Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Antonio Brown is seeking Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, and according to Realtor.com, two of his three luxury homes in Florida are likely up for sale.
Is Antonio Brown Really Bankrupt?
The news of his bankruptcy filing was delivered on May 20, via his production company’s X account.
“NFL legend Antonio Brown has filed bankruptcy today. He will be a first ballot hall of famer in 2027. He will be releasing new music this summer. He’s also the founder of the most trusted source in all of sports. The generational run continues,” the post read.
In regards to homes, Brown owns three properties in Florida.
Fort Lauderdale mansion: Purchased for $6.6 million in 2016, the opulent home is now valued at over $8 million. This Fort Lauderdale mansion includes a home theater, wet bar, gym, elevator, and a synagogue.
Tampa Modern farmhouse: Acquired for $1.8 million in 2022, his Tampa modern farmhouse offers 4,000 square feet of living space, five bedrooms, and a pool.
Odessa lakefront mansion: Bought for $2.9 million in 2021, Brown’s Odessa Lakefront mansion spans 9,000 square feet on 2 acres, featuring a pool, boat dock, and an 11-car garage.
Only the Fort Lauderdale mansion, his primary residence, is likely to be protected under Florida’s generous homestead exemptions. The other two properties will probably have to be sold to repay his creditors.
This is not the first time Brown has sold his properties, although previous sales were under different circumstances. During his tenure with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the star NFL player owned a Pennsylvania estate, which he sold in 2021. Similarly, during his brief stint with the Oakland Raiders, Brown acquired a home in the San Francisco Bay Area in 2019, selling it just a year later in 2020, Realtors reported.
Brown, known for his off-the-field antics, now faces financial challenges he cannot ignore. He owes about $3 million to eight creditors, including $1.2 million to a moving truck driver he assaulted in 2020, hundreds of thousands in credit card debt, $28,589 to a marketing firm for his Rolling Loud concert in 2023, and $296 to a local plumber, according to iHeartRadio.
Despite earning over $88 million during his 12-year NFL career, Brown claims to have assets worth less than $50,000, according to Spotrac.
Brown’s financial downfall includes losing a $50 million, three-year deal with the Las Vegas Raiders (then Oakland), which included $30 million guaranteed. His release followed a series of disruptive incidents, including a confrontation with general manager Mike Mayock. An arbitrator ruled against Brown in his grievance case seeking the lost $30 million, supporting the Raiders’ position that Brown asked to be released, nullifying his guaranteed money.
This scrutiny of his finances highlights the consequences of Brown’s tumultuous behavior over the years.
Brown’s last NFL game is a memorable–and a bizarre– one, as the wide receiver infamously removed his jersey and stormed off the field during a game against the Jets at the end of the 2021 season. Brown was kicked off the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after a bizarre, shirtless exit from the field before quarterback Tom Brady led the Bucs on a 93-yard drive in the final minutes for a 28-24 victory over the New York Jets. Coach Bruce Arians said after the game that Brown was off the team, WUSF/NPR reported.
Brown’s mid-game meltdown came late in the third quarter with Tampa Bay trailing 24-10. He appeared animated while talking to teammate Mike Evans when he stripped off his pads, jersey, gloves, and T-shirt. He ran bare-chested from the field, through the end zone, and into the tunnel at MetLife Stadium. The Buccaneers were down 14 points to the Jets late in the third quarter when a shirtless Brown decided it was time to head to the locker room. Tampa Bay released Brown a few days later, while the wide receiver contended that the team forced him to play through an ankle injury.
It also seemed Brown could not afford his arena football team, Albany Empire. Players complained about ot getting paid and in June 2023, the team was no longer part of a league. The Empire was expelled from the National Arena League (NAL) after Brown failed to make required payments to the league. Brown was behind on two payments and refused to pay a $1,000 fine for comments made about the league. Empire had won back-to-back NAL titles.
