Rich Dudes│Damar Hamlin’s $2M Net Worth From High School Sensation to NFL Stardom

Buffalo Bills safety and Chasing M's Foundation creator Damar Hamlin’s $2 million net worth is fueled by a juicy NFL contract, booming clothing line, and NFTs.

Updated Jul 17, 2023

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American football star Damar Romeyelle Hamlin has already bagged some impressive milestones in his brief NFL journey. Presently rocking the field as a Buffalo Bills player, Damar Hamlin’s net worth is approximately $2 million. Plus, he's just inked a fabulous four-year contract worth $3.6 million. Oh yeah, the man's living the dream.

Damar Hamlin banks on his four-year contract, featuring a solid base salary and tempting bonuses. Along with his successful Chasing M's Foundation and clothing line, he’s also ventured into the world of NFTs.

Born to Mario Hamlin and Nina Hamlin, Damar Hamlin's journey to national football league acclaim began at Central Catholic High School in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. He was already making waves earning First-Team All-State and Class AAAA Defensive Player of the Year titles.

These accomplishments caught the attention of major colleges, including Pittsburgh, Penn State, Ohio State, and Temple.

Damar Hamlin net worth at a glance

Net worth

$2 million

Born 

March 24, 1998

Nationality

American born in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania

Became a millionaire at

22

Occupations

Football player and entrepreneur

Sources of wealth

Professional football and Chasing M's clothing line

Asset classes

Merch and NFTs

How Damar Hamlin made his money

The Damar Hamlin net worth story began with his decision to join the Pittsburgh Panthers, neighbors to the Pittsburgh Steelers. He rapidly developed into a formidable football safety there, accumulating impressive stats, spearheading the team in tackles, and earning All-ACC honors.

The Buffalo Bills spotted Damar's potential, drafting him in the sixth round as the 212th overall pick during the 2021 NFL Draft. He stepped into the spotlight as a starting safety following Micah Hyde's unfortunate neck injury in week two.

Though moments of brilliance shone through, challenges like his ejection and in-game collapse reminded everyone of professional football’s unpredictable nature.

Damar's professional football career exploits were rewarded with a massive four-year contract worth $3.64 million, including a $160,000 signing bonus. With salaries starting at $660,000, steadily increasing to $1.05 million in year four, he's looking at over $3 million in earnings from 2021 to 2025.

Damlin's projected pro football earnings from 2021 to 2024:

Year

Base Annual Salary

Prorated Bonus

Cap Number

2021

$660,000

$40,119

$700,119

2022

$825,000

$40,119

$865,119

2023

$940,000

$40,119

$980,119

2024

$1,055,000

$40,119

$1,095,119

Total

$3,480,000

$160,476

$3,640,476

And that's just the beginning. Damar's performance on the field could lead to lucrative bonus deals in the future. If he stays on this trajectory, there's no doubt he'll be scoring even bigger deals when his contract is eligible for renewal in 2025.

How Damar Hamlin invests

Damar Hamlin banks on his four-year contract, featuring a solid base salary and tempting bonuses.

Along with his successful Chasing M's Foundation and clothing line, he’s also ventured into the world of NFTs. Let's dive deeper into Damar Hamlin’s money moves and how he invests his hard-earned cash across these asset classes.

Merch

Chasing M's is a fashion brand that has been steadily building momentum since its inception in 2017. For Damar Hamlin, the M stands for "Millions." The Philadelphia defensive back and Central Catholic High School alum sought to create a style that would pave the way for his dreams, and with Chasing M's clothing line, he has most certainly done that.

As it turns out, the drive for success also translated into financial success. Hamlin's Chasing M's is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation that has raised more than $8.6 million from 244,000 donations—Call him “M” because folks have been chasing after him.

The attention generated by the foundation has led to a spike in sales at the Chasing M's clothing company, with the new "Did We Win?" shirt, inspired by the first phrase Hamlin uttered after he regained consciousness following a scary collapse moments after making a tackle on Cincinnati Bengals player Tee Higgins. The shirt quickly sold out.

Damar Hamlin's Chasing M's clothing line and nonprofit raised over $8.6 million in 2023.
Source: chasingms.com


Already popular among Pittsburgh-area youth teams, Hamlin's Chasing M's gear gained nationwide attention following his injury, expanding its range to include inspiring designs on hoodies, windbreakers, and sweatsuits, thus fueling his dreams and benefiting the community.

NFTs

Damar Hamlin embraces the digital revolution, stepping into the world of digital trading cards. He's among the first athletes to launch non-fungible tokens (NFTs), with 10 up for grabs at $25 each.

As his NFL career grows, so could the value of his NFTs. Owning 20% of every sale, Damar's on the cutting edge of alternative investments, showcasing the potential NFTs hold in the ever-evolving digital age.

Damar Hamlin launched a collection of 10 digital trading card NFTs at $25 each.
Source: triblive

The NFT sector is expected to grow with a CAGR of 35.1% from 2022 to 2028, totaling over $79.6 million by 2028. With big brands and celebrities like Quentin Tarantino and Logan Paul recognizing the potential of NFTs as an investment, the outlook for investors remains promising in this rapidly expanding market.

Real estate

Damar Hamlin keeps his residential affairs hush-hush, but reports allege that he resides in an upscale apartment complex in Hamburg, New York, near Highmark Stadium.

The chic two-story apartment complex built in 2021 houses luxurious amenities like private entrances, attached garages, a gym, a heated pool, and a yoga studio.

Amid economic slowdown and mixed real estate trends in the U.S.—with delinquencies below 1% in Q2 2022 and the Mortgage Bankers Association predicting an $872 billion commercial lending total by 2023—investors and lenders are seeking properties with a focus on strong cash flows and asset diversity.

Damar Hamlin investing quotes 

Damar Hamlin married the game, but it was his hard work, dedication, and resilience hat proved him to be a formidable football safety. His rookie season with the Buffalo Bills has demonstrated his exceptional potential, paving the way for a bright future in the NFL.

From a six-figure signing bonus as a rookie to entering the world of free agency and cap hits, Hamlin continues to invest wisely in areas such as philanthropy, entrepreneurship, and innovative ventures like NFTs.

Supported by a loving family and a strong personal life, there is no doubt that Damar Hamlin's net worth will continue to soar in the coming years, making him a player to watch both on and off the field.

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2. Everything has a price

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