.jpg)
1 hour ago
3
Rich Paul has negotiated more than $4 billion in contracts for his clients since founding Klutch Sports Group in 2012.
He has also watched enough of those clients spend that money to know exactly what the warning signs look like. In a recent interview, the Klutch CEO laid it out directly for anyone paying attention.
"I got guys, 22, making $200 million over the next four or five years. I've got several of those guys," Paul said. "But the reality of it is that's not a lot of money based upon where you're starting, because they are done at 33. Everyone isn't going to play until their 40s."
A 22-year-old athlete signing a five-year deal worth $200 million is looking at a peak earning window of roughly a decade before their playing career ends.
By the time taxes take their share, athletes are looking at a 51 to 55 percent effective rate, depending on the stat, according to Paul. That turns $200 million into roughly $90-98 million before a dollar is spent on anything.
Insane: Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul says $200 million isn't a lot of money for athletes and it goes quickly.
"I got guys, 22, making $200 million over the next four or five years. I'm constantly telling them that's not a lot of money based upon where you're starting, because… pic.twitter.com/O5dXeR42zP
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) June 2, 2026
What Paul said about private jets
He went beyond the tax math to address the visible side of athlete spending, and did it with a personal example.
"No athlete can afford to fly private all the time, yet we see so many athletes on Instagram flying private," Paul said. "I cannot afford to fly private, and that's okay with me. I'll sit in the Comfort Plus as well, because I'm just trying to get where I'm going to make money. I don't want to spend money. And when I do fly private, you will never see it on Instagram, because it is not for show."
Paul's estimated net worth sits between $120 and $150 million in 2026, built over 14 years through commissions, brand partnerships, and media ventures.
Klutch now represents close to 300 athletes across the NBA, NFL, MLB, and WNBA. Draymond Green, one of Paul's most prominent clients, put the value of Paul's approach plainly when he said most agents treat athletes like the athlete works for them. Paul's financial philosophy runs the other way.
English (US)