From fringe rugby league player to NFL $100 million man: Jordan Mailata still adjusting to new-found stardom
He came from humble beginnings in western Sydney but now homegrown NFL star Jordan Mailata is on top.
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He came from humble beginnings in western Sydney but now homegrown NFL star Jordan Mailata is on top.
The Philadelphia Eagles player has become one of Australia’s top three richest athletes, after signing a three-year contract extension worth $33 million a season.
Mailata is now only out-earned by champion golfer Cameron Smith, who raked in $75 million last year, and pro basketballer Ben Simmons, who earns about $52 million a year.
But the 27-year-old, who was surprised to learn of his new title, said he has no big plans to spend his bumper pay cheques on cars, clothes or the finer things in life.
“I haven’t really splashed the cash,” he told The Daily Telegraph.
“I have had a couple of projects here and there, but I would like to think I’m pretty responsible with my money.”
The 203cm, 166kg offensive tackle joked his size would probably restrict him from buying a luxury car, with his current set of wheels relatively humble for his pay packet – a $200K Cadillac Escalade.
“I’m a big guy man … I can’t fit into many cars and my wife won’t let me buy a truck,” Mailata said.
The NFL superstar grew up playing junior rugby for the Bankstown Bulls and was selected for the under 18s Canterbury Bulldogs side. Mailata was offered a one-year contract by South Sydney before America came calling, heading to the US where he was selected for the league’s international pathway program.
There, Philadelphia scouted him, and the rest is history. Despite his own fame and fortune, Mailata says he still gets starstruck meeting celebrities, and is more focused on excelling on the field than inking brand deals.
“The time is just very demanding, and I value my time a lot. I would much rather invest it in my progress in the NFL, and in keeping my body fit, active and ready,” he said.
But when the time comes, Mailata’s keen to work with other homegrown talent.
“It’s hard, we have been trying to figure out time to get some Australian companies on board [as sponsors] so we will see,” he said.
Back in the harbour city to help promote American football’s grassroots program flag football, Mailata spent his Sunday on the field of his at his old Bankstown Bulls home ground running a training clinic and teaching the next generation of homegrown NFL stars the tricks of the trade.
“It’s an honour man, to see an American football being thrown around in Australia, and thrown in the park that I grew up, very sentimental moment,” Mailata said.
“Personally I want to grow this game, I want more kids to grow up playing this game, I want there to be a pathway to get to America and get to the top level, and we are not too far from that.”
But it’s not all business on this trip home, with Mailata also carving out time to climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge with his team and pay a visit to family members across the city.
“It’s great to be home and back with the family. To see the turn out here at my old ground is amazing, I spent a lot of time here and love being back,” he said.
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