Michael Irvin Net Worth

What Is Michael Irvin's Net Worth and Salary?

Michael Irvin is a former American football player and actor who has a net worth of $12 million. Nicknamed "The Playmaker," Michael Irvin spent his entire 12-year professional career with the Dallas Cowboys, where he played a central role in reviving the franchise and building its dynasty. Selected 11th overall in the 1988 NFL Draft, Irvin quickly established himself as a clutch performer with an unmatched competitive drive. Teaming up with quarterback Troy Aikman and running back Emmitt Smith, he formed the core of the Cowboys' offense, leading them to three Super Bowl championships in the 1990s. Known for his physicality, precise route running, and leadership, Irvin was a five-time Pro Bowl selection and led the NFL in receiving yards in 1991. By the time he retired in 1999 due to a career-ending neck injury, he had tallied 750 receptions, 11,904 receiving yards, and 65 touchdowns, ranking among the best of his era. His impact went beyond stats, as he was celebrated for his emotional intensity and ability to elevate teammates in big moments. Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2007, Irvin later became a prominent sports commentator, further cementing his place as one of football's most enduring figures.

Contracts, Salary & Career Earnings

Over his 12-year NFL career with the Dallas Cowboys, Michael Irvin earned more than $15 million in salary. His rookie deal in 1988 was worth just under $2 million over four years, reflecting the modest pay scale of the era. In 1995, at the peak of his career, he signed a five-year, $15 million contract extension, which made him one of the league's highest-paid wide receivers at the time. While his earnings were small compared to modern NFL contracts, Irvin supplemented his income with endorsements and later built a successful post-football career in broadcasting and media appearances.

Early Life

Michael Jerome Irvin was born on March 5, 1966, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Raised alongside 16 siblings in a Christian household, Michael quickly became a star football player for his high school team. After a stellar high school campaign, Irvin was heavily recruited by the University of Miami. He accepted their offer and was subsequently coached by Jimmy Johnson during his college years. During his time playing for the Hurricanes, Michael set a number of new records for the school, including most career receptions, most receiving yards, and most touchdown receptions.

NFL Career

In 1988, the Dallas Cowboys selected Michael Irvin as the 11th pick in the first round of the NFL draft. Michael earned a $750,000 signing bonus with a 4-year, $1.875 million contract. He re-signed with the Cowboys in 1992 with a 3-year, $3.75 million contract. When he signed a 5-year, $12.3 million contract in 1995, Michael became one of the highest-paid players in the NFL

Michael started strong, catching his first touchdown at the season opener that year. Although Irvin continued to play well over the next period, the Cowboys were not a successful team. An injury almost caused him to be traded to the Raiders. The team's performance began to improve in the '90s, and Michael set several franchise records in 1995. The Cowboys also won the Super Bowl in 1992 and 1993. During the late '90s, Irvin suffered a serious collarbone injury and then a cervical spinal cord injury that ended his career.

Entertainment Career

Over the years, Irvin has appeared in numerous television shows and films. In 2005, he appeared in "The Longest Yard" alongside Adam Sandler, followed by another Sandler film, "Jack & Jill," in 2011. In terms of reality television, he is known for appearing in series like "Pros vs. Joes" and "4th and Long." His most recent film role was in 2017's "Slamma Jamma."

(Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

Controversy

Over the course of his career, Irvin has been involved in a number of notable controversies. In 1996, widespread media sources reported that Michael and another player had sexually assaulted a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader. Although the incident affected the performance of the team in the game following the allegations, it was later revealed that the entire story had been fabricated. The cheerleader who made the false reports was sentenced to 90 days in jail.

In 1998, Irvin allegedly stabbed a fellow Cowboys player with a pair of scissors. The victim was Everett McIver, and Michael narrowly missed his carotid artery with the assault. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones stepped in and brokered a deal that paid McIver a six-figure settlement in exchange for his silence and his agreement to not pursue criminal charges.

After retiring from the NFL, Irvin continued to struggle with controversies. Just one year after he stopped playing, Michael was arrested for possession of cocaine. Although he was arrested after being found in a Dallas apartment with cocaine, charges were later dropped. In 2005, he was ticketed for speeding in Texas. Later, he was arrested for an outstanding warrant, having never paid the speeding ticket. During this arrest, his car was searched. Police found drug paraphernalia, including a pipe and plastic bags that both had marijuana residue. Irvin was then arrested on a Class C misdemeanor and was eventually released on bond.

In 2007, Michael was accused of sexual assault once again. The incident stemmed from an incident that took place in a Florida casino, and he faced a civil suit in 2010. In response, Irvin filed a $100 million defamation countersuit before the case was settled out of court in 2011.

In 2009, Irvin was apparently the victim of a carjacking attempt in Dallas. His police report states that two men "flashed their guns at him," although these men drove away without assaulting or impeding Michael in any way. The police later suspended the investigation because Irvin reportedly did not cooperate in some way.

In 2017, Michael faced another sexual assault accusation. The incident allegedly occurred in Florida. Irvin denied the allegations. After several months, police announced that they were closing the investigation without pressing charges against Michael, presumably due to a lack of evidence.

Many observers believe that Irvin's continued controversies may have contributed to his eventual departure from ESPN. Michael had already made several questionable statements during his time as a broadcaster, and the network eventually learned of a lawsuit filed against the former athlete in 2007. Combined with declining ratings, ESPN announced that Irvin was no longer with the network in 2007.

Real Estate

In 2001, Michael custom-built a 12,100-square-foot mansion in Plano, Texas. Today, this home is worth an estimated $3.6 million.

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