Just How Rich Is NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell? Details

For NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, retirement reportedly doesn't hold much allure. The head of the NFL since 2006 has already signed three contract extensions with the organization, but a fourth appears to be coming soon, according to sources. Here's a look back on Roger Goodell's net worth and career growth over the years.

Goodell took over from Paul Tagliabue in September 2006 as the NFL commissioner. As ESPN reported, his previous contract extensions were signed in 2009, 2012, and 2017. It's likely that his newest contract extension could be finalized during the owners' meeting next week in Phoenix.

Goodell's parents were former U.S. Senator Charles Goodell and Jean Goodell. He was athletic as a youth and graduated from Washington and Jefferson College in 1981 with a bachelor's degree in economics. His first job with the NFL came soon after college graduation, when he became an intern for the NFL under commissioner Pete Rozelle (who held that position for nearly 30 years).

Here's a look at how Goodell rose up the ranks at the NFL:

• 1983: intern for the New York Jets
• 1984: public relations assistant for the NFL
• 1987: assistant to president of American Football Conference
• 2001: executive vice president and chief operating officer (COO) of the NFL
• 2006: NFL commissioner

Goodell's tenure as the NFL commissioner has been fraught with challenges and successes. Among what many count as successes on his part are the lucrative sales of NFL teams (the last sale before he took over was $600 million, while the Denver Broncos sold for $4.5 million last year), the NFL not missing a game due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the implementation of conduct rules for players.

As commissioner, Goodell also facilitated the new collective bargaining agreement that led to media rights deals with major networks NBC, CBS, FOX, Amazon, and ESPN worth over $100 billion. Plus, the NFL's deal with YouTube TV for Sunday Ticket streaming is worth multiple billions of dollars for the league.

As ESPN noted, Goodell's time as NFL chief has also brought criticism of his handling of player injury and safety claims. A $675 million fund was created to support players and former players who had suffered brain damage in the game. He has also had to handle player discipline issues and deal with player activism on social issues.

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Goodell reportedly earned the following salary figures as commissioner:

• 2007: $6 million
• 2008: $12 million
• 2009: $10 million
• 2010: $10 million
• 2011: $12 million
• 2012: $29.5 million
• 2013: $44.2 million
• 2014: $45 million
• 2015: $40 million
• 2016: $45 million
• 2017: $35 million
• 2018: $40 million
• 2019: $50 million
• 2020: $50 million
• 2021: $64 million

Over the years, large portions of Goodell's compensation have been based on incentives tied to NFL team performances. His current contract was for five years and worth a reported $200 million. It's set to expire in 2024.

League sources told ESPN that a multiyear contract extension for Goodell will likely be signed next week, though many had speculated that he would retire after having accomplished major media rights deals and the new collective bargaining agreement. How much his new contract could be worth is unknown at this point.

In 1997, Goodell married Jane Skinner, who was a Fox News anchor until 2010. The couple has twin daughters together. Skinner also worked on the documentary A Lifetime of Sundays, which chronicles the lives of four female NFL franchise owners.