Landon Donovan Net Worth - MLS Legend Estimated Wealth

Net Worth

Thought to have a net worth in the region of $14 million, Landon Donovan wasn’t always one of the highest paid MLS players, but he was healthily compensated for his services by the LA Galaxy.

Earning over $12 million between 2010 and 2014, Donovan belonged among the league’s elite on the field and his salary reflected those contributions.

Of course, these earnings were not all he accumulated. Playing in a big market like Los Angeles, Donovan was an ideal athlete for brands to partner with in California and beyond.

A long-time partnership with Nike was just part of Donovan’s endorsement portfolio.

While some may have pondered if MLS is struggling, Donovan’s deals with Gatorade, Heineken and others contradicted such a notion. He was a brand in his own right, a nationally respected figure.

When dealing with such large net worth figures, however, it’s always beneficial to have a comparison.

The $14 million in Donovan’s estimate is an alien number to most people. A quick glance at his peers shows he did particularly well financially.

Cobi Jones, who has the most appearances in USMNT history, is believed to have a net worth of just $3 million. Guesstimates vary for Michael Bradley, with most falling between $9 million and $13 million.

Finishing his career roughly a decade before Donovan, Claudio Reyna comes in at a similar number to Jones despite spending the majority of his playing days in Europe.

Former Clubs

Starting out at Bundesliga giants Bayer Leverkusen, Landon Donovan was with Leverkusen II in 1999-2000, scoring nine goals in 28 starts.

He struggled to make an impression with the first team, however, and while he was with the club for five years, he spent several seasons on loan with the San Jose Earthquakes.

Once his spell in Germany was clearly coming to a conclusion, LA Galaxy traded Carlos Ruiz to FC Dallas to put them in position to land Donovan.

That’s exactly what they achieved in 2005, signing the forward to a multi-year contract and making him the highest-paid American player in the league.

During his decorated time in southern California, Donovan went on three offseason loans.

Spending a few weeks of 2009 with Bayern Munich and having two stints with Everton, he once again tested himself in Europe before announcing his first retirement in 2014.

An injury crisis in the second half of the 2016 season led to Donovan making a comeback for Galaxy.

He called it a day at the end of the playoffs, but made another return with Club León in 2018. The Mexican club terminated his contract in June of that year.

• Bayer Leverkusen II 1999 - 2001: 29 appearances, nine goals

• Bayer Leverkusen 1999 - 2005: nine appearances, zero goals

• San Jose Earthquakes (loan) 2001 - 2004: 109 appearances, 43 goals

• LA Galaxy 2005 - 2016: 317 appearances, 141 goals

• Bayern Munich (loan) 2009: seven appearances, zero goals

• Everton (loan) 2010: 13 appearances, two goals

• Everton (loan) 2012: nine appearances, zero goals

• Club Leon 2018: eight appearances, zero goals

International Career

Representing the USA at under-17, under-20 and under-23 levels, it was inevitable Donovan would progress into the senior team.

He made his full debut in 2000, and was starring on the international stage just a couple of years later, winning Best Young Player at the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea.

Criticism followed when he and the USMNT disappointed at the 2006 World Cup, but Donovan bounced back to lead the team to the 2007 Gold Cup.

Impressing at the 2010 World Cup as the USA suffered heartbreak in the last 16, Donovan was then subject of some controversial decisions by Jürgen Klinsmann.

Disagreement between Klinsmann and Donovan threatened an unceremonious end to his international career. A friendly was arranged against Ecuador in 2014, however, providing the nation’s joint-leading goal scorer a proper send-off.

Statue

LA Galaxy unveiled a Landon Donovan statue in October 2021. Donovan was also inducted to the franchise’s Ring Of Honor, and a mural honouring the USMNT icon was produced at Bonita Street Elementary School.

Speaking at the ceremony, Donovan said, “Every time I came here, I tried to give more than I was taking.

"I tried to give everything to this club because that’s what I wanted to do, I was appreciative and grateful that I had this opportunity. I hope you guys felt that. I always wanted to give more than I took.”

The statue is located at Galaxy’s Legends Plaza, an area the franchise introduced in 2019. David Beckham was the first Galaxy player to receive a statue at the Plaza.

Club Honours

Donovan has won the MLS Cup on six occasions, a record that no one else can match.

There are a couple of Supporters’ Shields to add to that collection too, with Donovan leading Galaxy to soccer prediction dominance. 

• San Jose Earthquakes – MLS Cup (2001, 2003)

• LA Galaxy – MLS Cup (2005, 2011, 2012, 2014), Supporters’ Shield (2010, 2011)

Individual Awards

• Four-time US Soccer Athlete of the Year

• Five-time Best MLS ESPY Player of the Year

• Seven-time Honda Player of the Year

• 2013 Gold Cup MVP

• 2009 MLS MVP

• Seven-time MLS Best XI

• 13-time MLS All-Star

• 2008 MLS Golden Boot