Raymond Felton blasts Odell Beckham Jr.'s take that $100 million isn't enough to last a lifetime: "When them checks stop, that s–t gotta stop"
- NFL wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. believes that $100 million can be difficult to last a lifetime due to taxes and expenses incurred in caring for loved ones.
NFL wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. recently sparked a frenzy on the internet when he shared his opinion that $100 million couldn't last someone a lifetime, especially someone who hadn't come from wealth to begin with. Due to the substantial taxes and expenses incurred in caring for your loved ones, he believes that money is difficult to last.
While there is some truth to what Beckham is saying about taxes and certain expenses, the overall perception might be incorrect. Athletes get accustomed to a certain lifestyle during their careers, making it harder for them to see the real picture and the struggles most people face on a day-to-day basis.
Following his comment, former NBA player Raymond Felton felt compelled to respond and highlight the biggest issue athletes face after retiring from their profession.
"Where I came from [the money] is life-changing. I don't know what he talking about." started Felton. "But at the end of the day, what some athletes tend to do is that you live a certain lifestyle when those checks coming in, them big a-s checks, but when them checks stop, that s–t gotta stop too."
"Going to the clubs and throwing 20 thousand dollars, going and buying jewelry out of nowhere for nothing, just doing all that stuff and those checks not coming in, you have to stop that. But everybody still be tryna keep up with the Jones'. I could give a damn what somebody got, I don't care," Felton said.
Lifestyle crisis
During their respective careers, athletes lead a luxurious lifestyle filled with fancy houses, cars, jewelry, nightlife and more. As Felton said, when that number is balancing your bank account every two weeks, it is easy to deal with other expenses that come up.
After a while, athletes lose their perspective and forget what reality is; they don't know how to live a normal life without all the lights, glamour, and luxury that come with it. Due to getting whatever their heart desires, they tend to think life will be like that forever, while the truth says otherwise.
When it is time to retire, athletes often lose track of their spending because they are so accustomed to spending as much as they want, whenever they want. The difference is that cash flow is no longer the same. This is one of the main reasons why players tend to go broke after they leave the game, 60 percent of them to be exact.
Add in a couple of bad investments, loans, or ongoing business ventures, and bankruptcy doesn't seem so far away anymore.
The difference maker
For the players, it is easy to get lost in the sauce, leading them to focus solely on different kinds of luxury , which can ultimately harm them financially in the long runformer players, like Felton, are starting to speak up and pass on their wisdom and financial knowledge to other players, especially younger ones.
Emphasizing examples like this is crucial to reducing the number of athlete bankruptcies. The rising platform of players sharing their own voices and opinions like this certainly benefits the younger generation in distinguishing right from wrong.
However, dangers and temptations are still present, and players need to be aware, properly educated, and guided to avoid making the same mistakes that have already led to their previous errors.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Dec 5, 2025, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
