How Adrian Peterson Blew $100 Million In Career Earnings

Adrian Peterson was once the most feared running back in football — a generational talent who bulldozed defenders, shattered records, and looked destined for a smooth ride into the Hall of Fame. Over 15 seasons, he racked up more than $103 million in NFL salary, making him the highest-paid running back in league history.

And yet, today, Adrian Peterson is a cautionary tale.

Despite earning a fortune, Peterson has spent the past several years drowning in lawsuits, saddled with massive debt, and now facing fresh legal trouble after a 2025 DWI arrest in Minnesota.

How did it all fall apart?

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NFL Earnings

Adrian Peterson entered the NFL with sky-high expectations — and he didn't disappoint. Drafted 7th overall in the 2007 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings, he was seen as a rare combination of size, speed, and power — a throwback to old-school, between-the-tackles running backs with the burst to outrun cornerbacks in the open field.

Peterson made an immediate impact, winning Offensive Rookie of the Year, setting a single-game rushing record with 296 yards, and quickly establishing himself as the cornerstone of the Vikings' offense. And with that dominance came massive paydays.

His rookie deal was lucrative by mid-2000s standards, but it was only the beginning. As his star rose, so did his contracts, culminating in record-breaking deals that redefined how the NFL valued running backs.

Here's a breakdown of his major contracts:

• 2007: Signed a 5-year, $40.5 million rookie deal with the Vikings
• 2011: Inked a 6-year, $86.2 million extension — the largest running back contract in NFL history at the time
• 2015: Restructured into a 3-year, $42 million deal to keep him in Minnesota into his 30s
• 2017–2020: Signed additional contracts with four teams:
• 2017: 2-year, $7 million deal with the Saints (traded to Cardinals midseason)
• 2018: 1-year veteran minimum deal (~$1 million) with Washington
• 2019: 2-year, $8 million extension with Washington
• 2020: 1-year, $1.05 million deal with the Detroit Lions

Over the course of his career, Peterson earned more than $103 million in salary — a staggering amount for any player, but especially for a position historically undervalued in the salary cap era. At his peak, he was not only the best running back in football — he was also the best-paid.

But as history has shown time and again, even nine-figure careers can be undone by what happens off the field.

Loans Lead to Spiralling Debt

By 2019, troubling signs had emerged. Peterson's attorney confirmed the running back was essentially broke, having trusted the wrong people with his money.

Court records revealed a cascade of bad loans.

In 2016, Peterson took out a $2.4 million loan in Maryland. After five months, he defaulted. He was ultimately ordered to pay $600,000.

Around the same time, he took out a staggering $5.2 million loan from a Pennsylvania lender. At the time he took out the loan, Adrian was eligible to receive an $18 million extension from the Vikings before the next season. Unfortunately, the Vikings declined the option, at which point Adrian became a free agent. He subsequently signed a two-year, $7 million contract with the New Orleans Saints.

The loans were meant to patch over poor financial decisions. Instead, they pulled Peterson deeper into the hole. That loan ballooned to $6.6 million with interest and fees. Then $8 million. In 2021, Adrian was subjected to an $8.3 million judgment related to the loan. By late 2024, the loan had ballooned to $12.5 million. In September 2024, a judge in Houston gave a debt collector permission to seize assets from Peterson's home in Missouri City, Texas.

Liquidating Assets to Stay Afloat

As his financial situation worsened, Peterson began offloading real estate.

In 2013, Adrian paid a bit over $5 million for a home in The Woodlands, Texas, near Houston. He listed this home for sale in 2016 for $8.5 million. He did not get any takers at that price. He finally had to accept just $4.5 million in December 2020.

In 2016, he paid $3.44 million for a second home in Houston, this one in the upscale Rivercrest Estates area. He listed this home in August 2019 for $6.5 million. The sprawling 11,384-square-foot home sits on 3.5 acres and came equipped with 11 bedrooms, a wine bar, aquarium, private movie theater, indoor basketball court, gym, hydrotherapy tanks, a putting green, and a four-bedroom guesthouse. He finally accepted $3.5 – $4 million in June 2021 (the exact sale price was not disclosed).

More Legal Troubles

Peterson's problems haven't been strictly financial.

In 2014, he was indicted for reckless or negligent injury to a child after using a tree branch to discipline his 4-year-old son. He pleaded no contest and avoided jail time, but the incident led to a major NFL suspension and public backlash.

In 2018, he stirred more controversy by stating that he still used a belt to discipline his kids.

Then came April 2025.

Just hours after appearing at a Vikings NFL Draft celebration, Peterson was arrested for DWI. According to police, he was driving 83 mph in a 55 mph zone. His blood alcohol level was .14, well above the legal limit. He was booked and released on a $4,000 bond. He's due back in court on May 9.

Then came May 2025.

On May 27, Adrian was playing cards at a social club in Houston. A disagreement ensued over a poker hand. That disagreement turned into a fist fight, which was caught on tape by a fellow patron:

Former #NFL superstar #AdrianPeterson got into a fistfight with a poker player following a dispute over a hand … and #TMZSports has obtained video of the tussle. pic.twitter.com/WdhcZFHwBt

— TMZ Sports (@TMZ_Sports) June 19, 2025

A Complicated Legacy

There's no question Adrian Peterson was one of the greatest ever to carry a football. His career stats and highlight reel still dazzle. He'll likely end up in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

But the second chapter of his life — the one that should have been cushioned by generational wealth — is instead riddled with lawsuits, debt, and now criminal charges.

He earned over $100 million. Today, he has little to show for it.