The world-famous Brazilian footballer Edson Arantes do Nascimento, known as Pelé, passed away in 2022 with a net worth of $100 million, leaving behind a legacy as one of football's greatest players.
Edson Arantes do Nascimento, universally recognized as Pelé, was a globally adored Brazilian footballer whose estate was valued at $100 million when he passed away. He died on December 29, 2022, at the age of 82. Celebrated as the greatest soccer player of all time, Pelé remains one of the most iconic figures of the 20th century. During his prime in the mid-1970s, he was the highest-earning athlete globally, receiving the equivalent of $10 million annually in salary and sponsorship deals after adjusting for inflation. Even after retiring, Pelé continued generating millions through brand partnerships, with Puma being a prominent collaborator. Pelé holds multiple significant records, including the highest number of goals scored in the top division with 541. Across all competitions, his tally stands at an astonishing 1,297 goals. In his home country of Brazil, he is revered as a national hero and remains the nation’s top scorer with 77 international goals. Following his retirement, Pelé took on roles as a global football ambassador and a dedicated advocate for social change, focusing on improving living conditions for Brazil’s impoverished communities. The name 'Pelé' originated from his childhood mispronunciation of Bilé, the goalkeeper of Vasco de Gama. His friends teasingly adopted the nickname, which eventually became permanent. Notably, 'Pelé' carries no meaning in Portuguese or any other language. Growing up in poverty in Bauru, São Paulo, Pelé’s early life was marked by hardship as he worked to support his family. Despite financial struggles, he developed a passion for football, honing his skills with guidance from his father. Without the means to buy a ball, he practiced using a grapefruit. As he matured, he joined several youth teams in Brazil, where his talent shone brightly, particularly in indoor football (futsal). Pelé’s professional journey began with Santos FC after he impressed the club’s coach with his extraordinary abilities at just 15 years old. He signed his first professional contract in 1956 and made his debut that same year, scoring in his inaugural match. By age 16, he had become the top scorer in Brazil’s top-tier league. His rapid rise led to a call-up for the Brazilian national team, where he competed in the 1958 and 1962 FIFA World Cups. Though numerous elite clubs pursued him, Pelé remained loyal to Santos and Brazil throughout his career. His team achieved remarkable success, including victories in the 1962 Intercontinental Cup and the 1963 Copa Libertadores. In 1969, warring factions in the Nigerian Civil War declared a temporary 48-hour ceasefire to enable fans to watch Pelé play in Lagos. Despite receiving offers from prominent clubs like Inter Milan and Real Madrid, Pelé eventually joined the New York Cosmos in the middle of the 1975 season. He was enticed to the U.S. with a $4.5 million contract, translating to roughly $1.7 million annually. Adjusted for inflation, this equates to a modern-day deal worth $25 million with annual earnings of $9 million. Internationally, Pelé made an immediate impact by helping Brazil claim the 1958 World Cup title, scoring two goals in the final against Sweden. He also contributed to Brazil’s 1962 World Cup victory, though injuries limited his participation for most of the tournament. After a lackluster performance in 1966, he returned in 1970 to secure his third and final World Cup triumph. During the late 1960s, as his fame and career peaked, the rival Dassler brothers—founders of Puma and Adidas respectively—agreed not to compete for Pelé’s footwear sponsorship. However, Rudolf Dassler of Puma broke this agreement ahead of the 1970 World Cup semi-finals. Just before the match, a Puma representative secured a $120,000 endorsement deal with Pelé, equivalent to around $1 million today. A clip of this moment is available in the video below, though the footage is somewhat unclear. Pelé’s post-retirement career included significant diplomatic roles. In 1992, he was named a UN ambassador for ecology and the environment, followed by his appointment as a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador in 1994. The majority of Pelé’s controversies emerged after his football career concluded. In 2001, he faced allegations of involvement in a corruption scandal that embezzled $700,000 from UNICEF. In 1994, he was barred from attending the FIFA World Cup draw in Las Vegas due to a long-standing feud with then-FIFA President João Havelange. In 2016, Pelé filed a $30 million lawsuit against Samsung Electronics, alleging false endorsements and misuse of his likeness. The dispute stemmed from a 2015 Samsung advertisement featuring a man closely resembling Pelé and a scene mimicking his iconic bicycle kick. Pelé’s first marriage to Rosemeri dos Reis Cholbi in 1966 resulted in three children before their divorce in 1982. He then entered a relationship with Brazilian TV host Xuxa, who was 17 at the time. In 1994, he married psychologist Assíria Lemos Seixas, with whom he had two more children before their divorce in 2008. At 73, Pelé announced plans to marry Marcia Aoki, a Japanese-Brazilian woman, and the couple wed in 2016. Pelé fathered a total of seven children, some born from extramarital relationships. Pelé’s life ended on December 29, 2022, at the age of 82, following a prolonged battle with multiple health complications. Diagnosed with colon cancer in 2021, he later contracted COVID-19 in November 2022, developing a severe respiratory infection. By December 3, 2022, chemotherapy proved ineffective, prompting a shift to palliative care. His widow, Marcia Aoki, inherited 30% of his estate as per his will. In March 2023, Rwanda’s Kigali Pelé Stadium was renamed in his honor. In 1974, shortly after joining the New York Cosmos, Pelé purchased an apartment at 54th Street and Second Avenue in New York City. In 1979, he acquired a waterfront property in East Hampton, New York, for $156,000, covering one acre. Soon after, he constructed a sprawling 3,400-square-foot mansion on the site. He listed the property for sale in March 2018 at $3.25 million and sold it in August 2018 for $2.85 million. Additionally, Pelé owned multiple real estate assets in Brazil, including a seaside estate in the town of Guarujá. © 2026 Celebrity Net Worth / All Rights Reserved