Net Worth and Salary
Aaron Donald, widely regarded as one of the greatest defensive players in NFL history, has a net worth of $60 million. Known for his incredible career with the Los Angeles Rams, Donald also had a stellar college football career at the University of Pittsburgh, earning unanimous All-American honors. Donald cemented his legacy by winning Super Bowl LVI with the Rams in 2022. After 10 remarkable seasons, he announced his retirement from the NFL on March 15, 2024.
Contracts and Career Earnings
In 2018, Donald signed a groundbreaking six-year, $135 million contract with the Rams, with $87 million guaranteed. At the time, this made him the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history. Between June 2018 and June 2019, he earned $40 million from salary and endorsements. Over his career, Donald amassed $157 million in total earnings. Though he owed an additional $20 million at retirement, it remains unclear if he will receive that amount.
Early Life and High School
Born on May 23, 1991, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Donald grew up in a working-class family in the Lincoln-Lemington-Belmar neighborhood. He attended Penn Hills High School, where he excelled as a defensive player, recording 63 tackles and 11 sacks during his senior year.
Collegiate Career
Donald turned down multiple college offers to play for the University of Pittsburgh. As a freshman, he played in all 13 games and recorded 11 tackles. He became a starter in his sophomore year, tallying 47 tackles and 11 sacks. Donald’s junior season saw further improvement, earning him a first-team All-Big East selection. As a senior, he recorded 59 tackles and 11 sacks, was named ACC Defensive Player of the Year, and earned unanimous All-American honors.
NFL Career: St. Louis Rams (2014–2015)
Donald, who was drafted 13th general by the St. Louis Rams in 2014, made an immediate impact. He recorded 47 tackles and nine sacks in his rookie season, earning the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award. By his second season, Donald had established himself as an elite player, earning 69 tackles, 11 sacks, and his first All-Pro selection.
NFL Career: Los Angeles Rams (2016–2021)
When the Rams relocated to Los Angeles, Donald’s dominance continued. Despite some disciplinary issues in 2016, he recorded 47 tackles and eight sacks. By 2018, he achieved a career-high 20.5 sacks, setting an NFL single-season record for a defensive tackle. That year, he earned his second consecutive Defensive Player of the Year award and led the Rams to Super Bowl LIII. In 2021, Donald played a crucial role in the Rams’ Super Bowl LVI victory over the Bengals.
Personal Life
Donald has two children, Jaeda and Aaron Jr., with his ex-girlfriend Jaelynn Blakey. He later married Erica Sherman, a former Rams marketing employee, with whom he has a son named Aaric.
Real Estate
In 2019, Donald and Erica purchased a $4.7 million home in a celebrity-favored Calabasas neighborhood. They listed the property for $6.25 million in 2022.
