Ed Orgeron Net Worth

What is Ed Orgeron's Net Worth and Salary?

Ed Orgeron is an American football coach and a former NFL player who has a net worth of $20 million. Ed Orgeron is a prominent figure in American college football, recognized for his energetic personality and success as both a coach and recruiter. He began his coaching journey in the mid-1980s with assistant roles across multiple programs before landing his first major opportunity as head coach at Ole Miss in 2005. Orgeron's true moment in the spotlight came at LSU, where he initially served as an interim coach in 2016 and quickly earned the full-time position. Known affectionately as "Coach O," he transformed LSU's program, recruiting and developing top-tier talent and revitalizing the team's identity.

At LSU, Orgeron led the Tigers to a dominant 2019 season, capped by a national championship victory over Clemson. His infectious energy, combined with a knack for motivating players and connecting with fans, made him a beloved figure in Baton Rouge. Over his coaching career, he has been praised for his ability to rebuild programs, inspire confidence in players, and generate enthusiasm among supporters. Beyond his championship success, Orgeron's legacy extends to the lasting cultural impact he made at LSU and across college football, forever remembered as a coach who brought both heart and victory to the field.

Salaries and Contracts

In October 2021, it was revealed that LSU was paying Orgeron $17 million to "walk away quietly" from his coaching position at the university. This buyout fee was the result of Ed's reason for dismissal. Simply put, there was no reason for him being fired, which allowed him to receive the full $17 million. Two-thirds of this sum would go directly to the coach, while the remaining third would go towards his LLC. His first installment was reported to be $5 million, while the next payment would come a month later at $667,000. This pattern will continue for the next few years.

Many prominent business experts previously stated they believed Ed's contract payout would be closer to $10 million, largely because of his off-field issues. However, the $17 million is probably a reflection of LSU's goal to keep him silent, as Orgeron almost certainly had detailed information about the sexual harassment and sexual abuse allegations that were plaguing LSU when this payout was offered.

At the time, LSU was embroiled in a $50-million sexual misconduct lawsuit that largely involved players on the school football team. In addition, a few legal experts speculated that if LSU had fired Orgeron for some kind of off-field misconduct, this might have legal ramifications. Basically, prosecutors could claim that Orgeron's dismissal was a sign that LSU was aware of the sexual misconduct, which could make them liable. Four-dimensional chess, everyone.

Early Years

Edward James Orgeron Jr. was born on July 27th, 1961, in Larose, Louisiana. He was raised alongside his brother in a small town on the Bayou Lafourche in Lafourche Parish in a family with Cajun roots. He attended high school in Galliano alongside Bobby Hebert, a future NFL star. Together, Orgeron and Hebert played on the high school team. Orgeron then played football at Louisiana State University for one year before transferring to Northwestern State University. During this time, he played as a defensive lineman.

Career

By 1984, Orgeron had focused on a career as a football coach, beginning with a role as a graduate assistant at Northwestern State. He then coached at McNeese State before becoming an assistant strength coach at the University of Arkansas. By 1988, he was working alongside Jimmy Johnson and Dennis Erickson at the University of Miami as the defensive line coach. Personal issues caused Ed to take a leave of absence, during which he moved back in with his parents and tried to get his life back on track.

By 1994, Orgeron had returned as a volunteer linebackers coach for Nicholls States University. He then moved to Syracuse University and served as a defensive line coach for the next three years. During this period, Ed's reputation improved, and his personal issues were largely put behind him. In 1998, Orgeron coached USC for the first time, although only as a defensive line coach. During this time, USC became quite successful and won two National Championships. Orgeron was singled out for praise, winning the National Recruiter of the Year Award in 2004.

His success at USC helped him win the head coach position at Ole Miss. However, this did not go well, and he was fired. In 2008, he was hired by the New Orleans Saints as a defensive line coach, and he later served as defensive line coach at the University of Tennessee. By 2010, he had returned to USC as one of the highest-paid assistant coaches, with a salary of $650,000 per year. After Lane Kiffin was fired, Ed became the interim head coach. This was always a temporary solution, however, and Ed resigned when he was replaced by Steve Sarkisian.

Orgeron experienced true success as a coach when he moved to LSU. Although he was again hired as a defensive line coach, he got the opportunity to act as interim head coach for a second time when Les Miles was fired. This time, he managed to maintain his position, and LSU agreed to keep him on as a permanent head coach. Over the next few years, he helped LSU achieve a decent record, and Ed signed a contract extension in 2018. In 2019, he won the College Playoff National Championship with LSU. After another lackluster season and a sexual harassment lawsuit faced by LSU, Orgeron was dismissed in 2021.

(Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)

Controversies

Orgeron's off-field problems date back to the early 90s when a local woman filed a restraining order against him. She accused him of repeatedly attacking her. In 1992, he was arrested for participating in a bar fight in Baton Rouge. Although he faced felony second-degree battery charges, they were eventually dropped. Although Ed got his life back on track, his off-field issues would resurface once again in 2021. During this time, a woman testified that she had been sexually harassed by an LSU running back.

She also testified that she had reported the harassment directly to Orgeron and that he had taken no action as a result. She also claimed that Ed had called her and asked her to forgive the running back. Orgeron was eventually named as a defendant in a sexual harassment lawsuit against LSU that involved the rape of a student by the running back. Once again, Orgeron was accused of not reporting the incident and attempting to brush it off.

Personal Life & Divorce Settlement

Ed Orgeron was married to Kelly Orgeron for over two decades before filing for divorce in early 2020, just weeks after LSU's national championship season and his contract extension with the school. Their separation later became the subject of a lengthy legal dispute over Orgeron's $17 million buyout from LSU following his 2021 dismissal. In 2025, the Louisiana Supreme Court ruled that Kelly was entitled to nearly half of that amount—$8.13 million—because the contract extension was signed while they were still married. The court determined that the buyout qualified as community property, overturning a previous lower court ruling in Ed's favor. Since his departure from LSU, Orgeron has not returned to a formal coaching role, and the divorce settlement marked a significant chapter in his post-coaching life.

Real Estate

In 2018, Orgeron purchased a home in Baton Rouge for $900,000. Located in the affluent neighborhood of University Club, the lakeside residence features stunning views of a nearby golf course. Boasting 4,300 square feet of living space and five bedrooms, the home had additional highlights such as an outdoor fireplace, an outdoor living room, and an indoor gas fireplace.

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