If you think you’ve seen the last of Tom Brady, forget it.

The legendary quarterback, who announced his retirement this week after 22 years in the NFL, is eyeing a slew of ventures that will propel him into the spotlight in 2022 and perhaps for years to come.

And could make him the first former player to become a billionaire.

“I’ve loved my NFL career,” the 44-year-old said on Instagram after calling it quits, “and now it’s time to focus my time and energy on other things that need my attention. “

How to do many more money.

He no longer earns $27 million a year as a QB, but Tom Terrific is looking to grow his health and apparel businesses (TB12 and BRADY brands), shoot a movie about him, and earn big from the cryptocurrency and NFTs.

If you hate him for all that success, Brady doesn’t mind. He even skillfully harnessed the bile of gamer enemies to his advantage in TV commercials. Is there nothing this guy can’t do?

Absolutely not, according to an expert.

“He’s the GOAT of the NFL. [greatest of all time] and his brand is among the strongest of any professional athlete,” said sports marketing analyst Bob Dorfman, noting that Brady landed $180 million in endorsements during his playing days and recently secured $170 million in funding. dollars for his NFT company, Autograph.

“So he can pretty much do whatever he wants – broadcasting, team ownership, speaking engagements, writing books, pitching products for current sponsors, new deals with family brands, or just building his existing businesses,” did he declare.

“I don’t see Brady disappearing from the public eye much in the next five to ten years. He has billionaire potential.

MarketWatch this week put Brady’s net worth at $475 million, putting him behind Roger Staubach – who has $600 million – as the richest former NFL player.

Not a Brady fan? Well, you won’t want to hear this: The seven-time Super Bowl winner has started his own film company (199 Productions) and plans to release “Man in the Arena,” a documentary with ESPN about his title last year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Also in the works is his feature debut, “Eighty for Brady,” which tells the true story of a group of friends whose lifelong dream is to go to the Super Bowl and meet their hero. Naturally, Brady plans to play himself.

Would Hollywood be interesting?

“It seems like if Tom Brady wanted to make a movie, he could do it in a minute,” said Sam Spira of Xtreme Couture Management, noting that he “probably has friends who do big budget movies”.

“I would advise him to get behind the camera,” said Hollywood director Ron Shelton (“Bull Durham,” “White Men Can’t Jump”).

“As an actor, you’re at the mercy of the script and the director. He’s used to being the man in charge. Maybe he should stay in charge. I think Brady would be a great producer. .

Announcing or commenting in color would seem a natural choice. And those jobs pay well — Tony Romo rakes in $17 million a year. Brady could earn as much or more, according to Spira, although he may be wary of the criticism Romo receives for his quirky and sometimes questionable remarks.

“Tom Brady doesn’t want to look bad,” he said.

Not all of Brady’s startups are a sure thing.

When rapper Lil Nas X started a business to produce NFTs — pixelated online images known as non-fungible tokens — the artist was at the height of his popularity. But his supporters hated the idea.

“The fanbase may react badly to NFTs because they think it’s a scam,” said David Gerard, author of “Attack of the 50 Foot Blockchain,” a 2017 book that highlights guard against the pitfalls of virtual markets.

Indeed, Lil Nas was hit with a backlash, Gerard said. “He quickly removed any mention of the NFT from his advertising.”

Brady spreads the risk with his company NFT Autograph, which he founded last year, bringing in other famous athletes including Tiger Woods, Wayne Gretzky and Usain Bolt. It produces smooth graphic images of sports and entertainment stars.

Lionsgate and DraftKings have also partnered with Brady in the venture. On January 19, the company announced that it had raised $170 million from two venture capital firms.

Brady has backed crypto firm FTX and shot a series of comedic TV commercials for a $20 million campaign that features his wife, Gisele Bündchen, and a group of actors posing as regular pals: a chef, a plumber and a super Jets fan. Fireman Ed.

At one location, Brady phones a frenemy bartender in Boston named Bill whose cell phone shows the QB’s picture and a caller ID: “TRAITOR.”

“This guy !” said an exacerbated Bill before continuing.

“I’m getting into crypto,” Brady tells him.

“I’m in,” said the bartender. “But I still hate you.”

Brady’s marketing savvy was evident long before he quit.

For most of his playing days, he took below-market contracts so the teams he played for — New England and Tampa Bay — would have the money to build title contenders.

Brady’s $27 million salary last year – well below no. 1 Patrick Mahomes’ $45 million – didn’t even put him among the 10 highest paid quarterbacks in football in 2021.

Winning the Super Bowl meant more to him than being the highest paid player, according to Dorfman. “In 2021, Brady’s off-field income of around $45 million was nearly double his football salary,” he said.

Brady’s earning potential is fueled by “the three Ps,” he said. “Performance, personality and purity.”

That means he’s a great player, he’s likable and charismatic, and he’s been involved in no scandals – other than his messy breakup with ex-girlfriend Bridget Moynahan, whom he impregnated, then separated for just two months before she gave birth to their son Jack in 2006.

But even this chapter it’s been turned positive by Brady, including both Moynahan – now happily married – and Jack as one blended family. Bündchen calls Jack, a 14-year-old who works as a ball boy for the Buccaneers, his “bonus kid.”

And the whole Brady group has been pictured hanging out together.

Brady faces a formidable rival in the race for NFL winnings: Mahomes, Kansas City’s star QB, who once won a Super Bowl and a league MVP, surpassed Brady’s early career records with his stellar play and signed a 10-year, $503 million contract. contract in 2020 – the largest in American sports history.

Mahomes, 26, is also featured prominently in State Farm’s ubiquitous television ad campaign, a deal that helps boost his annual sponsorship income to around $7 million a year.

There aren’t many former billionaire athletes, but the richer ones are both way ahead of Brady.

Michael Jordan ranks no. 1 with $2.6 billion, followed by Tiger Woods, who has $2.1 billion, according to Sportico.

The ultra-competitive Brady will only want to surpass them.