NRL v AFL: Star players’ secret riches exposed
Unlike their on field exploits watched by millions, Australia’s richest footballers are quietly and cleverly earning plenty of money away from the game.
Unlike their on field exploits watched by millions, Australia’s richest footballers are quietly and cleverly earning plenty of money away from the game, ensuring their sporting riches will look after them long after their footy careers are over.
It’s no coincidence that those players that sit atop the 2024 NRL Rich 100 and the 2024 AFL Rich 100 are also those leading the way in creating small, secret fortunes away from the big stadiums and bright lights.
Making big bucks away from the game via real estate is proving to be a secret vehicle of choice for footy biggest names and biggest earners: Nathan Cleary, Dustin Martin, Mitchell Moses, Isaac Heeney, Kalyn Ponga and Christian Petracca.
KALYN PONGA
Newcastle is now very much home to Knights superstar Kalyn Ponga, who is the NRL’s highest paid player according to the NRL Rich 100, earning $1.3m a year.
In his seventh season at Newcastle after moving south from North Queensland, the Knights fullback has been busy this year working on his ‘magnificent’ lifestyle project.
Two years ago Ponga, now 26, bought a tired $2.4m home in the sought-after Newcastle beachside suburb of Merewether.
Property records reveal the auction guide was $1.95m. The home last traded in September 2008, for $795,000.
Earlier this year, Ponga used the three months he was out injured due to a foot injury to get cracking on what he wanted the home to look like inside and out.
The home could double in value depending on what approach Ponga has taken.
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DUSTIN MARTIN
Recently retired Dustin Martin, No. 3 on this year’s AFL Rich 100, with an annual pay packet of $1.25m to $1.35m is arguably the king of real estate when it comes to Australia’s richest footy players.
Marrtin’s seven-year deal with Richmond was worth over $8m and he has made sure that money never sleeps.
The good news for the 33-year old is he likely may never have to work again, having built up more than $12m in property, consisting mainly of commercial real estate based in Richmond and Abbotsford in Melbourne.
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Martin’s investments have been made through a series of companies, primarily Butler Corporation — a 50:50 joint venture with long-term manager Ralph Carr.
The main hub of the duo’s property portfolio consists of an office and shops in Richmond – including a large section of a single street – that will provide the retired AFL star a nice passive income as he settles in to life beyond football.
Another lucrative move by the Richmond champ was buying up a strip of five warehouse-style buildings in Butler St, North Richmond.
He shelled out $10.5m collectively for the adjoining properties, building up his targeted bricks and mortar holdings between 2016 and 2022.
The Brownlow Medallist reportedly owns a beachfront apartment in Port Melbourne with views of Port Phillp Bay, which he purchased for $1.7m in 2021. He also owns a three-bedroom Victorian terrace in Albert Park he bought for $993,000 in 2012.
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NATHAN CLEARY
Three-time NRL premiership winner Nathan Cleary, who slotted in at No. 2 on the 2024 NRL Rich List with an annual pay packet of $1.2m, has wisely sidestepped the tax man to put money into upgrading his home on the Nepean River a short drive from the Penrith Panthers home ground.
Cleary bought the home from his father and coach Ivan in June 2023 for $1.7m and in November undertook a ‘moody’ home renovation in November.
While Cleary has been tight-lipped about his relationship with Matildas star Mary Fowler, the 26-year-old has opened up his home to his army of footy fans and renovation tragics via a social media video.
At the start of the video, Cleary can be seen relaxing on his couch with his dog Prince talking about what he loves about the home.
“I feel lucky out here, where I can get home and I’m away from the spotlight and really be myself and relax and hangout with this fella Prince,” he said.
Cleary then leads the film team throughout his house, firstly to his TV/recovery room.
“This is the chill room,” he said.
“For the Normatec [compression/recovery garments], have a stretch, very low key, it’s one of my favourite rooms in the house.
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“I come here after the game and watch the game on TV.”
Another highlighted part of the delightfully contemporary home is the living area which flows seamlessly into the outdoor balconies and BBQ area.
Because the home is his primary residence, Cleary is able to minimise any tax obligations he may have.
CHRISTIAN PETRACCA
The hefty pay packet Christian Petracca commands is one of the main reasons why Petracca’s attempts to move elsewhere failed.
According to the 2024 AFL Rich List, the Melbourne star is on a salary of around $1.25m per season as the fourth highest paid player in the game.
He’s also got a good eye for real estate.
In 2022 Petracca paid close to $5.4m for a renovated Armadale home.
The four-bedroom, three-bathroom home with soaring ceilings and period detailing on a large block also features an architect designed extension at the back of the house which provides light-filled open plan living and floor to ceiling glass which looks out over a lush private garden and pool.
Not long after the purchase he sold his Kew home for $2.89m, at a $1.2m profit.
The Peel St California bungalow has a north-east-facing open-plan living space with extensive glazing looking out to a backyard entertainment space, pool and spa. While the renovation delivered a modernised rear to the single-level home, its front rooms retained the original build’s high ceilings and decorative cornices.
MITCHELL MOSES
Parramatta and NSW playmaker Mitchell Moses owns more than $4 million worth of real estate and has spoken about his desire to get involved in property development when his footy career ends.
It will give Moses, who earns $1.2m a year, plenty of places to park his cash and build for life after Rugby League.
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In November last year, Moses, 29, splurged $4m on a new Hunters Hill home for his family.
The extended bungalow has five bedrooms plus a study set on a level 815sq m block with established gardens. Its dining area opens to an alfresco space.
Moses’ property portfolio includes a Gladesville investment home worth around $1.9m, a $1.5m Epping property and a $600,000 Toongabbie investment unit.
All up his property investments could be worth as much as $10m.
“I like to look at the property market as much as possible to see what is going on, where I can buy and sell,” Moses told The Daily Telegraph.
“I have started something with my brother Stephen [who is a real estate agent]. Hopefully we can do some development when the time comes. Football is not going to be there forever.”
ISAAC HEENEY
Swans star Isaac Heeney is another taking advantage of the incredible capital growth on offer in the real estate market in Sydney.
Sydney’s best player this season, Heeney is the club’s highest paid player and sits at No. 11 on the 2024 AFL Rich List courtesy of his annual earn of $1.1m.
The 28-year who hails from Maitland has invested not far from his hometown in Port Macquarie.
He also has interests in Sydney’s lucrative Eastern Suburbs in the beachside suburb of Maroubra.
His portfolio could be worth as much as $3m.
Not bad for starters.
Originally published as NRL v AFL: Star players’ secret riches exposed
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