In 2020, former Carolina Panthers offensive tackle Russell Okung made headlines by negotiating to have half of his $13 million NFL contract for the 2020 season paid out in Bitcoin.

Today, that move has paid off, with the value of Okung’s BTC now estimated at $21 million, thanks to the recent surge in the asset’s prices.

$21 Million Payout

While he was not paid in cryptocurrency, the Panthers converted $6.5 million of his salary through Strike, a financial service from Zap that facilitated the purchase of Bitcoin with his funds. This move made Okung one of the first high-profile professional athletes to receive a substantial portion of his income in Bitcoin.

The digital asset was trading at around $27,000 at the time of his investment. With his $6.5 million, Okung acquired approximately 240 BTC, a move viewed as a significant financial risk since the cryptocurrency was still in a growth phase and was known for its volatile price swings.

In late 2022, the cryptocurrency experienced one of its more severe downturns, dropping to around $17,000. This means the 36-year-old’s investment temporarily lost significant value, decreasing to around $4.08 million. Nevertheless, Okung opted to hold onto his stash.

Following the U.S. presidential election in November 2024, BTC prices surged dramatically, reaching an all-time high of over $83,000. As of this week, bitcoin is around $88,000, raising the value of Okung’s initial 240 BTC to approximately $21.36 million.

This increase effectively boosts the total worth of his Panthers contract to around $27.8 million, meaning Okung’s decision to invest half his salary in Bitcoin has led to an additional $14.8 million in value.

The former offensive tackle, who retired from professional football in 2023, recently took to social media to share his win, declaring, “Results silence all debates.”

Interestingly, the former player, who is currently fronting an initiative dubbed Bitball that advocates paying athletes in BT