Hailing from small-town Wisconsin, JJ Watt was selected as the 11th overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans, with whom he played till the 2020 season. He won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2012, 2014, & 2015. He last played for the Arizona Cardinals as a defensive end and retired from football after the 2022 NFL regular season.
In his first five seasons in the NFL, Watt received the AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award three times. In 2014, in the history of the NFL, he became the first player to record two 20+ sack seasons in a career. Watt holds the franchise records for the Texans in both sacks and forced fumbles. Sports Illustrated named Watt its 2017 Sportsperson of the Year.
| Name | Justin James Watt |
| Net Worth | $70 million |
| Age | 36 years old (March 22, 1989) |
| Position | Defensive End (Houston Texans: 2011-2020; Arizona Cardinals: 2021-2022) |
| Residence | Phoenix, Arizona |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Spouse | Kealia Watt (2020-present) |
| Children | Son - Koa Watt, Niko Benjamin Watt |
| Source of Wealth | Professional Football, Endorsements, Investments |
| Salary | Approximately $14 million per year - (last contract before retirement) |
| Endorsements | Reebok, Gatorade, Ford, Verizon, |
| Endorsement Earnings | Approximately $7 million |
| Philanthropy | JJ Watt Foundation |
What is JJ Watt's Net Worth in 2025?
As of October 2025, JJ Watt’s estimated net worth is $70 million, as per Celebrity Net Worth.
JJ Watt Contract
Watt signed a six-year $100 million contract with the Houston Texans in 2014. As a signing bonus, the contract came with $10 million and was roughly 50% guaranteed. This made him the NFL's highest-paid non-quarterback at the time. After being selected in the first round by the Houston Texans as the first defensive end, Watt signed a 4-year contract worth about $11 million. On March 1st, he signed a contract with the Cardinals for two years. The deal was worth $31 million with $23 million guaranteed, broken down as $20 million guaranteed at signing and $3 million guaranteed for injury.
JJ Watt's Salary
In 2011, Watt signed a four-year contract worth $11.2 million in guaranteed money. Then in 2014, the Texans extended his contract for six years for $51.8 million. Following this, Watt on March 1st, 2021, signed a 2-year, $28,000,000 contract with the Arizona Cardinals.
| Year | Contract | Signing Bonus | Average Salary |
| 2011-2015 (Houston Texans) | 4 yr(s)/$11,237,498 | $6,672,728 | $2,809,375 |
| 2014-2021 (Houston Texans Extension) | 6 yr(s)/$100,005,425 | $10,000,000 | $16,667,571 |
| 2021-2022 (Arizona Cardinals) | 2 yr(s)/$28,000,000 | $12,000,000 | $14,000,000 |
JJ Watt Endorsements
Watt has done endorsements with companies like Reebok, Gatorade, Ford, and Verizon, among others. These endorsements have helped him earn around $7 million per year.
JJ Watt Investments
In May 2023, J.J. Watt and his spouse, Kealia Watt, invested in soccer by acquiring a minority stake in Burnley FC, an English team. He is also a member of the investment group that is purchasing stock in RCD Espanyol, a Spanish club. The Watts made their investment in Burnley to support the community, raise awareness of the area, and show respect for its past.
Below are the other investments of JJ Watt as per Pitchbook.
| Company Name | Deal Date | Deal Type | Industry | Company Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athletic Brewing Co. | 15-Nov-2022 | Later Stage VC | Beverages | Generating Revenue |
| Future | 03-Feb-2022 | Educational and Training Services (B2C) | Generating Revenue | |
| Athletic Brewing Co. | 11-May-2021 | Beverages | Generating Revenue | |
| Hyperice | 29-Sep-2020 | Later Stage VC | Therapeutic Devices | Generating Revenue |
| Public | 02-Mar-2020 | Early Stage VC | Financial Software | Generating Revenue |
J.J. Watt Exits (1)
| Company Name | Exit Date | Exit Type | Exit Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Future | 10-Dec-2024 |
JJ Watt House
It was reported that in the southeastern Wisconsin area of Summit, the former Texan had purchased a home in 2015. Sitting on a 35-acre plot of land in Waukesha County, the log cabin spans 4,500 square feet. Watt apparently paid $800,000 for the four-bedroom home.
The Wisconsin native put his home in Texas up for sale in 2016 with an asking price of $465,000. The modest residence located in Pearland sits on about a quarter acre of land. It features 4169 square feet of living space, four bedrooms, and a saltwater pool. Watt originally purchased the property for about $399,000 back in 2011. Earlier in 2021, it was reported that Watt bought a house in Strongsville.
JJ Watt Cars
JJ Watt's incredible collection of automobiles, estimated to be worth $3 million, includes a Ferrari F8 Tributo. He is also connected to Ram automobiles, such as the 2025 Ram 1500 Limited, through a variety of marketing initiatives. He is famous for presenting cars as gifts in addition to his own collection. For instance, he once purchased a car for his mother and a Ford Raptor for a fan.
JJ Watt Charity Work
Watt is the president of The J.J. Watt Foundation, launched in 2010, which reaches out to middle schools in Wisconsin and Texas, as well as deserving schools in any other state that have insufficient funding for after-school athletic programs or that have no after-school athletics whatsoever. Watt is also known for his interactions with children and has many kids and families in their time of need, some who have been affected by school shootings. He also raised over $41 million to help Houston recover from Hurricane Harvey.
READ MORE: JJ Watt's Wife
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FAQs on JJ Watt
A. JJ Watt played for the Houston Texans and the Arizona Cardinals in his 12-year NFL career.
A. JJ Watt was drafted in the first-round with pick 11 of the 2011 NFL Draft.
A. JJ Watt went to Central Michigan University for one year after which he transferred to the University of Wisconsin. He played gridiron football for the Wisconsin Badgers football team.
A. JJ Watt was one the most impactful defensive ends in the history of the NFL. He won the AP Defensive Player of the Year 3 times in 2012, 2014, and 2015.
A. JJ Watt is married to Kealia Watt, with whom he shares two sons, Koa James Watt and Niko Benjamin Watt.
