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Key Takeaways
- Beckham Jr. converted his entire 2021 NFL salary of $750,000 into Bitcoin through a partnership with Cash App.
- At the time of the conversion in November 2021, Bitcoin was worth about $64,000. In late August 2025, it traded at more than $108,000.
- If he held onto his Bitcoin, the value could now exceed $1.2 million (as of Aug. 29, 2025), excluding taxes.
- Beckham Jr. is one of several NFL players, including Russell Okung and Sean Culkin, who’ve bet big on Bitcoin instead of opting for a traditional paycheck.
Odell Beckham Jr., 2022 Super Bowl champion with the Los Angeles Rams, converted his 2021 salary into Bitcoin (BTCUSD) through a partnership with Cash App and was met with doubt.
Now, years later, his decision may have worked out for him after all. In July 2025, Beckham Jr. posted on X saying he was still happy with his decision to receive his salary in Bitcoin.
Bitcoin was trading at around $64,000 in November 2021 when Beckham Jr. converted his pay. While it’s unclear whether Beckham Jr. received his salary as a lump sum (or in increments) or if he sold some of his Bitcoin, that money could be worth more than $1.2 million as of Aug. 29, 2025, excluding taxes.
In recent weeks, Bitcoin has notched record-highs as institutional investors—like Strategy (formerly known as Microstrategy)—have bolstered their Bitcoin holdings and retail investors have flocked to spot ETFs.
The enthusiasm for cryptocurrency has also likely been driven by the Trump administration’s embrace of digital assets.
In July, the House announced a “Crypto Week” as it mulled over legislation that would regulate cryptocurrency. And Trump signed one of those pieces of legislation, the GENIUS Act, which creates a regulatory framework for stablecoins.
It’s important to note that it hasn’t been smooth sailing for cryptocurrency over the last couple of years. In 2022, “crypto winter” chilled the market for Bitcoin: the price fell more than 70%, dropping from a high of more than $69,000 in November 2021 to a low of less than $19,000 in 2022.
Other NFL Players Have Received Their Salary As Bitcoin
Beckham Jr. isn’t the only athlete to have his salary converted into Bitcoin. Sean Culkin, former tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs, reportedly converted his salary in April 2021. And Russell Okung also received half his salary in Bitcoin the year prior.
In December 2020, Okung, a former Carolina Panthers offensive tackle, received half of his $13 million NFL salary as Bitcoin, which he did via a Bitcoin startup known as Zap. During that time, Bitcoin’s price was around $20,000. Assuming he held onto the full amount today, excluding any taxes that were taken out, that salary would be worth more than $36 million (as of Aug. 29, 2025).
The Bottom Line
Beckham Jr. is just one of many NFL players who have turned all or a portion of their salary into Bitcoin. Beckham Jr.’s decision to turn his 2021 salary could have him potentially netting more than $450,000, excluding taxes. But that’s assuming he’s had diamond hands, holding onto Bitcoin even when prices plunged in 2022.
