As of 2024, Herschel Walker has an estimated net worth of $10 million.
Herschel Walker is a former professional American football player, bobsledder, sprinter, and mixed martial artist. As a football player, Walker played college football for the University of Georgia Bulldogs and earned the Heisman Trophy in 1982.
He then played professionally in the United States Football League and National Football League for 12 seasons, mainly with the Dallas Cowboys. Over his football career, Walker gained great fame and wealth.
Herschel Walker Net Worth
As of 2024, Herschel Walker has an estimated net worth of $10 million. He accumulated a significant amount of his wealth during his professional football career. While playing in the USFL in the mid-1980s, Walker was the highest-paid running back, earning over $5 million per year. His combined NFL and USFL salaries over his 12-season professional football career likely exceeded $15 million.
Walker was wise to invest his football earnings into various business ventures, prime real estate, and startup companies. His food service company, Renaissance Man Food Services, proved quite successful, providing food for airlines, schools, and military bases for years.
However, Walker likely earned millions from that company’s eventual sale and growth. His other ventures, like H. Walker Enterprises and its offshoots of consumer goods, meal delivery, and fitness gear, have also contributed steady revenue.
Early Life and Education
Herschel Walker was born on March 3, 1962, in Wrightsville, Georgia. He was raised in a poor environment as one of seven children to parents Willis and Christine Walker. As a child, Walker had a speech impediment and was overweight.
He started working out intensely to lose weight and get stronger. However, his motivation was from being overweight and wanting to impress girls.
Walker attended Johnson County High School, playing football, basketball, and track. Also, he became a star running back for the high school football team. After high school, Walker attended the University of Georgia on a football scholarship.
At Georgia, he continued excelling as a running back and broke numerous collegiate records. His athletic skills and performance earned him the Heisman Trophy award in 1982. However, he left Georgia after his junior year to join the United States Football League.
Football Career Beginnings
Herschel Walker began his professional football career with the New Jersey Generals in the upstart United States Football League in 1983. He played for the Generals from 1983 to 1985, earning over $5 million annually, making him the highest-paid running back in football history.
When the USFL folded in 1986, Walker joined the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL. He played with the Cowboys from 1986 to 1989 and again in 1996 and 1997. Walker also had stints with other NFL teams like the Minnesota Vikings (1989-1991), Philadelphia Eagles (1992-1994) and New York Giants (1995).
Over his 12 seasons in the NFL, Walker rushed for over 8,000 yards and scored 61 touchdowns. However, his combined rushing yards from the USFL and NFL was over 13,000 yards.
Source of Income
Herschel Walker earned significant income during his football career in the USFL and NFL. His top annual salary with the USFL was over $5 million in the mid-1980s. His NFL salaries with the Cowboys, Vikings, Eagles, and Giants also likely exceeded $10 million.
Walker founded companies like Renaissance Man Food Services and H. Walker Enterprises, contributing steady revenue. The food service company that supplied airlines and schools proved highly successful. Besides, his H. Walker Enterprises launched several consumer goods brands and fitness centers that produce income.
Walker owns an extensive portfolio of real estate assets across the U.S. He has previously flipped houses for profit. His properties generate rental income. Rising property values also grow his real estate wealth.
However, Walker invested some of his football and business earnings into startup companies and funds that provided him with recurring investment income.
Business Ventures
Herschel Walker branched out into various business ventures. In 1983, while with the New Jersey Generals, he started a food service company called Renaissance Man Food Services, which mainly focused on providing food for airlines. After retiring from football, Walker became more involved in growing the business.
In 2002, Walker founded a company called H. Walker Enterprises. Also, his company focused on producing various consumer goods and services for health and fitness.
Some offerings included Herschel’s Famous 34, a line of burgers and chicken products, 34TakeOuts, a meal delivery service, and HW Fitness gyms. Walker also authored a book called Breaking Free: My Life with Dissociative Identity Disorder.
Walker has been involved in various real estate transactions and owns an extensive portfolio nationwide. He also draws income from appearance fees, product endorsements, speaking engagements, and serving on corporate boards.
Personal Life and Relationship
Herschel Walker has been married twice. He married his college girlfriend Cindy DeAngelis Grossman in 1983, and they had one child together. After 19 years of marriage, they divorced in 2002.
In 2021, Walker married Julie Blanchard. They have one child together. Walker is a devout Christian and credits his faith as helping him overcome mental health issues.
In 2008, he was diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder (DID), which was formerly known as multiple personality disorder. He underwent extensive counseling and therapy to address his condition.
Success and Achievements
Herschel Walker had a tremendously successful college football career at the University of Georgia. He won the Heisman Trophy in 1982 and set numerous NCAA rushing records, many of which still stand today.
Walker was a consensus All-American twice and helped Georgia win the national championship 1980. However, his success at Georgia led to his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame and Georgia-Florida Hall of Fame.
Walker then played 12 seasons professionally in the USFL and NFL from 1983 to 1997. He rushed for over 13,000 yards and was selected to two Pro Bowls while playing for the Dallas Cowboys. After retiring from football, Walker founded a food service company called Renaissance Man Food Services, which experienced tremendous success supplying airlines, schools, and the military.
Philanthropy
Herschel Walker is dedicated to philanthropy work and has donated a considerable portion of his wealth and time to various charitable causes. He established two organizations – Herschel’s House and Excel Institute – that provide mentorship, academic support, and counseling to help at-risk youths.
Walker has also organized free youth summer camps called Herschel Walker UGA Football Camps, where hundreds of kids participate to learn sportsmanship and teamwork values.
Walker is passionate about supporting veterans. He partnered with Patriot Support to provide housing for veterans and worked with Helping a Hero to assist military veterans.
Walker serves on advisory boards of charities like the Peace Corps Foundation and Children International. However, he has donated funds to numerous organizations that support police, wounded veterans, cancer research, youth outreach, and victims of human trafficking.
FAQs on Herschel Walker Net Worth
What football teams did Herschel Walker play for?
Walker played college football for the University of Georgia Bulldogs, where he won the Heisman Trophy in 1982. Professionally, he played for the New Jersey Generals in the USFL from 1983 to 1985.
How did Herschel Walker make his money?
Walker earned millions in salary during his professional football career in the NFL and USFL. He invested his football earnings into successful business ventures like Renaissance Man Food Services, real estate, and his H. Walker Enterprises brand.
Is Herschel Walker married?
Walker has been married twice. His first marriage to Cindy DeAngelis Grossman lasted 19 years, from 1983 to 2002 when they divorced. In 2007, Walker married Julie Blanchard. They have one child together.
What charity work does Herschel Walker do?
Walker is dedicated to philanthropy work, helping at-risk youths and veterans and raising funds for organizations supporting the disadvantaged. He runs free youth football camps and established mentoring initiatives at Herschel’s House and Excel Institute.
Bottom Line
Herschel Walker achieved tremendous success as an athlete and built a multi-million dollar fortune through his business ventures.
Walker’s determination, work ethic, and diversified revenue streams from football, business, and investments have accumulated an estimated $10 million net worth as of 2024. Though now in his 60s, Walker maintains good health and fitness and continues managing his various business and investment interests.
