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Drafted as the 11th overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, JJ Watt is a defensive end for the Houston Texans, having played all the eight seasons of his career thus far for the same franchise. Watt was awarded the NFL Defensive Player of the Year three times in the first five years of his career. After an injury ridden couple of seasons, Watt finally made an appearance in the Pro Bowl, having been selected for the same 5 times in his career.
One of the best defensive players in the history of the Houston Texans, JJ Watt holds the franchise record for career sacks with 92 of the same. He has an estimated net worth of $10 million.
Having earned over $72 million in cumulative salaries thus far, JJ Watt's biggest contract is a 6-year $100 million extension that he signed back in 2014. Watt later restructured the contract in March 2015 to allow a cap relief of $8 million to the Texans. Watt earned $11 million in salaries last year and is slated to earn $13 million in 2019.
One of the best defensive players in the league right now, JJ Watt is one of the most marketable athletes and at one point of his career used to earn the same, if not more, as compared to some of the elite quarterbacks in the league.
Injuries might have halted his progress for a while, but just like his returning form, Watt is back in the endorsement market following an impressive 2018 season that saw him getting selected to the 2018 All-Pro First Team. So far, Watt has worked with the likes of Reebok, Gatorade, Verizon Wireless, Ford Motor, HE Butt Grocery and NRG Energy.
In 2017, Watt started an online drive to raise funds for relief efforts in the Houston area following Hurricane Harvey, donating $100,000 himself as the starting base. The drive ended up generating over $40 million. He was named the Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year for the same.
Watt also founded the JJ Watt Foundation in 2010, one that strives to provide after-school athetics opportunities to children in schools mostly in the Texas and Wisconsin area. He also offered to pay for the funerals of the victims of the Santa Fe High School shooting incident of May 2018.
| Age | 29 years |
| Residence | Summit, Wisconsin |
| Source of wealth | Professional NFL player, Endorsements |
| Salary | $16.67 million per year |
| Endorsement earnings | $7 million in 2015* |
| Brands endorsed | Reebok, Gatorade, Verizon Wireless, Ford Motor, HE Butt Grocery, NRG Energy |
| Marital status | Dating Kealia Ohai |
| Charities supported | JJ Watt Foundation |
*Note: No reliable data for Watt's endorsement earnings post 2015 has been made available.
Updated on 10 March 2019
