In brief
- Simon McDowell tops the list with an estimated $54 million, made mainly in business.
- Sonny Bill Williams is the richest star player, with an estimated net worth of $30 million.
- Jonny Wilkinson, the 2003 World Cup hero, is estimated at $29 million.
- Top rugby salaries are about $1 million a year, led by Owen Farrell and Finn Russell in 2024.
As of October 2026, the richest person to have played or officiated top-level rugby is Simon McDowell, with an estimated net worth of $54 million (£39.3 million), according to figures published by The South African and RUCK. Sir Bill Gammell is second at $50 million, and Sonny Bill Williams leads former star players at $30 million.
Rugby pays far less than football, basketball or American football. Even the best-paid players earn about $1 million a year, so the biggest fortunes in the sport were built in business or in the media rather than on the pitch.
The figures below are estimates. The top two names made their money mainly outside rugby, while the rest earned it through contracts, endorsements and broadcasting.
Also readLarry Page Net Worth 2026: $232.3 Billion After Alphabet Drop| Rank | Name | Country | Estimated net worth |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Simon McDowell | Ireland | $54 million (£39.3 million) |
| 2 | Sir Bill Gammell | Scotland | $50 million (£38.8 million) |
| 3 | Sonny Bill Williams | New Zealand | $30 million (£21.8 million) |
| 4 | Jonny Wilkinson | England | $29 million (£20.9 million) |
| 5 | Mike Tindall | England | $13 million (£9.98 million) |
| 6 | Beau Ryan | Australia | $10 million (£7.72 million) |
| 7 | Handré Pollard | South Africa | $2.7 million (£1.94 million) |
| 8 | Charles Piutau | New Zealand / Tonga | $2.5 million (£1.85 million) |
| 9 | Maro Itoje | England | $2 million (£1.46 million) |
| 10 | Owen Farrell | England | $2 million (£1.46 million) |
1. Simon McDowell: $54 million
Simon McDowell tops the list with an estimated $54 million. He is a former international referee who officiated at two Rugby World Cups, according to RUCK.
Referees are paid modest match fees, so a fortune of this size comes from business interests outside the game. His figure was first reported through the Sunday Times Rich List.
2. Sir Bill Gammell: $50 million
Bill Gammell played on the wing for Scotland in the late 1970s. He later founded the oil and gas explorer Cairn Energy and led it for many years.
His wealth of about $50 million comes almost entirely from that business. He was later knighted.
3. Sonny Bill Williams: $30 million
Sonny Bill Williams is the richest of the star players. He won two Rugby World Cups with the All Blacks, in 2011 and 2015, and also won premierships in Australia’s National Rugby League with the Canterbury Bulldogs and the Sydney Roosters.
He switched codes several times, playing union in France, New Zealand and Japan, and boxed as a professional heavyweight. Celebrity Net Worth lists his salary at its peak at about $5 million a year. He became a global Adidas ambassador in 2014 and retired from rugby in 2020.
4. Jonny Wilkinson: $29 million
Jonny Wilkinson kicked the drop goal that won England the 2003 Rugby World Cup final against Australia. He played 12 seasons for the Newcastle Falcons before moving to Toulon in 2009.
At Toulon he won two European Cups and a French title before retiring in 2014. His estimated $29 million comes from playing contracts, long-term sponsorships and media work.
5. Mike Tindall: $13 million
Mike Tindall was another member of England’s 2003 World Cup winning team and later captained his country. He married Zara Phillips, the daughter of Princess Anne, in 2011.
Since retiring, he has built a media career. He co-hosts the podcast The Good, The Bad & The Rugby and appeared on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! in 2022.
6. Beau Ryan: $10 million
Beau Ryan is a former Australian rugby league winger who played for the Wests Tigers and the Cronulla Sharks.
Most of his estimated $10 million comes from television. He became a well-known presenter on Australian TV during and after his playing career.
7. Handré Pollard: $2.7 million
Handré Pollard is South Africa’s first-choice fly-half for much of the past decade. He won the Rugby World Cup with the Springboks in 2019 and 2023, kicking the winning penalties in the 2023 final.
He plays for Leicester Tigers in England, where his salary was reported at about $610,000 in 2024.
8. Charles Piutau: $2.5 million
Charles Piutau played for the All Blacks before moving to European club rugby, where he became one of the best-paid players in the game with Bristol Bears.
His estimated $2.5 million reflects several years on top-tier club contracts in England, where overseas stars command the highest wages in the league.
9. Maro Itoje: $2 million
Maro Itoje has spent his whole club career at Saracens. He was named England captain in 2025 and captained the British & Irish Lions on their 2025 tour of Australia, which the Lions won 2 to 1.
His salary was reported at about $800,000 in 2024, among the highest in the English Premiership.
10. Owen Farrell: $2 million
Owen Farrell is England’s record points scorer in Test rugby. He was the best-paid rugby union player in 2024, at about $1 million a year, after joining Racing 92 in Paris.
Before the move to France he spent his whole career at Saracens, winning several Premiership titles and European Cups.
How we ranked these
We ranked names by the net worth figures compiled by The South African and published by RUCK in 2024, converted to US dollars as given by the source. These are estimates and some, such as Wilkinson’s, draw on older Sunday Times Rich List data.
For current pay, the best-paid players in 2024 were Owen Farrell and Finn Russell at about $1 million each, followed by Cheslin Kolbe, Faf de Klerk and Siya Kolisi. For comparison with other sports, see our lists of the richest cricketers in the world and the richest NFL players.
Sources: RUCK, rugby rich list 2024; RUCK, top 10 rugby net worths; Front Office Sports, highest-paid rugby players; Celebrity Net Worth, Sonny Bill Williams.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the richest rugby player in the world?
Simon McDowell is the richest name on the list, with an estimated net worth of $54 million, based on figures from The South African and RUCK. Among famous star players, Sonny Bill Williams is the richest at an estimated $30 million, ahead of Jonny Wilkinson at $29 million.
What is Sonny Bill Williams’ net worth?
Sonny Bill Williams has an estimated net worth of about $30 million. He won two Rugby World Cups with the All Blacks, won NRL premierships in rugby league, boxed as a professional heavyweight and signed a global Adidas deal in 2014. He retired from rugby in 2020.
How much is Jonny Wilkinson worth?
Jonny Wilkinson’s net worth is estimated at about $29 million, or £20.9 million. He kicked the winning drop goal in the 2003 Rugby World Cup final, played for Newcastle Falcons and Toulon, and earned from contracts, sponsorships and media work after retiring in 2014.
Who is the highest-paid rugby player?
Owen Farrell was the highest-paid rugby union player in 2024, earning about $1 million a year at Racing 92, according to Front Office Sports. Finn Russell of Bath was close behind at about $1 million, followed by Cheslin Kolbe, Faf de Klerk and Siya Kolisi.
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