Bill Romanowski Net Worth

What is Bill Romanowski's Net Worth?

Bill Romanowski is an American former professional football player who has a net worth of $400 thousand. Bill Romanowski played 16 seasons as a linebacker in the NFL from 1988 to 2003, spending most of his time with the San Francisco 49ers and the Denver Broncos. In addition to winning two Super Bowls each with the 49ers and the Broncos, he was notorious for his frequently violent behavior on the field, ultimately leading to his retirement.

Contracts, Salaries & Career Earnings

Over a 16-year NFL career (1988–2003), Bill Romanowski signed multiple lucrative contracts, accumulating an estimated $30 million in total earnings. Among his notable deals was a seven-year contract with the Raiders in 2002, which included a $1.3 million signing bonus and a $700,000 base salary that first season. While individual yearly figures varied—ranging from roughly $1.7 million to $2.2 million during his Denver Broncos tenure—Romanowski ultimately left the league with four Super Bowl rings and significant career earnings, though not without financial and legal challenges in the years following his retirement.

2024 Bankruptcy

Bill Romanowski and his wife filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on April 29, 2024, shortly before a scheduled federal hearing in a civil suit brought by the Department of Justice, which is seeking over $15.3 million in unpaid income taxes dating back to 1998. The filing followed the August 2023 bankruptcy of Nutrition53, a health supplement company Romanowski founded in 2006. That company reported assets between $1 and $10 million and debts between $10 and $50 million, including $16.4 million in secured debt. The DOJ alleges the Romanowskis used Nutrition53 funds to pay for personal expenses—including spa visits, plastic surgery, rent for their adult daughter, and groceries for their adult son—effectively using the company as their "alter ego" to shield assets from the IRS. Romanowski stepped down as CEO in 2020 but remains a shareholder. While the company's attorney has claimed the IRS allegations are without merit, the Romanowskis' personal bankruptcy was later converted to Chapter 7, allowing for full liquidation of assets. This followed years of financial strain, including a 2013 federal ruling that the couple owed $5 million in back taxes related to a failed horse-breeding investment.

Real Estate

In 2005, Bill and his wife Janet paid $1.4 million for a home in Lafayette, California. According to their 2024 bankruptcy filing, they currently rent a home in Lafayette.

Early Life and Education

Bill Romanowski was born on April 2, 1966 in Vernon, Connecticut. As a teenager, he went to Rockville High School, graduating in 1984. For his higher education, Romanowski attended Boston College, where he played college football with the Eagles. He graduated with honors in 1988.

San Francisco 49ers

In the 1988 NFL draft, Romanowski was chosen by the San Francisco 49ers in the third round. He played all 16 games that season and started eight, recording 53 combined tackles. The 49ers finished first in the NFC West and proceeded to beat the Minnesota Vikings and the Chicago Bears in the playoffs. Finally, in Super Bowl XXIII, the team defeated the Cincinnati Bengals, giving Romanowski his first Super Bowl title in his very first career season. He went on to win a second consecutive Super Bowl the next season, with the 49ers defeating the Denver Broncos to cap off one of the most dominant playoff runs in NFL history.

The 49ers remained in top form during the 1990 season, again finishing with a 14-2 record and claiming their fifth consecutive NFC West title. However, the team narrowly lost to the New York Giants in the NFC Championship Game. After missing the playoffs in 1991, the 49ers came back strong in 1992 to win another NFC West title. This time, however, they fell to the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Championship Game. In the 1993 season, Romanowski recorded a career-high 104 combined tackles as the 49ers again won the NFC West, before falling again to the Cowboys in the NFC Championship Game.

(Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Philadelphia Eagles

In 1994, Romanowski moved to the Philadelphia Eagles. That season, he recorded 66 combined tackles to go along with two interceptions. He played one more season in Philadelphia, reaching the Divisional Playoffs, where the Eagles lost to the Cowboys.

Denver Broncos

Romanowski signed with the Denver Broncos in 1996. He had a strong first season with the team, recording 77 combined tackles and a career-high three interceptions as the Broncos finished first in the AFC West. The Broncos ultimately made it to the Divisional Playoffs, where they were eliminated by the Jacksonville Jaguars. In the 1997 season, the Broncos advanced all the way to Super Bowl XXXII, where they defeated the Green Bay Packers to claim their first Super Bowl title. The team won a second consecutive Super Bowl the next season, this time beating the Atlanta Falcons. After missing the playoffs in 1999, the Broncos returned in 2000 and reached the Wild Card Round. Romanowski played his final season with the team in 2001.

Oakland Raiders

In 2002, Romanowski joined the Oakland Raiders. Continuing his trend of having incredible first seasons with his new teams, he recorded a career-high 65 solo tackles as the Raiders finished first in the AFC West. The team went on to defeat the New York Jets and the Tennessee Titans in the playoffs before losing to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl XXXVII. Romanowski remained with the Raiders in 2003, but played only three games that season due to injury, ending his streak of 243 consecutive games played since 1988. He subsequently retired from the NFL.

Altercations

Involved in numerous altercations during his career, Romanowski was named by ESPN as the fifth-"dirtiest" player in professional sports team history. Among his many on-field altercations, he kicked Arizona Cardinals fullback Larry Centers in the head; head-butted Caroline Panthers quarterback Kerry Collins; spat in the face of 49ers wide receiver J. J. Stokes; dealt multiple blows to Kansas City Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez; and attacked his Raiders teammate Marcus Williams, crushing his eye socket. Romanowski received tens of thousands of dollars in fines for these and other incidents, and was finally forced to retire after the attack on Williams in 2003.

Post-NFL Career

After leaving the NFL, Romanowski co-wrote the autobiography "Romo My Life on the Edge: Living Dreams and Slaying Dragons," which was published in 2005. Also that year, he played a guard in the sports comedy film "The Longest Yard," a remake of the 1974 film of the same name. In 2006, Romanowski played a little league coach in the film "The Benchwarmers," and also founded the nutritional supplement company Nutrition53. He returned to the football world in 2008 as the defensive coordinator at Piedmont High School in California, where his son went. Later, in 2013, Romanowski became a minority owner of the NASCAR team Swan Racing.

Personal Life

Romanowski is married to his wife, Julie. The couple has been involved in some controversies, including the BALCO Scandal, in which they were investigated for prescription drug fraud. Romanowski later admitted to using steroids and human growth hormone he had received from BALCO owner Victor Conte. He ran into more trouble in 2024 when he and his wife were sued by the IRS for over $15 million in unpaid back taxes. The pair consequently filed for bankruptcy in August 2024.

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