Pelé's net worth was around $100 million at the time of his death, with most of his money made after retiring from football.
He was the highest-paid athlete in the world at his peak.
## What was Pelé's net worth?

Pelé debuted professionally at age 15 with Santos FC in 1956 and scored in his very first match.
The following year, he was the top scorer overall in the Brazilian professional league, with 1957 being a notable year for his career.
He was quickly called to play for the Brazilian national team and at 17, he became the youngest player to play in, as well as win, a FIFA World Cup in 1958.
Pelé and the Brazilian team would go on to win again in 1962 and 1970, with Pelé scoring 643 goals during the 18 years he played for Santos.
## How did Pelé make his money?

Pelé's net worth included millions of dollars in endorsements, including a huge paycheck to tie his shoes, with $120,000 paid to him for this single action.
He would go on to earn $100,000 for the next four years, plus a cut of the sales of Pelé brand sneakers.
## What about his football career?

Pelé would never play for a major football club like Real Madrid, Barcelona, or Milan, despite many offers, and coming out of retirement in 1974, he signed with the New York Cosmos to play the following year.
He was paid a significant sum of $2.8 million a year for the three years he played with the Cosmos, making him the highest-paid athlete in the world.
And during the late ‘60s, competition between sportswear brands Adidas and Puma had become so fierce they actually signed somewhat of a peace treaty, an unspoken deal known now as the “Pelé Pact”, where both companies agreed not to sponsor him.
But during the World Cup final in 1970 against Italy, right before the opening whistle, Pelé asked the referee to pause for a moment so he could tie up his sneakers, which were Puma shoes.
So Pelé's legacy continues to inspire football fans around the world, with his impressive career and endorsement deals making him one of the most successful athletes of all time.
Pelé was born Edson Arantes do Nascimento on October 23, 1940, in Três Corações, Minas Gerais, Brazil, and earned the nickname Pelé after mispronouncing Bilé, a goalkeeper who played for Vasco de Gama during his childhood.
He died at age 82 after a short battle with colon cancer, leaving behind a legacy as the greatest footballer of all time.