net worth stood at around $3 million.

Prior to his NFL career, Hamlin played for the Pittsburgh Panthers at the University of Pittsburgh. After a successful college football career, Hamlin has transitioned well into the NFL.

Hamlin started a toy drive via GoFundMe in his hometown of McKees Rocks, Pa. in December 2020. As many news outlets have reported, online donations began pouring in after his collapse, topping $9 million. CNN reported it was up to $74,000 an hour after the injury and over $3 million by early on Jan. 3. As of the morning on May 12, 2023, Hamlin received about $10 million between his GoFundMe campaign and another fundraiser.

The Associated Press reported in May 2023 that Hamlin would use the roughly $10 million donated to him to fund his nonprofit, Chasing M's Foundation (the "m" stands for millions). The foundation "is dedicated to the development, health, and safety of youth through sports, engagement activities, training, and programming," the nonprofit's website states.