What Is Jay Cutler’s Net Worth and Salary?
The net worth of Jay Cutler, a retired American professional football quarterback, stands at $30 million. His net worth was once substantially greater but has been significantly decreased due to his divorce from Kristin Cavallari.
Throughout his 12-season tenure in the NFL, Cutler made a notable name for himself as a key player for the Chicago Bears, despite being a somewhat controversial figure among critics. After his initial retirement and stint as a sportscaster, Cutler made a return to the NFL for an additional season with the Miami Dolphins, ultimately retiring for good in 2017 due to recurring injuries.
Early Life
Born on April 29, 1983, in Santa Claus, Indiana, Jay Christopher Cutler started his high school career in Indiana, where he became the starting quarterback for his team for three consecutive years. His team excelled during his senior year, remaining undefeated and winning the 3A state championship.
In addition to his quarterback duties, Cutler played regularly as a safety, recording 19 tackles and proving his value as a defensive player. Moreover, he participated in basketball and earned accolades as a shortstop in baseball. Throughout his childhood, Jay was a dedicated fan of the Chicago Bears, the team that eventually signed him.
After high school, Cutler attended Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. With 45 starts as a quarterback in his collegiate football career, he set a record for quarterbacks at the school, becoming the all-time leader in touchdowns and rushing yards for freshmen. Remarkably, he avoided injuries, playing every game.
His most impressive collegiate season was his final year at Vanderbilt, where he scored 42 points against the top-ranked Florida Gators at their home field—the highest score ever conceded by them. NFL player John Lynch praised Cutler’s achievements, highlighting his performance alongside “a bunch of future doctors and lawyers.” During his years at Vanderbilt, Cutler also focused on his studies, graduating in 2005 with a Bachelor’s degree in human and organizational development.
Career
Jay Cutler’s professional journey commenced with the 2006 NFL Draft, where he was recognized as one of the premier quarterbacks available. He was the 11th overall pick in the first round, selected by the Denver Broncos, with whom he signed a six-year contract worth $48 million, including $11 million in bonuses.
Initially the second-choice quarterback for the Broncos, Cutler swiftly overtook Jake Plummer as the starter, kicking off the season with a strong 71-yard touchdown pass. Following another impressive season, many began to speculate that Cutler could reach the ranks of top quarterbacks like Peyton Manning and Tom Brady.
In 2009, Cutler requested a trade from the Broncos and joined his childhood favorite team, the Chicago Bears, signing a two-year contract valued at $30 million. His inaugural season in Chicago was rocky, marred by a significant injury in 2010, and subsequent injuries affected the team’s overall performance. Nevertheless, in 2014, Cutler secured a seven-year contract extension with the Bears.
However, in 2017, the Bears let Cutler go under a $2 million buyout clause due to his subpar performances and injuries that had become too challenging for the team. Shortly after, Jay revealed his decision to retire from football to take on a role as a commentator with Fox Sports. Yet, in August…
“`
By the end of that year, the Miami Dolphins found themselves in need of a quarterback after Ryan Tannehill suffered a serious injury.
In a bid to fill the void, the Dolphins reached out to Cutler, who subsequently agreed to a one-year contract worth $10 million with the struggling team. Facing challenges such as concussions, cracked ribs, and various obstacles, Jay performed notably well in his final season, particularly during a game where he outperformed Tom Brady in a victory over the Patriots. Following the conclusion of the 2017 season, Cutler announced his permanent retirement.
(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Relationships
Jay began dating Kristin Cavallari in 2010, a reality TV personality renowned for her role in “Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County.” The following year, they became engaged, but by 2011, they decided to call off their engagement, only to reconcile a few months later.
Their marriage took place in 2013, and throughout their relationship, they welcomed three children. In 2020, they announced their divorce, with Cavallari stating that they had “grown apart.”
Salary, Contracts, and Career Earnings
During the 2014-2015 season, Jay Cutler held the title of the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL, earning a salary of $22.5 million. Throughout his tenure with the Bears, Cutler accumulated a total of $54 million in salary payments, during which time his team’s record was 12-23 in the games he participated in. Overall, over the span of his NFL career, Jay earned an estimated $120 million from salary alone.
Real Estate
In 2014, Jay and Kristin purchased an 11,000-square-foot mansion in Lake Forest, Illinois, for $4.25 million. However, they sold this home in 2017 for $3.6 million, resulting in a nearly $600,000 loss. Earlier, in 2012, they had acquired a 20,000-square-foot mansion on 8.6 acres in Nashville, Tennessee, for $5.3 million. They initially listed this property for sale in June 2019 at $7.9 million but later reduced the price to $5.75 million and eventually to $4.95 million by May 2020.
Ultimately, in July 2020, they managed to sell the Nashville property but at a considerable loss, ultimately receiving only $3.7 million — a significant reduction from their original asking price of $7.9 million. It’s important to note that they were already separated during these transactions. Due to the pending divorce, it is likely that the couple aimed to liquidate their assets for equitable distribution.
Following the sale of their previous home, speculation arose regarding their future living arrangements. However, by late 2018, Cutler and Cavallari purchased a $4.2 million 35-acre “hobby farm” in the Nashville area, though they separated soon after, leaving uncertainty as to whether they ever lived together in their new 10,000-square-foot residence.