Odell Beckham Jr. is firing back at critics after his comments about how difficult it can be to stretch a five-year, $100 million NFL contract sparked a massive online debate.
The remarks, originally made during an October episode of The Pivot Podcast, resurfaced this week and went viral, prompting Beckham to address the backlash on social media.
On Tuesday (Dec. 2), OBJ posted a message on X reacting to the uproar.
"Boy u can’t say nothin in this world nowadays, that’s why I been in my own lane my own world n put the way," he wrote. "People love to take Shxt [sic] completely outta context to rationalize a statement in their own head that makes sense to them… what a world.”
Beckham’s pushback comes after Shannon Sharpe publicly criticized his financial logic during a recent episode of Nightcap. Sharpe questioned how Beckham, who has earned well over $100 million across his NFL career, could struggle to make that amount last.
“OBJ, I’m going to be honest with you, bro, if you get $60 million dollars and that can’t last you a lifetime, you’ve got a problem,” Sharpe said.
The former Broncos tight end challenged the idea that athletes need multiple houses, luxury cars, and expensive gifts for friends and family, noting that upkeep and long-term responsibility often fall back on the athlete.
Sharpe added that even spending $4 million a year without running a business would be “out of your damn mind.”
The original comments from Beckham that sparked the discourse were more nuanced than many critics acknowledged. On The Pivot, Beckham explained that a “$100 million contract” is not what it seems once taxes, agent fees, and expenses are factored in, estimating that a player may actually take home around $60 million over a five-year span.
“I always explain this to people,” OBJ said. “You give somebody a five-year, $100 million contract—that’s five years for 60. We’re getting taxed. That’s 12 million a year you have to spend, use, save, invest, flaunt, whatever.”
He continued breaking down the math: “If you’re spending $4 million a year … that’s really $40 million over five years … Can you make that last forever?”
Beckham also noted that buying a car, taking care of family, purchasing a home, and other lifestyle decisions add up quickly. Sharpe argued that many of those purchases are choices, not necessities.
