Rise to Fame
The goal against Wimbledon on the opening day of the 1996-97 season, a chip from the halfway line past the keeper, announced him to everyone who wasn't already watching. Two years later, he was the most hated man in England after getting sent off against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup. Burned in effigy. Then he came back and had the best season of his career, delivering the corners in the 1999 Champions League final that completed United's Treble comeback. It was the setup for something bigger than football.
In the Spotlight
The $25 million franchise option buried in his 2007 LA Galaxy contract was either very clever or very lucky. He exercised it in 2014, and Inter Miami is now valued at approximately $1.2 billion, his stake worth roughly $312 million. His holding company sold 55% to Authentic Brands Group for around $270 million in 2022. The 2023 Netflix documentary became the biggest UK Netflix launch since Harry & Meghan, earning five Emmy nominations. He was knighted in November 2025, after a delay reportedly tied to a tax allegation. The title was overdue by a decade.
Side Notes
His Sanskrit tattoo of Victoria's name on his arm misspells it as 'Vihctoria,' which is either an oversight or the most expensive typo in fashion history. He has OCD, reportedly needing things arranged in pairs, and a fear of birds despite having bird tattoos on his neck. Elton John is godfather to two of his sons. He has pie, mash, and jellied eels, an east London staple, shipped to wherever he's living. For a man whose whole career has been about projecting polish, the personal details keep undermining it in the best way.