Mad Dog millionaire: NRL great joins elite company among athletes who have got richer after retiring
Legends turned self-made millionaires
NRL fan favourite Adam MacDougall has rocketed up the list of sporting greats who made millions in other ventures post retirement.
He joins the likes of Arnold Palmer, Ben Elias, and Mick Fanning on the lucrative list.
These are the athletes who starred on the field but made their fortunes elsewhere.
Adam 'Mad Dog' MacDougall
He was a beloved rugby league winger for Newcastle, New South Wales and Australia during the late 90s and early 2000s, winning two premierships with the Knights.
After retirement he launched The Man Shake, and more recently The Lady Shake, which he markets as a simple way to "lose the beer gut".
He was named in Australia's Richest 250 list in early 2025 with a reported net worth of $650 million.
Mick Fanning
The Aussie surfing champion owned beer company Balter along with fellow surfers Joel Parkinson, Bede Durbidge and Josh Kerr.
They sold it to Carlton United Breweries in 2019 for somewhere between $150m and $200m, according to reports. Fanning was said to have pocketed about $4m from the deal.
He has various other business interests and a News Corp report in 2022 claimed he is worth roughly $20m.
George Foreman
The heavyweight legend was one of the best boxers of all time and while he made a stack in the ring, his biggest earnings came outside it.
He pocketed 40 per cent of every George Foreman Grill sold - the highly popular kitchen appliance which is said to have sold more than 100 million units around the world.
At the time of his death earlier this year he was said to be worth around $468m.
Ben Elias
The wily old Balmain, Blues and Kangaroos hooker known as 'Backdoor Benny' certainly turned his career earnings - relatively minor compared to today's standards - into a big fortune after hanging up the boots.
Some will joke he owns half of Leichhardt, and his exact worth is a mystery given the man himself is loathe to divulge his many interests.
A News Corp report in 2006 said the 48 mobile phone stores Elias owned around Australia allowed him to purchase such luxuries as a helicopter, two boats and a Porsche 911.
"I'd rather not comment about my private dealings, business is business, not something you go bragging about," he said at the time.
Conor McGregor
The controversial former UFC superstar had plenty of success in the octagon, but cashed in big time with his whiskey brand Proper No.12.
He spent the last few years of his fighting career spruiking the product every chance he could, even drinking it at press conferences.
It worked - he sold his majority share in the company in 2021 for about $930m.
Roger Federer
The Swiss maestro made millions from his tennis career and is third on the all-time earnings list, behind only Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.
But he's also scored big with a partnership with Swiss shoe company On Running.
They were barely known just a few years ago when Federer - reportedly - saw his wife wearing a pair of their runners, and reached out to the company with the idea of being an ambassador.
On Running gave Federer a three per cent share in the company for his work. They went public in 2021 and the shares Federer held instantly netted him three times the US$130m he had earned in prizemoney from tennis.
Last year On Running reported a 29 per cent increase in sales around the world.
Arnold Palmer
The legendary golfer died of heart failure in 2016, aged 87.
While he may not boast the career results record of Jack Nicklaus or Tiger Woods, many regard Palmer as the biggest personal brand the sport has seen, especially given what he earned relative to his era.
He boasted countless deals with major companies like Cadillac, Hertz, Pennzoil, and Rolex, and struck a deal with AriZona Beverage Co to patent his iconic drink which is now known worldwide as an Arnold Palmer - half lemonade, half iced tea. He also designed golf courses and owned the one at Bay Hill which is used for PGA Tour events.
When he died in 2016 his net worth was reported to be $875m USD - more than $1.3 billion in Aussie dollars on today's exchange rate.
David Beckham
The English superstar was one of the best footballers of his generation, was supremely marketable and cashed in during his career as a result.
That ability to attract massive money did not stop after his retirement, with countless lucrative deals with various companies.
One that attracted mass outrage was with the Qatari government ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which was reportedly worth upwards of $272m over 10 years to spruik the nation.
Many took aim at Beckham for signing the deal given his status as an icon of the gay community, and Qatar's atrocious oppression of gay people.
Reports claim the net worth of Beckham and his wife Victoria is around $700m.
Serena Williams
The GOAT of women's tennis won 23 grand slam singles titles and netted close enough to $150 million in prize money throughout an insane career on the court.
But Forbes estimates she has earned about three times that amount with various dealings off the court.
Earlier this year the publication estimated Williams' personal worth at about $527m - placing her 94th on the list of America's Self-Made Women.
A deal with Nike in 2003 was said to be worth USD$55m at the time, while she now has her own clothing line - S by Serena. She owns stakes in the UFC and Miami Dolphins.
