Back in 2021, Odell Beckham Jr.—then a wide receiver for the Los Angeles Rams—made a bold financial move: he chose to receive his entire $4.25 million salary, including base pay, signing bonus, and incentives, in bitcoin (BTC). Partnering with Cash App, the decision sparked headlines across both the sports and crypto worlds. At the time, Bitcoin was trading between $56,000 and $64,000 per coin, a range that already seemed daring for a full salary conversion.
But the crypto winter of 2022 tested that conviction. Following the FTX collapse, Bitcoin tumbled below $18,000. Many observers assumed Beckham, like many retail investors, might regret the move. However, Beckham remained silent on the matter—until Monday, July 14, 2025, when Bitcoin punched through to a fresh all-time high (the exact price was not disclosed, but it surpassed all previous records). Beckham took to X to declare: “Sooooo bitcoin is at an ALL TIME high today…safe to say we still happy with our decision.” The message, accompanied by a smiling emoji, quickly went viral.
A Legendary Catch and a Crypto Leap
Beckham first cemented his NFL legacy years earlier with a jaw-dropping, one-handed touchdown grab against the Dallas Cowboys—a catch still hailed as one of the greatest ever. His bitcoin bet adds a financial legacy to his athletic one. Based on the $4.25 million salary and the average bitcoin price of ~$60,000 in late 2021, Beckham likely acquired roughly 70 BTC. If he held through the volatility, even a modest doubling of Bitcoin’s price by 2025 would make his portfolio worth over $10 million. The actual gains could be larger, as Bitcoin’s new ATH likely far exceeds 2021’s peak of $69,000. However, Beckham’s exact holdings and sale history are unknown; the only hard fact is his public satisfaction.
The NFL’s Bitcoin Payroll Revolution
Beckham was not the first NFL player to embrace crypto wages. Russell Okung of the Carolina Panthers was the pioneer, converting half of his $13 million salary into Bitcoin in 2020. In 2021, Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay Packers), Sean Culkin (Kansas City Chiefs), and Saquon Barkley (New York Giants) also announced they would take portions of their salaries in bitcoin. All of them likely benefited from Bitcoin’s surge in 2025. Beckham’s celebration puts a spotlight on the broader trend of athletes using digital assets as both a store of value and a speculative play.
Lessons and Risks
While Beckham’s decision looks prescient now, experts caution that Bitcoin’s volatility can devastate portfolios. The 2022 crash demonstrated that conversions at market peaks can lead to significant paper losses. Yet, for those with a long-term horizon and high risk tolerance, Beckham’s story exemplifies the potential upside. As of 2025, Bitcoin has recovered and surpassed all prior highs, validating the conviction of early adopters like OBJ. The narrative also fuels ongoing debates about whether companies and athletes should embrace crypto payrolls, or if they are simply gambling.
In any case, Odell Beckham Jr. is smiling—and he’s not alone. The NFL’s bitcoin pioneers are enjoying a victory lap that few could have predicted four years ago.