David Beckham earned an estimated £19m from the World Cup, leaving Shakira and Justin Bieber trailing, according to market analysts. The England and Manchester United icon was one of the most visible celebrities at the tournament, attending numerous games and appearing in adverts for brands like McDonald's, Walkers and Stella Artois.
Beckham tops Shakira and Bieber
Beckham, who boasts a combined net worth of £1.85bn with wife Victoria, made an estimated £19m from the tournament. That tops World Cup regular Shakira (£15m), who performed at the opening ceremony and the final's half-time show, and Bieber (£12m), who performed a solo at the latter.
'Brand Beckham' carries huge clout in the United States, where David is a part-owner of Inter Miami, having spent five years with LA Galaxy as a player. One of his sons, Brooklyn, who has had a public falling out with his family, has also coined it in, making an estimated £1m, mostly from a lucrative commercial with DoorDash.
Expert insight on celebrity endorsements
Brand and culture expert Nick Ede said via The Sun: "While he's [Brooklyn] often criticised, global brands clearly believe his surname, social media reach and international recognition still have significant marketing value during events watched by billions. The advert, along with increased eyes on him, will have elevated his brand and value even more."
On actors and pop stars' eagerness to be associated with the World Cup, Ede said: "Brands are willing to spend tens of millions securing celebrities who can instantly grab attention during the commercial breaks because they know they're reaching an audience of billions. For many stars, appearing in this year's World Cup campaigns can be just as valuable as starring in a blockbuster film or releasing a hit album because the exposure is truly global."
But Beckham, 51, has become the celeb to beat when it comes to World Cup earnings. His £19m was £8m more than the England squad combined received for finishing third.
England squad earnings
The FA received a £22m share from the tournament's huge prize fund, of which about half went to the squad and coaching staff. The players will earn between £350,000 and £420,000 each. The FA sets aside a specific backroom bonus pool, with head coach Thomas Tuchel receiving a handsome standalone payment. The players' money does not include their £2,000 match fees, which, thanks to a deal established by the England Footballers Foundation in 2007, are donated in full to charity.
