Formerly Free-Spending Antonio Cromartie Now Claims He's Financial Role Model
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Antonio Cromartie was once known for his free-spending ways. Now, the father of 10 is focused on becoming a financial role model.
It's a major change for the cornerback who once admitted to blowing $5 million in his first two years in the NFL. He's advising young players entering the league not to make the same mistakes that he did.
"I want to help others learn from what I did wrong," Cromartie told Newsday. "I tell the young guys, 'Don't spend any money the first year-and-a-half of your career. You don't know what will happen after that. You might be released. You might be hurt. Just save your money.'"
Cromartie has hired financial advisor Jonathan Schwartz and is being careful how he spends the money from his four-year, $32 million contract.
He's no longer driving flashy cars and wearing big items of jewelry.
"I had two Dodge Chargers, probably spent $100,000 just fixing them up," he told the newspaper. "I had a '65 Caprice, which I spent $100,000 on. I had two BMWs, two Escalades."
The new Cromartie now drives a Toyota Prius. Instead of showing off big rims on a tricked-out ride, he's now bragging about saving gas.
"I'll fill it up every 2 1/2 weeks or so, and I'm only spending 33 bucks, while everybody else is spending 80 or 90 bucks a tank," he told Newsday. "Right now, I'm all about saving money."
Most importantly, Schwartz told Newsday that Cromartie's retirement is now funded until he's 100 years old and is able to take care off all of his children. It's the new, yet older and wiser Cromartie.
You May Also Be Interested In These Stories
