Chad Ochocinco Johnson Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What is Chad Ochocinco Johnson’s Net Worth and Career Earnings?

Chad Ochocinco Johnson, a former professional American football wide receiver and reality TV star, has an estimated net worth of $15 million. He spent eleven seasons in the National Football League (NFL) playing for teams such as the Cincinnati Bengals, New England Patriots, and Miami Dolphins.

Over his NFL career, Chad amassed nearly $47 million solely from his salaries. In a 2013 court dispute concerning child support, he declared his total assets to be worth $5 million. He indicated that monthly expenses related to child support for his eight children, mortgages, car payments, and food were costing him around $45,000. At that moment, he stated his income was about $3,000 monthly, translating to roughly $36,000 annually.

In a November 2021 episode of the “Full Send” podcast, Chad asserted that his wealth exceeded $5 million, even revealing that he maintained $15 million in his bank account.

Early Life and College Career

Born on January 9, 1978, in Miami, Florida, Chad Javon Johnson completed his high school education at Miami Beach Senior High School in 1997. He initially went to Langston University but did not play football there. Later he transferred to Santa Monica College in California, where he participated in football activities. Finally, in 2000, he made the move to Oregon State University after catching the attention of OSU football coach Dennis Erickson.

Professional Football Career

Johnson kicked off his professional football journey in the NFL in 2001 when the Cincinnati Bengals selected him in the second round with the 36^th overall pick. He had a strong start, setting a franchise record for the Bengals in 2005 by amassing 1,432 yards. Nonetheless, his on-field achievements were often overshadowed by his so-called “diva-like” antics, characterized by boasting and a consistent refusal to conform to authority, which created issues for various teams. Despite being named to the Pro Bowl six times, the Bengals opted to release Johnson in 2010 for the betterment of their roster.

In July 2011, he was traded to the New England Patriots from Cincinnati but played for less than a year before being let go. Subsequently, he joined the Miami Dolphins in June 2012; however, he was released in August after being arrested for domestic violence involving his reality-star wife, Evelyn Lozada.

In 2014, Johnson signed a two-year contract with the Montreal Alouettes in the Canadian Football League (CFL) but appeared in just five regular-season games that year. After failing to report to the required spring training camp, he was suspended for the entire 2015 CFL season and was not offered a new contract. His only comeback to professional football came in 2017 when the Monterrey Fundidores signed him for a single game in the Liga de Futbol Americano Profesional de Mexico. During the April 2 game, he caught three passes, aiding Monterrey in their victory over the Saltillo Dinos.

Chad Johnson Salary History
Year	Team	Earnings
2001	Cincinnati Bengals	$300 thousand + $1.4 million bonus
2002	Cincinnati Bengals	$351 thousand
2003	Cincinnati Bengals	$426 thousand + $7 million bonus
2004	Cincinnati Bengals	$526 thousand
2005	Cincinnati Bengals	$1 million + $3.5 millionbonus
2006	Cincinnati Bengals	$2.75 million + $5 million bonus
2007	Cincinnati Bengals	$2.5 million + $5 million bonus
2008	Cincinnati Bengals	$3 million + $5 million bonus
2009	Cincinnati Bengals	$4.5 million
2010	Cincinnati Bengals	$3.5 million
2011	New England Patriots	$925 thousand
2012	Miami Dolphins	$0 (Johnson was cut before making the regular season roster)
Total career earnings:		$46.678 million

Name Change

In recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month, Johnson expressed his desire to be called “Ocho Cinco,” a phrase that translates to “eight five” in Spanish, referencing his jersey number, 85. On August 29, 2008, he legally changed his name to Chad Javon Ochocinco and received permission from the Cincinnati Bengals to sport it on the back of his jersey. Nonetheless, for the 2008 football season, he retained “Johnson” on his jersey to meet contractual commitments with Reebok. He then introduced his “Ochocinco” jersey during the 2009 season, but reverted his last name back to Johnson in 2012.

Other Projects and Pursuits

Beyond the NFL, Johnson explored a range of ventures. In 2010, he launched the iPhone game “Mad Chad,” which he collaborated on with RockLive. That year, he also competed in season ten of the popular show “Dancing with the Stars,” where he was partnered with two-time champion Cheryl Burke, ultimately making it to the final four before his elimination. Additionally, he starred in his own dating reality show on VH1 titled “Ochocinco: The Ultimate Catch.” Furthermore, he contributed his voice and likeness to EA’s 2006 video game “NFL Street 3,” featuring on the cover and narrating tutorials alongside Clinton Portis and Byron Leftwich.

Personal Life

His relationship with Evelyn Lozada began in early 2010, culminating in a proposal that November. They tied the knot in July 2012. Following an arrest on August 11, 2012, for domestic battery, the Miami Dolphins released him. Lozada filed for divorce just three days later, finalizing the process by September 2012. Although Johnson accepted a plea deal that granted him a year of probation, a warrant for his arrest was issued in May 2013 for allegedly breaching probation terms. He surrendered and was sentenced to thirty days in jail but served just seven after expressing remorse to the court.

Johnson is a father to eight children.

Financial Legal Filings

In November 2012, Johnson made headlines when the mother of one of his children initiated legal proceedings against the unemployed football player for failing to meet child support obligations. It was reported that Johnson did not adhere to the court-mandated

For several consecutive months, a payment of $5,250 was made.

Chad disclosed in a court filing from June 2013 that he experiences a monthly loss of $45,000. At that time, his income was only $3,000 per month, while his expenses included $16,000 in child support, $9,000 in mortgage payments, $3,000 for groceries, and $3,000 for car loans… In that same court document, Johnson identified his total assets as slightly below $5 million, which encompassed two homes and two high-end vehicles.