Steve Gleason Net Worth
Former New Orleans Saints safety Steve Gleason holds a net worth of $1 million in 2026. He played eight seasons in the NFL between 2000 and 2007 before receiving an ALS diagnosis in January 2011. Gleason built his financial foundation through professional football salaries, public speaking contracts, and his 2024 bestselling memoir A Life Impossible.
| Full Name | Stephen Michael Gleason |
|---|---|
| Net Worth | $1 million |
| Born | March 19, 1977 |
| Age | 49 |
| Birthplace | Spokane, Washington, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Former professional football player, author, ALS advocate |
| Source of Wealth | NFL salary, book advances, documentary film rights, public speaking |
| Annual Earnings | $150,000 |
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) |
| Spouse / Partner | Michel Varisco |
| Children | 2 |
| Last Updated | October 7, 2026 |
| Social Profiles |
Who Is Steve Gleason?
Stephen Michael Gleason was born on March 19, 1977, in Spokane, Washington. He attended Gonzaga Preparatory School, where he earned defensive player of the year honors in the Greater Spokane League in 1994. Gleason enrolled at Washington State University in 1995, playing linebacker for the Cougars and starting on the football squad that reached the 1998 Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.
Gleason finished his college career at Washington State in 1999 with 282 career tackles, earning second-team All-Pac-10 honors before graduating in 2000 with degrees in management and information systems. The Indianapolis Colts signed him as an undrafted free agent in April 2000, and the New Orleans Saints claimed him off waivers in November 2000. He married Michel Varisco in New Orleans in 2008 and received a diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in January 2011.
How Did Steve Gleason Build His Fortune?
Gleason established himself as a special teams player for the New Orleans Saints from 2000 through 2006, appearing in 83 regular-season games. On September 25, 2006, during the reopening of the Louisiana Superdome after Hurricane Katrina, he blocked a punt by Atlanta Falcons punter Michael Koenen, leading to a Saints touchdown in a 23-3 victory. He suffered a knee injury in August 2007 and officially announced his NFL retirement in March 2008 with 71 career solo tackles.
Following his 2011 diagnosis, Gleason and his wife founded the 501(c)(3) nonprofit Team Gleason in September 2011 to supply speech-generating technology to ALS patients. His video journals formed the 2016 documentary film Gleason, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, and sold distribution rights to Amazon Studios. In January 2020, United States congressional leaders presented Gleason with the Congressional Gold Medal in Washington, D.C., making him the first former NFL player to receive the award.
President Barack Obama signed the Steve Gleason Act in July 2015, ensuring Medicare funding for speech-generating gaze devices. In April 2024, Alfred A. Knopf published Gleason’s memoir, A Life Impossible, co-authored with journalist Jeff Duncan, which debuted on national bestseller lists. In July 2024, ESPN awarded Gleason the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles during the annual ESPY Awards ceremony.
How Does Steve Gleason Make Money?
Gleason accumulated $5.00 million in career gross receipts through NFL player contracts, media rights, and book advances. While Team Gleason has raised more than $65 million, those charitable contributions remain separate from his personal income.
| Income Source | Estimated Amount | Share of Total |
|---|---|---|
| NFL Base Salaries (2000–2007) | $3.00 million | |
| NFL Player Disability & Pension Distributions | $0.60 million | |
| NFL Performance & Signing Bonuses | $0.45 million | |
| Book Publishing Royalties & Advances | $0.40 million | |
| Documentary Licensing & Media Rights | $0.35 million | |
| Corporate Keynote Speaking Fees | $0.20 million | |
| Total Career Earnings | $5.00 million | 100% |
ⓘAll figures are estimates compiled from publicly available information and are reviewed and updated regularly by the NetWorthTRP research team.
Steve Gleason Net Worth Over the Years
Gleason maintained a personal net worth between $1 million and $1.25 million from 2021 to 2026. Ongoing 24-hour medical staffing and physical care expenses offset new revenue from his 2024 book release and pension distributions.
| Year | Estimated Net Worth | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $1.2 Million | Personal reserves sustained by NFL pension distributions and film royalties. |
| 2022 | $1.2 Million | Medical care expenditures and specialized equipment costs lowered liquid capital reserves. |
| 2023 | $1.1 Million | Out-of-pocket caregiver expenses reduced personal investment accounts. |
| 2024 | $1.3 Million | Book advance payments and sales revenue from A Life Impossible boosted liquid holdings. |
| 2025 | $1.1 Million | Intensive in-home medical care costs offset incoming literary income. |
| 2026 | $1 Million | Ongoing home health staffing expenses reduced net asset holdings. |
Steve Gleason's Houses, Cars & Assets
Gleason holds $1 million in net assets concentrated in residential real estate in New Orleans, NFL pension funds, and intellectual property. His portfolio reflects personal assets, excluding the $13 million balance held by the Team Gleason foundation.
| Type | Description | Estimated Value |
|---|---|---|
| Property | Primary residential property equity in New Orleans, Louisiana | $0.55 million |
| Retirement Accounts | NFL Player Retirement Plan pension reserves and vested 401(k) balance | $0.25 million |
| Liquid Assets | Personal bank deposits and high-yield savings holdings | $0.10 million |
| Intellectual Property | Book publishing rights for A Life Impossible and documentary distribution royalties | $0.10 million |
ⓘAll figures are estimates compiled from publicly available information and are reviewed and updated regularly by the NetWorthTRP research team.
Steve Gleason's Personal Life
Gleason married Michel Varisco in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 2008, and the couple has two children. Following his ALS diagnosis in 2011, Gleason utilized Microsoft eye-tracking software on a Surface Pro tablet to communicate and drive his motorized wheelchair. In 2014, the Gleason family established the Team Gleason House for Innovative Living inside the St. Margaret’s facility in New Orleans. Gleason maintains his primary home in New Orleans and frequently visits family in Spokane, Washington. In 2019, the United States Congress authorized Public Law 115-415 to honor his humanitarian work.
Steve Gleason Net Worth: Frequently Asked Questions
Does Steve Gleason receive personal income from the Team Gleason foundation?
No. Team Gleason operates as an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity. Over $65 million raised by the charity goes directly toward supplying assistive communication hardware, mobility gear, and patient advocacy programs, completely separate from Gleason's personal finances.
What medical benefits does Steve Gleason receive from the NFL?
Gleason qualifies for the NFL's Gene Upshaw Player Assistance Plan and the Bert Bell/Pete Rozelle NFL Player Retirement Plan. These league initiatives provide monthly disability stipends, caregiver expense reimbursements, and medical equipment allowances for former players confronting neurodegenerative diseases.
How much did Steve Gleason earn from his memoir A Life Impossible?
Gleason signed a major publishing agreement with Alfred A. Knopf in 2023. Between his advance and royalties following its April 2024 debut, the book generated an estimated $400,000 in gross literary earnings.
What was the financial impact of the Steve Gleason Act?
Passed by Congress in July 2015 and expanded permanently in 2018, the legislation removed Medicare coverage caps on speech-generating eye-tracking devices. The bill saved ALS and quadriplegic patients across the country upwards of tens of thousands of dollars per unit in personal medical equipment costs.
Sources: Team Gleason, Pro-Football, Wikipedia, Congress.gov — Last updated October 7, 2026
Net worth figures are estimates based on publicly available information, including reported earnings, endorsements and asset values. Actual net worth may differ and is not independently verified or audited.
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