WAGs Earning More Than Their Pro Athlete Partners

Who run the world? Beyoncé might say “girls,” but in the professional sports world, it’s the WAGS stealing the show. The famously coined term refers to the wives and girlfriends of professional athletes, who often attract just as much, if not more, media attention than their partners. Several famous WAGS have been known to rake in far more dough than their boyfriends and husbands, outshining them in brand deals, career trajectory, and influencer status.

Some WAGS have quite literally changed the game for their love interest. Take Taylor Swift, for example, whose Swiftie army converted into giant football fans after she started dating Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. After their love affair exploded in the media, the NFL used Swift as a marketing tool — playing her hits on game day, panning to her on the big screen, and tweeting up a Swift-filled storm. It paid off, as the league ultimately racked up the highest female viewership ever seen in the sport.

But it’s not just the Swift effect that has WAGS taking center stage. Several of these women built their careers long before their prince charming came around, and they didn’t depend on a season-long contract to form their empire. We’re breaking down all the women whose wallets run deeper their sideline support — here’s a look at the WAGs who make (or made) more money than their pro-athlete partners.

Kerry Washington’s career speaks for itself, from her iconic role as a fixer in the hit show “Scandal” to her standout roles in films like “Ray” and the limited series “Little Fires Everywhere.” Her former NFL star-turned-film-producer husband, Nnamdi Asomugha, has had a substantial professional sports career, but it pales in comparison to the massive fortune Washington amassed with her on-screen roles.

Asomugha played in the league for 11 years, leading the Oakland Raiders to three Pro Bowls, playing two years with the Philadelphia Eagles, and briefly starting with the San Francisco 49ers before retiring in 2013. After leaving his football days behind, Asomugha entered the entertainment industry, trying his hand at producing and acting. He’s best known for producing films like “The Banker,” “Harriet,” and “Beasts of No Nation.”

The former NFL star has racked up an impressive net worth of $30 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth, but Washington still takes the cake with a $50 million fortune to her name.

Brie Bella may have met her husband, Bryan Danielson, in the WWE ring, but she has far surpassed him financially. Bella, whose real name is Brie Garcia, started dating Danielson while they were both professional wrestlers in the league. Danielson left the WWE in 2021 to sign with All Elite Wrestling, while the mother of two announced her retirement from the WWE in 2023.

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Bella’s fortune stands at $12 million, while her husband’s net worth is estimated at around $2 million, according to The Richest. That’s thanks in part to the former athlete’s brand deals, her popular joint podcast “The Bellas Podcast” alongside her sister Nikki, as well as her participation in multiple reality shows throughout her career, like “Total Divas” and “Total Bellas.” Bella is also a successful entrepreneur, debuting her wine line, Belle Radici, in partnership with her sister in 2017. The former WWE stars also own an athletic wear line, Birdiebee, as well as a haircare collection, Nicole and Brizee.

Danielson gets most of his wealth through his wrestling salary, which is estimated to be around $2 million. He also enjoys the perks of endorsement deals, working with brands like Hayabusa Fightwear, Citizen Watch Company, and 1% for the Planet.

Vanessa Hudgens found love with MLB free agent Cole Tucker in 2020, adding her to the list of uber-successful WAGs. While Tucker has earned a substantial penny in his decade-long professional baseball career, it’s chump change when compared to his wife’s fortune. The Los Angeles Angels player has an estimated $5 million to his name (per The Squander), while Hudgens has a net worth of a cool $18 million, as reported by Celebrity Net Worth.

As Hudgens’ fans know, the actor has accumulated her impressive fortune by starring in several noteworthy projects throughout her career. Her breakout role in “High School Musical” proved a historic hit, and she continued to star in other television series and films in the years to come. The “Beastly” star has also earned dough by flipping houses, turning millions of dollars in profit on two previous homes she owned in Los Angeles. Viewers can’t forget her substantial social media portfolio as well, including sponsored content that she’s regularly pumped out on Instagram, like her collaboration with athletic brand Fabletics.

Cole Tucker’s wealth comes from his years as a free agent. He recently signed a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Angels for the 2024 season with an annual salary of $740,000.

Taylor Swift tops the list of the richest WAGs. The singer has a staggering estimated net worth of over $1 billion while her boyfriend Travis Kelce falls far behind her, raking in a $70 million fortune, according to Celebrity Net Worth.

It’s no secret how the global superstar amassed her enormous wealth, as she is considered by many to be the greatest artist of her generation. The “Red” singer once again topped the list as the most streamed artist for the second year running in 2024, while also breaking records with her Eras Tour, which became the highest-grossing tour in industry history. Two diamond albums, multiple Grammy awards, and dozens upon dozens of No. 1 hits have cemented Swift’s place in music history, and she shows no signs of stopping anytime soon.

Kelce, on the other hand, doesn’t do too bad earning paychecks for his talent on the football field. He’s the highest-paid tight end in the NFL as of the time of writing, earning the title after signing a two-year contract with the Chiefs in 2024 for over $34 million. He’s happy to have his girlfriend’s help on the business side, however, and admitted he and his brother’s podcast “New Heights” got a serious upgrade in sponsors since he started dating the singer. “We were happy to have dog food sponsors in the beginning,” Kelce said during a discussion at the Cannes Lions Festival (per Fortune). “Now we can kind of pick and choose who we want to represent the podcast.”

Simone Biles may be married to a fellow professional athlete and multi-millionaire, but the gymnast is still ahead of her husband in wealth. According to Celebrity Net Worth, her partner Jonathan Owens, who plays for the Chicago Bears, has a net worth of $2 million, compared to the Olympian’s $20 million fortune.

While Biles earns tens of thousands of dollars for each Olympic medal, a majority of her wealth comes from her massive sponsorship deals and brand endorsements. As listed on her official website, the cereal giant Wheaties, the activewear brand Athleta, Powerade, the dog food company Nulo, MasterClass, as well as a cybersecurity startup called Axonius are all proud sponsors of the athlete, no doubt contributing to her cash flow. Multiple sources list Biles as the richest gymnast in the world, and she was the eighth highest-paid female athlete in 2023, according to Forbes.

It can’t be easy to follow in Biles’s footsteps, but Owens has carved out financial success in professional sports as well. He reportedly signed a nearly $5 million two-year contract to join the Bears in 2024, with a $750,000 signing bonus and $1,500,000 guarantee. While he doesn’t have nearly as many brand deals as Biles, the safety became the face of sports drink brand GoodSport in 2024, known for their natural line of electrolyte-boosting refreshments.

Carrie Underwood is definitely the wealthiest in her household, with her net worth nearly three times that of her husband Mike Fisher, as reported by Celebrity Net Worth. The “American Idol” winner married the former professional hockey player in 2010, but the paychecks he cashed in while on the ice can’t compare to Underwood’s massive music career, which continues to keep her busy to this day. Fisher is worth an estimated $30 million, compared to his wife’s whopping $140 million net worth.

The “Before He Cheats” artist built an empire in the nearly two decades since she released her first album, with a majority of her income stemming from multiple sold-out tours and chart-topping hits. Every single one of her albums has hit platinum status, and she’s estimated to bring in a staggering $500,000 for her concert appearances, according to Capitalism.com.

Since spending 18 seasons in the NHL, Fisher founded his hunting apparel company Catchin’ Deers alongside his younger brother Bud, signing an exclusive deal to feature their clothing at Tractor Supply beginning in 2019. According to reports, Fisher and Bud went on to make millions in sales since their business began.