Imagine a little.
While a French employee with an average income - 2,238 net monthly zuros in 2019 according to INSEE - received 51 cents every minute at that time, Rudy Gobert, him, will soon earn 63 euros during the same period of time.
At 28, the pivot of the France team signed before Christmas a juicy contract extension with its NBA franchise, the Utah Jazz based in Salt Lake City, for a record sum: 205 million dollars (167.2 million d 'euros) over five years, from November until 2026.
Knowing that the giant (2.16 m) already benefits, since 2017, from a contract of 92.8 million euros which runs until this year.
“Without even talking about basketball, there aren't many men on earth like Rudy,” says his agent Bouna Ndiaye.
His size, his body, his posture, his mobility, all his work to become the best, are unique.
He is a rare athlete.
And scarcity comes at a price.
Rudy Gobert initialed the extension of his contract at his home in Salt Lake City, surrounded by his mother, Corinne, and his agent, Bouna Ndiaye.
DR
This sum of 205 million dollars makes you dizzy.
Such a contract is equivalent to nearly 2.8 million euros in monthly income, almost 92,000 euros which fall into the bank account every day!
Star player of a billion-rich NBA, Rudy Gobert becomes the highest paid French sportsman in history, most certainly the French employee with the biggest payslip in the world.
“Money doesn't change me.
I was educated like this.
The important thing is to be happy and to make my loved ones happy in life ”, guarantees the person concerned.
In salary, he exceeds the world champions of the French football team.
Or Tony Parker, his friend of the orange ball, who, even if he was for a long time the highest paid Frenchman in a period, had just reached the million euros in monthly income during his formidable career.
In the NBA, in the land of king money, Gobert signed the third biggest contract in history behind the Greek Giannis Antetokounmpo (185 million euros) and the American Russell Westbrook (168 million euros).
“Be careful, we are talking about gross amounts before taxes, notes Frédéric Schatzlé, his wealth management advisor.
The American rule is very complex.
To simplify, after the various deductions, let's say that in the end over these 5 years, Rudy will receive a net salary of between 93 and 113 million dollars (between 75 and 92 million euros).
"
"There aren't many champions of his standing who would like to live in Salt Lake City"
If scarcity is paid for, so does loyalty.
The Frenchman, who meets the criteria to be eligible for a “supermax” contract introduced by the NBA (best defender in 2018 and 2019, invited to the All Star Game in 2020 and elected each season in the best teams of the year), is in Utah since 2013.
“The Jazz value the fact that Rudy feels good at home, that he loves the city.
They are sensitive to his actions with the community, specifies Bouna Ndiaye.
There aren't many champions of his standing who would love to live in Salt Lake City.
Him, yes.
"
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Since the signing of this contract, the hub has not robbed a concession of red racing cars on prancing horse, emptied a jewelry store or toured real estate agencies.
Raised by his single mother, Corinne, in a bar of buildings in Saint-Quentin (Aisne), the son of former international Rudy Bourgarel was not born in silk and never forgets where he comes from.
“He has been our sponsor since 2016,” says Christian Lampin, national delegate of Secours populaire.
He benefited from the support of our association when he was young and has never forgotten it.
We did not ask him, he came to us.
Not to pose for the photo but to be present for the children and sometimes make big donations without his wanting it to be known.
The basketball player made a discreet 100,000 euros at Christmas after having offered 410,000 euros in the spring to fight against Covid, a disease of which he was the first victim in the NBA.
VIDEO. NBA: Rudy Gobert in Paris with children from Secours Populaire
Gobert also has only one car.
With the only criterion: that it is sufficiently specious to accommodate its large carcass.
Since 2017, he lives in the same big house on the heights of Salt Lake but again, nothing ostentatious.
This gemstone enthusiast just wears a pendant with an amethyst, a symbol of justice, authority and perfection that fits the character well.
"This is the extraordinary story of a kid from Saint-Quentin with his beautiful values"
“Rudy knows the value of money.
He is cautious, sometimes even too much, confesses Frédéric Schatzlé of Elite Patrimoine.
He controls his lifestyle, knows what he wants and where he wants to go.
He has his head on his shoulders.
"Behind his contract with a staggering figure, there is the extraordinary story of a kid from Saint-Quentin with his fine values," concludes Bouna Ndiaye.
He remains the same, with the same desire, the same impressive work force, an irreproachable hygiene of life, the same dreams.
“That of winning the NBA title, quite simply.