In late December 2020, Russell Okung, offensive tackle for the Carolina Panthers, stunned the sports world by announcing that he would take half of his $13 million annual salary in Bitcoin (BTC). Since then, the cryptocurrency's meteoric rise has turned his gamble into a windfall, with the value of his BTC payments eclipsing his entire quoted salary. This has led many to consider Okung the highest-paid player in the National Football League (NFL) — at least theoretically.
Bitcoin Gains Outpace Salary
When Bitcoin hit $44,000, Okung's BTC portion was already worth $10.59 million. By the time BTC soared past $56,000, his half-contract value exceeded the full $13 million amount. As a result, Okung's actual earnings — factoring in the crypto appreciation — now surpass those of any other NFL player. “You are the highest-paid player in the NFL,” one Twitter user told Okung. “Simply by taking your salary in a different unit of value. Amazing. It will not be long before your peers catch on.”
Perfect Timing: NFL Salary Cap Announced
Okung's decision proved fortuitous just as the NFL informed teams on February 18, 2021, that the league's salary cap for the 2021 season would be set at $180 million. A salary cap limits how much teams can spend on player wages, and with veteran minimums at $1 million for seven-year players, Okung's unconventional move has placed him ahead of the curve. “Russell Okung is a genius,” another Twitter user wrote. “He’s made so much money from just one check.”
Stacking Sats Relentlessly
Okung has long been a Bitcoin advocate. “Getting paid in bitcoin is the first step of opting out of the corrupt, manipulated economy we all inhabit,” he stated. On Twitter, he frequently posts “Stack sats or die.” When asked about his entry price, he replied, “I receive a ton of questions about my price entry point into the BTC. I stack sats, price goes up, I stack some more, price goes down and stack again. This isn’t financial advice.” The lineman's commitment to accumulating Bitcoin regardless of market fluctuations highlights a deep conviction in digital assets.
Although the NFL's official salary rankings do not account for crypto-denominated gains, Okung's case has sparked widespread debate about whether more athletes should follow his lead. For now, he remains a trailblazer — and the highest-paid player in the league by any measure that includes Bitcoin.