Footy’s biggest real estate moguls: AFL, NRL players making a killing in property, learn how they are doing it
They are the new breed of real estate moguls – our best known footballers in the AFL and NRL making a motza in property.
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They are the new breed of real estate moguls – our best known footballers quietly making their mark on Australia’s biggest and most lucrative property markets.
The biggest names in the AFL and NRL have emerged as among our most astute property investors, amassing portfolios that would make some Monopoly masters blush.
Determined to make the most of their big, yet short lived paypackets these superstars are set to be major players in the real estate world for years to come, as they begin to set themselves up for life.
The days of footy legends labouring on building sites after their playing careers are over are at an end, instead they are more likely to be calling the shots from the site office.
Three-time Tigers premiership winner Dustin Martin boasts a real estate portfolio befitting arguably Australian football’s biggest name. Martin is a director of companies that own more than $14 million in Melbourne real estate across six properties in Richmond and Abbotsford.
Fellow superstar and AFL Rich 100 lister Lance Franklin is another who has invested wisely. Like his onfield efforts, ‘Buddy’ transitioned his Melbourne real estate success to Sydney after joining the Swans on a nine-year, $10 million deal, money that he is making work for him.
The 34-year-old key forward owns property worth almost $5.5 million and has made an eye-popping profit of around $2 million from his real estate dealings.
The NRL’s best player James Tedesco is another savvy investor, boasting a portfolio worth more than $4.5 million. Like Franklin, the Roosters fullback has diversified his investments, with holdings in the exclusive eastern suburbs of Sydney, just a punt kick away from Buddy and further afield.
Tedesco doubled his money on an empty Spring Farm block on the outskirts of Sydney he bought in 2013 for $348,000 and sold in 2018.
Matthew Pillios, director and auctioneer at Marshall White is known as an agent to the stars, having helped scores of players get on the property ladder. Mr Pillios said the playing field for footy stars when it comes in investing has changed dramatically in recent years.
“When I was growing up players were told to invest in pubs and nightclubs and that might go either way,” he said.
“But since 2015 there has been such huge growth in real estate, it is just so safe, the risk is lower than ever and players understand this. They have great networks around them these days with their managers and financial advisers to support and advise them about what to buy and where.
“I get two to three calls a week from AFL players asking ‘should I buy this’.”
Mr Pillios said property investment was a regular conversation topic at training. The ‘set and forget’ nature of the investment was also appealing to athletes intensely focused on their careers and that given their high salaries and steady nature of their jobs, footballers were considered safe borrowers by most lenders.
“There are also a lot of players looking at the development side of things and JVs [joint ventures] too. It’s nice to see so many players investing well, instead of blowing their money or punting it away and having little to show for it at the end of their playing careers,” he said.
Parramatta playmaker Mitchell Moses is another on the NRL Rich 100 list with a good eye for property. The No. 7 owns more than $4 million worth of real estate.
With his older brother, estate agent Stephen, Mitchell has established Sandstone Holdings, which appears to have the goal of being a family real estate corporation.
“It’s something to do away from football,” Mitchell Moses said.
“I like to look at the property market as much as possible to see what is going on. Where I can buy and sell. I have started something with my brother Stephen. Hopefully we can do some development when the time comes. Football is not going to be there forever.
“And hopefully I can get a head start for when I do finish up football.”
Manly’s Tom Trbojevic, another of the NRL’s best and highest paid players, is also doing well with his investments worth around $3.3m across Sydney’s northern beaches, one of the city’s most in-demand markets.
Swans star Isaac Heeney is another taking advantage of the incredible capital growth on offer in Sydney. The 25-year-old has an interest worth around $2.2 million.
Cohen Handler’s Leon Jacques said the buyer’s agency has many clients from across the professional footballing spectrum, including the A-League and Super Rugby. Cricketers Steve Smith, David Warner and Travis Head are other big names who have made an impact in real estate markets across the country.
“These players are definitely wiser and better informed these days,” Mr Jacques said.
“They know they have a limited playing future and limited time to earn the dollars and most won’t have a media career to earn similar money when they retire so they are investing wisely.
“Given the way the market has been going the last six months, they could have made more out of property than the worth of their playing contracts.”
PROPERTY PORTFOLIOS OF OUR BIGGEST FOOTBALL STARS
Dustin Martin
Value: $14m
Tigers superstar Martin is one of several directors of Melbourne based companies that own more than $14m in real estate, including three properties in Butler St, Richmond worth around $6.5m and two properties in Victoria St, Abbotsford worth around $8 million.
Buddy Franklin
Value: $5.34m
Key forward Franklin transitioned his Melbourne real estate success to Sydney after joining the Swans. ‘Buddy’ and model wife Jesinta own a luxury $5m unit in the exclusive eastern suburbs and a $340,000 home in Perth’s Yanchep. His profits from buying and selling real estate currently sit at almost $2m.
James Tedesco
Value: $4.55m
The NSW skipper has spread his investments across Sydney. He owns a $2.1m unit in Rose Bay, where he moved after joining the Roosters, a $1m townhouse project in Lurnea and a $1.35m home in Menangle Park.
Mitchell Moses
Value: $4m
The Eels playmaker who benefits from the guidance on and off the park from his NRL legend uncle Ben Elias owns a Gladesville investment home worth around $1.9m, a $1.5m Epping property and a $600,000 Toongabbie investment unit.
Tom Trbojevic
Value: $3.3m
The Manly no. 1 is riding the real estate boom on Sydney’s northern beaches, where he owns two Manly Value units worth combined around $2.5m and an almost new Warriewood townhouse valued at around $1.1m.
Isaac Heeney
Value: $2.2m
The 25-year-old keeps his investments close to home, including a $1.8m beachside unit in Severn St, Maroubra, where a number of Swans players own and a freshly offloaded $635,000 Lake Macquarie investment home, near when he grew up in Maitland, two hours north of Sydney.
*Estimated values
See the full lists of the ARL and NRL rich 100s at rich100.com.au
Originally published as Footy’s biggest real estate moguls: AFL, NRL players making a killing in property, learn how they are doing it
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