Thanks to his mother, Pittburgh Steelers wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey will most likely never go broke. In his eight-year NFL career, Heyward-Bey has earned about $35 million, perESPN, and his mom, Vivian, has helped him save most of that money. Vivian, an accountant for more than 20 years, receives a commission from Darrius for her services, which includes giving her son a monthly allowance, and a weekly report indicating where all of his money is being allocated. "I get an email [from her] every Tuesday," Heyward-Bey toldESPN. "I can read it over, check it up. I see where the money is going."
One of the secrets to Heyward-Bey's finances is that the only person he spends money on is himself. "I grew up knowing what to spend and what not to spend," Heyward-Bey said. "It's easy when you don't have money to not spend. That's how I grew up." Being someone who didn't have much money growing up, the 29-year-old wideout admits, "It's really easy to say no to myself."
After signing a four-year, $30.3 million rookie contract with the Oakland Raiders, Heyward-Bey failed to live up to the expectations that came with a seventh overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. Following a brief stint with the Indianapolis Colts, Heyward-Bey inked a one-year deal with the Steelers in 2014, and has remained with the organization ever since. Earlier this year, Heyward-Bey worked out a new deal with Pittsburgh for three years worth $3.8 million.
Send all complaints, compliments, and tips to sportstips@complex.com.
