In a harsh way, Henry Ruggs’ story shows that luck can leave in an instant. He was going to make a lot of money in the NFL, but everything changed when he was killed in a DUI crash on November 2, 2021.
Ruggs caused the whole mess when he hit a Toyota RAV4 in Las Vegas. He was drunk and going 156 miles per hour, which is what killed Tina Tintor, 23, and her dog. His career went downhill overnight. The Las Vegas Raiders ended his fully guaranteed $16.67 million, four-year deal right away. Some reports say it could be as low as $1.5 million, but his net worth is now about $4 million. This sharp drop in money doesn’t tell the whole story. His career earnings of about $11 million have gone down because of legal fees, possible civil lawsuits, and his 3–10 year prison term.
Henry Ruggs’ time in the NFL and his early earnings
The Las Vegas Raiders picked Henry Ruggs III in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. This was the start of his rapid rise to fame, which would eventually lead to his downfall. Before legal problems changed his financial path, he had a short but successful job that built his net worth.
Picked 12th overall in the 2020 draft
With the 12th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Las Vegas Raiders chose Ruggs as the first wide receiver. During his three years at Alabama, he had 98 receptions, 1,716 yards, and 24 scores, which are all very good numbers. Scouts from the NFL couldn’t miss how fast he was. His time in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine was 4.27 seconds, which made him the fastest player in that year’s draft class.
Information about his $16.67 million first-year deal
Ruggs signed a $16.67 million, four-year deal with the Raiders on July 21, 2020. The deal is fully guaranteed. The team could add a fifth year to his deal, just like other first-round picks. NFL experts said he had a 48% chance of making the Pro Bowl, which was the best chance of any receiver in his draft class.
Pay and bonuses broken down
During his short time in the NFL, he made about $11.02 million over the course of his career. The deal gave him a base pay of $610,000 in 2020 and $607,912 the next year. When he signed with the Raiders, they gave him a big signing bonus of $9.68 million. As part of his package, he got $116,626 in achievement bonuses. Ruggs had received about 61.8% of his guaranteed money by the end of his career.
Scores and stats from 20 NFL games
Ruggs played in 20 games and started 19 of them. He showed signs of being a first-round talent. He caught 50 passes, gained 921 yards, and scored 4 runs. He ran for an extra 65 yards on 12 runs. In his first season, he caught 26 passes for 452 yards and two scores in 13 games in 2020. Even though the second season was short (only seven games), he did better, with 24 receptions, 469 yards, and two scores before the whole mess ended his career.
The crash of 2021 and what it meant for money
The terrible crash that ended Ruggs’s once-promising career happened in an instant, but the damage to his finances is still affecting his net worth today and will continue to do so until 2025.
Timeline of the DUI case
As early as 3:39 a.m. on November 2, 2021, Ruggs was going 156 mph in his Chevrolet Corvette on Rainbow Boulevard in Las Vegas. He was drinking with friends at TopGolf, and his girlfriend Kiara Je’nai Kilgo-Washington was there too. His car hit Tina Tintor’s Toyota RAV4 from behind. Tintor’s car caught fire after the accident, killing the 23-year-old woman and her dog. Blood tests showed that Ruggs had 0.161% alcohol in his blood, which is twice the legal limit in Nevada.
Details about the charges and sentence
Ruggs was charged with several felonies, which could have put him in jail for 50 years. He finally agreed to a plea deal. Two counts of DUI causing death were dropped against him on May 10, 2023. The other charge was vehicular murder. On August 9, 2023, the judge gave the person a 3–10 year prison term. His minimum three-year sentence can’t be shortened by the time he spent under house arrest. After three years in prison, starting August 5, 2026, he can ask for release.
Termination of the NFL contract right away
Rugged was cut by the Raiders just hours after the crash. This quick choice killed his chances of getting paid. The team got out of the rest of his deal and took back about $6 million in future guaranteed pay. The deal he signed for $16.67 million only got him about $4.73 million. After taxes, he had about $2.85 million.
Loss of sponsors, such as Adidas
Ruggs lost all of his advertising deals overnight. Adidas stopped the deal he made with them in March 2020, after he ran a great 4.27-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. A lot of other brands, like Nike and Old Spice, also ended their marketing deals.
Legal fees and settlements that are expected
The financial fallout led to huge court fees. Ruggs had to pay $150,000 for bail, and he may have to pay Tintor’s family payments that are worth more than $1 million. These costs, along with the fees for his lawyer, have cut his job earnings by a large amount.
What’s left of Henry Ruggs’ net worth in 2025?
Ruggs’ money problems got worse after he lost everything. The former NFL star’s life has changed a lot since he went from having the chance to make millions of dollars to being locked up.
Estimates of current net worth from several sources
Several financial sites disagree on how much Henry Ruggs is worth in 2025. Wikipedia says he’s worth about $1 million, while Celebrity Net Worth says he’s worth about $4 million. Early in 2022, he was worth $5 million. This shows how much money he’s lost while he’s been in jail.
How much money does he still have from his job?
Ruggs got $11.02 million in his short time in the NFL. After ending his deal, the Raiders took back about $6 million. He only got $4.73 million from the original deal, and after taxes, he got to keep about $2.85 million. The money he had before he was found guilty has been spent on legal fees and lost future wages.
Nevada’s prison work program brings in money
Ruggs only makes $2.50 an hour in Nevada’s community trustee convict program these days. He works for the government in Carson City during the day. He doesn’t get paid much, but he gets work points that could help him get out of jail faster. He can’t use these points until he’s been in prison for at least three years.
Things were sold to pay for court fees.
In April 2021, Ruggs paid $1.1 million for a house close to where the plane crashed. He had to sell a lot of his things to pay his growing court fees. Most of the time, big cases like his cost between $500,000 and over $1 million to defend. He didn’t have much money left after this.
Can Henry Ruggs get his money back?
For former NFL stars who are in jail, getting their money back rests on a few important things. Ruggs’s money situation is still uncertain while he is in jail.
When is he likely to be able to get parole?
On August 5, 2026, Ruggs can ask for release. He’ll be 27 years old then, which is still young enough for him to start working again if he gets out. He has been good in jail, which could help his chances of getting out early.
The chance of going back to professional sports
Yes, it’s clear that Ruggs still wants to play in the NFL. Josh Jacobs, a former teammate, says Ruggs stays busy in jail. “He’s working out.” “They let him train and do other things,” Jacobs said. He also said that “a couple of teams are willing to give him a chance,” which suggests that he is interested in the league.
Damage to the business and how people see it
The world still has a mostly negative view of Ruggs. Any team that wants to sign him would get a lot of bad press. His story is different from others in the NFL because someone died, which makes it much harder for him to make things right.
Lessons from players who have been in trouble with the law
Others got back on their feet financially after getting in trouble with the law. The NFL saw Michael Vick play again after 18 months in jail. People who played in fatal DUI cases, like Donte Stallworth, Leonard Little, and Josh Brent, finally got back to playing. But none of them had to stay away from professional sports for as long as Ruggs will.
In conclusion
The story of Henry Ruggs’ money shows how quickly things can go wrong. The money he made from his NFL deal and endorsements was going to put a big dent in his net worth. It’s now thought to be worth between $1.5 million and $4 million. While he was drunk, he crashed at 156 mph and killed Tina Tintor. That accident changed his life forever.
He had a lot of money problems, not just losing his $16.67 million Raiders deal. Due to legal fees, bail costs, and possible civil settlements, his $11 million total earnings keep going down. He only makes $2.50 an hour in Nevada’s prison work program right now, which is a long way from the money he made in the NFL.
There is no way to know how much money he will have when he is available for parole in August 2026. Josh Jacobs, who used to play with him, says that some NFL teams might give him another chance. The way people are reacting to him and the seriousness of his crime make this a hard path to follow. His story is not at all like those of other athletes who came back after getting in trouble with the law.
Ruggs made a bad choice, and now we know the harsh truth about his position. People should learn from his story about being responsible and how quickly a sports career can end. He might be young enough to turn things around when he gets out (27 years old), but it doesn’t look good for his finances.
What his net worth was in 2025 says more than just how much money he lost. In the end, it’s about lost potential, broken dreams, and a life that can’t be brought back. Going from being a first-round draft pick to being in jail shows how bad decisions can cost you money and chances and cause damage that can’t be fixed.
FAQs
1. How much money does Henry Ruggs have now? Henry Ruggs’ net worth in 2025 is thought to be between $1.5 million and $4 million, which is a big drop from how much he made in the NFL.
2. How long does Henry Ruggs have to stay in jail? Henry Ruggs was given a jail sentence of 3 to 10 years for his part in a fatal DUI accident. After finishing the minimum three-year sentence, he will be able to get parole.
Q3: Did Henry Ruggs lose all the money he made in the NFL? Not all, but a good chunk of them. Ruggs got about $4.73 million before taxes from his $16.67 million deal. He is even poorer now because of legal fees, possible settlements, and lost future salary.
Q4: Is it possible for Henry Ruggs to return to professional sports? Some stories say NFL teams might be interested, but Ruggs has a hard time getting back into professional sports because of how the public sees him and how bad his offense was.
Q5. What does Henry Ruggs do to make money while he’s in jail? As of right now, Ruggs makes $2.50 an hour working in government buildings in Carson City as a community trustee inmate in Nevada. Besides that, this program lets him earn work points that might lower his maximum sentence.
