Manti Te’o was one of college football’s biggest stars before playing seven seasons in the NFL. Despite a success-filled gridiron journey, a major controversy defined his early career and is one of the most reported and infamous sports scandals in history. He has since embarked on a post-NFL career that includes sports broadcasting, business ventures, and public speaking. Today, his story remains captivating for sports fans. Learn more about Manti Te’o’s net worth, career earnings, and current life activities.
What Is Manti Teo’s Net Worth?
In 2025, Manti Te’o has a net worth of $3.5 million. The bulk of the net worth is accounted for by the income he made from his NFL career, playing as a linebacker on the San Diego Chargers, New Orleans Saints, and Chicago Bears where he grossed approximately $10.4 million. He also generates income through the television sports industry, investments, endorsements, and other ventures.
High School and Early Life
Manti Malietau Louis Te’o was born in Laie, Hawaii on January 26, 1991, the son of Manti Te’o, Sr., who was once a Hawaiian parliamentarian. Te’o attended Punahou High School, then began his collegiate career playing linebacker at the University of Notre Dame in 2009. While at Notre Dame (2009-2012) there were no Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rules allowing him to profit from endorsements.
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NFL career and Earnings
NFL Draft and San Diego Chargers
Te’o was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the 2013 NFL Draft with the 38th pick overall. During 7 seasons in the league, he made nearly $10.49 million in total NFL income and $3.79 million in guaranteed money. Despite lingering health issues that plagued his career, such as an Achilles injury, he was a reliable part of both a defense and a special teams unit. His highest gross take with San Diego occurred in his rookie year when he made roughly $2.55 million of a 4-year/$5.17 million deal that also included a signing bonus that year and well over $3 million guaranteed.
New Orleans Saints
From 2017-2020, Te’o played for the New Orleans Saints, where he appeared in 29 games over two stints on the team. For his first stint in 2017 and 2018, he was on a two-year /$5 million contract with the Saints, where he remained a solid defensive contributor in a smaller capacity on the field. During that contract, he earned the highest annual salary of his career in his last year on the deal making around $2.5 million. He returned in 2019 with a new, but smaller contract, worth $805,000 over one year.
Chicago Bears and Retirement
Te’o wrapped up his professional football career by spending time with the Chicago Bears during the 2020 season on a one-year practice squad contract. For that role, the club would pay him about $132,000. The team moved on, and Te’o made his retirement public in 2023.
The Catfishing Scandal
In late 2012, he became the center of a sensational catfishing scam that revealed to the world his long-time virtual girlfriend, Lennay Kekua, was fictitious. A controversy in this magnitude would certainly influence career decisions. His team’s trip to the National Championship game was overshadowed by reports regarding this catfishing case that arguably affected where Te’o fell in the 2013 NFL draft, likely costing him Millions in salary and endorsements.
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Netflix’s Untold documentary
In 2022, Netflix’s “Untold” documentary series highlighted Te’o’s traumatic experience of being victimized in a relationship with a person who was not real. There is no information as to how much Te’o was paid for his participation in the series. He did, however, use the documentary series as a platform to reclaim and rebuild his narrative, which was generally praised.
Media Ventures
Te’o decided to stay involved in sports entertainment as a broadcaster as he moved on from playing football. By January 2024 he got his break on NFL Network as a studio analyst and host of their sports program Good Morning Football. The former linebacker did participate in the NFL’s broadcast development programs to gain experience working in television media.
Business Dealings
Beyond sports media, Te’o has been able to expand his interests into business. The first of these endeavors appears to involve property through his company HI 5 Homes, LLC that deals in the real estate sector. To further diversify his earnings, he has invested in various businesses involving mobile gaming, virtual reality, ride-sharing apps, and a food delivery services company.
Speaking Engagements
Te’o makes his living from public speaking where he discusses subjects relating to mental toughness, forgiveness, resiliency, and dealing with life’s challenges. Te’o works with a tele-health organization for athletes and earns $15,000-$25,000 per speaking gig.
Personal Life
In August 2020, Te’o married Jovi Nicole Engbino. The two have started their own family and currently live in San Diego, California, where Te’o is balancing his family commitments, broadcast endeavors, and new investments.
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Conclusion
Manti Te’o amassed a net worth of roughly $3.5 million over his career, with the bulk of earnings ($10.4M+) originating from his tenure in the NFL. Following his departure from the league, Te’o successfully pivoted his career towards sports broadcasting, business investments, and public speaking, adding significant income streams and building a new professional identity post-football.