Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger is the inspiration behind one of the most inspiring longshot stories ever told. His inspiring true life story of defeating the odds, ignoring the naysayers, and overcoming countless limitations to pursue and achieve his dreams, is what lead to the making of the blockbuster success ‘Rudy’. But Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger didn’t just succeed at reaching his dream to play football for Norte Dame, or in having a movie made after him. He also succeeded in accumulating a sizeable net worth.
So, that’s exactly what this page will be highlighting; Rudy Ruettiger’s net worth and his net worth’s current earning power. While we’re at it, we’ll also include a few fun facts related to his success and influence. So, let’s dive in.
What Is Rudy Ruettiger’s Net Worth?
As of 2025 Rudy Ruettiger’s net worth is approximately $550,000. Rudy amassed his net worth from a combination of proceeds from his movie, time spent giving speeches as a motivational speaker, from his various books like “Rudy: My Story”, “Rudy Ruettiger: The Walk On”, etc.. , and from his various businesses ventures over the years.
Rudy’s Net Worth is no small accomplishment, in fact, it’s almost double the Median Net Worth of American households between ages 65 – 74, which is $266,400.[1]
That said, here’s another interesting fact related to Rudy’s net worth. Had Rudy not been forced to settled with the SEC back in 2011 for over $382,866, for a complaint that was brought against him and a few of his associates, he would very easily be a millionaire today.[2]
How Much Does Rudy Ruettiger Make?
There’s very little data published on Rudy Ruettiger’s current earnings. However, he is of retirement age. As such, we can provide a conservative estimate of how much Rudy Ruettiger makes per year at a minimum based on potential social security income and an estimate of his potential earnings that his assets can produce.
To get to this number, it is assumed Rudy Ruettiger is a savvy enough investor to earn an annual 4.5% yield on his combined $550,000 net worth (FYI, a 4.5% return on investment is a reasonable yield to expect, especially considering returns on safe investments tend to fall between the 3% to 5% range historically).
Thus, hypothetically speaking, if Rudy Ruettiger liquidated all of his assets and used that money to buy a handful of REITS, ETFs, or stocks in strong businesses that consistently pay out a modest 4.5% yield per year, his annual yield from those investments would be approximately $24,750.
Therefore, if we combined the potential yield from his assets, and combined them with an estimate of the average retirement benefits received for retired workers of $1,558.54, [3] his estimated annual income (not counting any income he receives from current projects, book sale proceeds, or other speaking/business dealings) is at a minimum, approximately $43,446.
Rudy Ruettiger’s Money Metrics
| Money Metric | Amount |
|---|---|
| Net Worth: | $550,000 |
| **Earnings Per Year: | $43,446 |
| Per Month: | $3,620 |
| Per Week: | $835 |
| Per Day: | $119 |
| Per Hour: | $4.97 |
| Per Min: | $.08 |
| Per Sec: | $.001 |
Disclaimer: this is a hypothetical (but very possible) passive earnings Metric for Rudy Ruettiger based off of his net worth’s earning power combined with potential retirement benefits. It does not include how much he potentially earns from projects, sponsorships, or social media, etc. This calculation is an estimate of Rudy’s minimum passive income and is for entertainment purposes only. Methodology
Fun Facts:
- Rudy Ruettiger was born on August 23, 1948 in Joliet, Illinois U.S.A.
- Rudy became the first player ever carried off the Notre Dame Football field.
- Ruettiger has authored/co-authored 3 different books.
- Joe Montana was Rudy’s teammate at Notre Dame
Rudy Ruettiger on Success
Rudy Ruettiger is synonymous with determination. In fact, one can say that his determination led to all of his success. He was determined to play football for the fighting Irish, it happened, he was determined to have a movie made about him, it happened, and he was determined to become a motivational speaker, again, he made it happen.
Determination has been Rudy’s key to success, and if you want a thorough account of his inspiring success story, you’ll want to read this: The Inspiring True Story of Rudy Ruettiger.
“Don’t Ever, Ever Quit. Recognize That Stopping Now, Regrouping To Try A New Approach Isn’t Quitting. If You Quit You’ll Regret It Forever.”
– rudy ruettiger –
Related: Inspiring Rudy Quotes
Build Your Net Worth Like Rudy
Most of us won’t have a movie made after us, nor will we play football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. But, most of us can build a sizeable net worth with the right amount of focus and intention.
So, if you want to get to work on building your net worth like Rudy, check out the resources below and you’ll certainly be on your way:
Related Insights On Building Wealth:
- How To Become a Millionaire
- Getting Rich With a Normal Job
- 5 ETFs That Can Make You Rich
Key Takeaways
Here are some key takeaways from Rudy’s net worth profile:
- Rudy’s Net Worth: $550,000
- Annual Earnings **: $43,446
- Keys to Success: Determination, Perseverance, Dreaming Big
Rudy Ruettiger and his story are both powerful and inspiring. And equally as inspiring is his net worth, as it is a net worth that is within reach to just about every single person.
With that said, we hope you’ll take these insights and allow them to inspire you to keep reaching and building till you’ve hit your mark both professionally and financially.
Till then,
STRIVE
PS – Growing your net worth to the same level as Rudy Ruettiger is possible, but you’ll accelerate your ability to do so by following these key financial wellness tips.
** These earnings are estimates calculated off of Rudy Ruettiger’s net worth earning power assuming a 4.5% dividend yield and the average monthly retirement benefits distribution in America, assuming he receives one.
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