Manti Te'o's net worth: Career earnings and life after the NFL
Manti Te'o's net worth is estimated at $3.5 million. This comes from his earnings of about $10.4 million throughout his seven-season NFL career (between 2013 and 2020), business ventures, media career, and brand endorsements.
Source: Getty Images
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Key takeaways
- Manti Te'o's profile summary
- Manti Te'o's net worth
- Manti Te'o's NFL earnings
- Manti Te’o’s catfishing scandal that cost him millions
- How much did Manti Te'o get paid for Netflix?
- Manti Te’o’s media career
- Manti Te’o’s business ventures
- Manti Te’o’s public speaking and advocacy
- FAQs about Manti Te’o
- Final word
Key takeaways
- Manti Te'o's net worth is estimated at $3.5 million as of 2025.
- Te'o earned approximately $10.4 million in salary from NFL teams, including the San Diego Chargers, New Orleans Saints, and Chicago Bears.
- The infamous catfishing scandal heavily influenced his career trajectory and public image.
- Since 2024, Te'o has been an on-air commentator and analyst for NFL Network.
Manti Te'o's profile summary
| Full name | Manti Malietau Louis Te'o |
| Gender | Male |
| Date of birth | January 26, 1991 |
| Age | 34 (as of 2025) |
| Zodiac sign | Aquarius |
| Place of birth | Laie, Hawaii, USA |
| Current residence | San Diego, California, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Samoan-American |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Weight | 241 lb (109 kg) |
| Sexual orientation | Straight |
| Relationship status | Married |
| Wife | Jovi Nicole Engbino |
| Children | 2 |
| Father | Brian Te'o |
| Mother | Ottilia Te'o |
| Siblings | 5 |
| High school | Punahou (Honolulu, Hawaii) |
| College | Notre Dame (2009–2012) |
| NFL draft | 2013: 2nd round, 38th pick |
| Team (s) | San Diego Chargers (2013–2016)New Orleans Saints (2017–2019)Chicago Bears (2020) |
| Position | Linebacker |
| Profession | American former professional football player |
| Net worth | $3.5 million |
Manti Te'o's net worth
According to Celebrity Net Worth and Harper's Bazaar Australia, Manti Te'o's net worth is estimated at $3.5 million. He has amassed this fortune primarily through his NFL career with the Chargers, Saints, and Bears, where he earned about $10.4 million.
He got renewed attention through the Netflix documentary Untold: The Girlfriend Who Didn’t Exist, which likely added to his post-football income.
Manti Te'o's NFL earnings
Manti Te'o is a former star linebacker who played college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Since the NIL rules weren't in place during his college years, he didn't earn money then. However, he played professionally in the NFL and signed lucrative contracts with several teams.
San Diego Chargers (2013-2016)
Manti Te’o entered the 2013 NFL draft as a projected early pick and was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the second round, ranking 38th overall. He signed a four-year deal worth about $5.17 million, including a $3.18 million guarantee and a $2.14 million signing bonus. Te'o's early years were marked with injuries, including a fractured foot in 2013 and an Achilles tendon rupture in 2016.
What was Manti Te'o's salary in San Diego? His highest earnings were in 2013, when he earned a total of $2,546,760, and his lowest earnings were in 2014, when he earned $640,110.
Source: Getty Images
New Orleans Saints (2017-2019)
In 2017, Manti Te’o signed for the New Orleans Saints on a two-year deal worth $5 million with a guarantee of $600,000. Although his role on the team was more limited, he was a reliable linebacker and special player.
In 2018, he earned about $2.5 million, his highest single-season salary. After the end of his two-year contract, he briefly re-signed with the New Orleans in 2019 for about $805,000.
Chicago Bears (2020)
Te’o’s final NFL stop was with the Chicago Bears, where he signed to their practice squad and earned a one-year deal worth $132,000. The contract expired in early 2021 and was not renewed, marking the end of his NFL playing days.
Across his seven-season NFL career, Manti Te'o's career earnings amount to $10,493,480, with his average yearly pay approximated at $1.31 million. The total guaranteed money across all contracts was estimated to be $3,786,878. 2018 was his peak earning season, with his largest single-year cash payment in 2013 at $2,546,768.
Manti Te’o’s catfishing scandal that cost him millions
In 2013, Te’o was ensnared in a highly publicised catfishing hoax. It was revealed that his much-publicised girlfriend did not exist. The scandal even overshadowed Notre Dame's championship loss to Alabama and became one of the most bizarre sports stories of the decade.
This scandal impacted his draft position, dropping him to the second round instead of the potential first-round pick. This cost him millions in initial contract money and future endorsements.
How much did Manti Te'o get paid for Netflix?
In 2022, Te’o was featured in the Netflix documentary Untold: The Girlfriend Who Didn't Exist, a two-part documentary revisiting the catfishing saga. However, there’s no publicly confirmed figure for how much he was paid for the Netflix show.
Te’o spoke candidly about the public humiliation, the emotional toll, and the many years he struggled with mental health. His vulnerability in the documentary earned him widespread praise and shifted the conversation from ridicule to respect.
Manti Te’o’s media career
Is Manti Te'o still playing football? In 2023, Te’o officially retired from professional football and transitioned into television. In 2024, he joined Good Morning Football on NFL Network, where he focuses on authenticity and positivity. In 2024, he also participated in the NFL’s broadcasting and media workshop, where he expressed interest in pursuing a role as a studio analyst.
Manti Te’o’s business ventures
Te’o has invested in real estate, fitness, and wellness ventures. Te'o is involved in real estate through his company, HI 5 Homes, LLC. Te’o’s startups and tech portfolio include stakes in several ventures, such as a food delivery app, GrubMarket, a virtual reality company, Jaunt, a ride-sharing app, and a mobile gaming platform.
Manti Te’o’s public speaking and advocacy
Source: Getty Images
Te’o is also a motivational speaker. He often addresses topics like mental health, forgiveness, and resilience. Te’o works with Transcend, a tele-health provider for athletes. Several corporations, athletic programs, and schools contact him for talks. Depending on the event, the former NFL star earns between $15,000 and $25,000 per appearance.
FAQs about Manti Te’o
- Who did Manti Te’o play in the championship? Manti played against Alabama in the national championship.
- Is Manti Te’o married? Yes, Manti Te’o is married to Jovi Nicole, a fitness enthusiast.
- How much money did Manti Te’o make in his NFL career? Manti Te’o made approximately $10.4 million throughout his NFL career.
- Does Manti Te’o still play professional football? No, Manti Te’o does not play professional football. The former New Orleans Saints LB officially announced his retirement from the NFL in 2023.
- Is Manti Te’o on Good Morning Football? Yes, Manti Te’o is on Good Morning Football. He officially joined the NFL program in May 2025 after Akbar Gbajabiamila left.
- How many children does Manti Te’o have? Manti Te’o has two children, a daughter and a son.
- When did Manti Te’o get married? Manti Te’o got married to Jovi Nicole Engbino on August 29, 2020.
Final word
Manti Te’o’s net worth is estimated at $3.5 million. It reflects years of dedication to football and his ventures afterwards. While triumphs may have marked his career, Te’o transformed his challenges into opportunities.
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Proofreading by Masolo Mabonga, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
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