Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney are among the game’s many rags-to-riches stories – but some of the biggest names in football were born into wealth
Football is brimming with tales of players who have risen from humble beginnings to achieve stardom – think Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney. There are also footballers, such as Thomas Gravesen and Ramon Vega, who amassed fortunes after their playing days ended.
But there are also a ton of footballers who were filthy rich before making it to the point they could earn millions of pounds every single year.
In fact, one footballer even lived in aa 60-room castle at one point during his childhood. Here are nine footballers you might not know who came from privileged backgrounds before hitting the big time…
1. Hugo Lloris
We start in the south of France, the birthplace of the former Tottenham and Les Bleus goalkeeper. His father Luc was an investment banker and his mother Marie was a successful lawyer.
As a child, he enjoyed daily tennis lessons before switching to football. These days, he plays for MLS side Los Angeles FC.
Interestingly, Hugo was named after French literary legend Victor Hugo, who wrote Les Miserables and The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
2. Patrick Bamford
The Leeds United forward hails from a well-to-do background. He attended the fee-paying Nottingham High School and can play the violin to grade 7.
He also achieved 10 GCSEs, including five A*s, and even had the opportunity to attend Harvard University in the US before he decided that football was his calling.
In 2021, he laughed off suggestions that he was the son of Lord Bamford, the founder of JCB. He told That Peter Crouch Podcast: “I remember when we got promoted, we had a little do in the hotel. Even the assistant – he’s left now – under Marcelo [Bielsa, the Leeds manager] was like, ‘Honestly, I’m so happy for the way that you work, especially with how rich you dad is and where he’s from’. I was thinking, ‘What? My dad’s from Newark. What are you on about?'”
3. Mario Gotze
The Eintracht Frankfurt forward is a renowned name in football. But did you know his father is a renowned technology and engineering expert?
Prof Jurgen Gotze currently works at the Dortmund University of Technology, but he previously held a research position at Yale University’s computer science department in the 1990s. It has been suggested that his wealth and influence played a role in his son’s rise at Borussia Dortmund.
Whatever the case may be, Mario’s talent at his peak was undeniable – just ask his Germany teammates who witnessed him score the goal that won them the 2014 World Cup.
4. Andrea Pirlo
Walk around the streets of Brescia and everyone would have heard his family name.
That’s because Andrea’s father Luigi founded a steel company in the Italian city in 1982 – and the former midfielder retains a stake in the family business.
Andrea is also a wine connoisseur – he has owned a vineyard near his home city since 2007, a year after guiding Italy to their fourth World Cup.
5. Gianluca Vialli
Living in castles with 60 rooms is what most footballers dream of before they make it big. Not for this legend.
The late Sampdoria, Juventus and Chelsea player was the son of a self-made millionaire and grew up with his four siblings in the enormous and lavish Castello di Belgioioso in Cremona, northern Italy.
After hanging up his boots, he moved into management and was part of the Italy back-room staff that helped the Azzurri win Euro 2020 against England. He sadly passed away in January 2023 after losing his battle with cancer.
6. Will Hughes
What links the Crystal Palace midfielder with Jeremy Clarkson, Roald Dahl and Formula 1 supremo Adrian Newey? They all attended the exclusive Repton School in Derbyshire.
Will spent his secondary school years at the private boarding school before joining Derby County on a scholarship. He told Football London it was “a massive decision” as the chance to play professional football clashed with his studies.
Little else is known about his upbringing.
7. Robin van Persie
The son of two creative souls, Robin Van Persie was “raised liberally” in an environment steeped in artistry. His father, Bob Van Persie, is a renowned sculptor, and his mother, Jose Ras, expresses her creativity through painting and jewellery design.
The Dutch football legend, now 41, was primarily raised by his dad after his parents split up.
Despite his artistic heritage, Van Persie chose to express himself on the football pitch, dazzling fans at clubs like Arsenal and Manchester United with his own brand of artistry. Now he is tackling his biggest project yet – managing Feyenoord.
8. Oliver Bierhoff
Oliver Bierhoff, who grew up without many wants thanks to his utility magnate father Dr Rolf Bierhoff, credits his dad not just for material comfort but also for instilling a strong work ethic.
The former Germany striker, whose golden goal won Euro 96 for Die Mannschaft at Wembley, might have had his career path shaped by his father’s unique motivational tactics.
Legend has it that Dr Bierhoff, concerned about his son’s commitment to training, once watered their garden grass and encouraged Oliver to practice diving headers on it once it froze over.
9. Gerard Pique
Gerard Pique wasn’t just one of the world’s best defenders. He’s also the entrepreneurial brain behind Kosmos, a sports and media investment group.
But success is a familiar concept for him, having hailed from a well-off family in Catalonia.
His father, Joan Pique, is a prominent lawyer and businessman, and his mother, Montserrat Bernabeu, holds the reins as the director of a hospital in Barcelona.
Pique’s grandfather, Amador Bernabeu, once held a directorial position at the Nou Camp.
