Duke Riley Net Worth 2025: How Rich is the NFL Player Actually?

Duke Riley is an American professional NFL linebacker known for playing with the Atlanta Falcons and the Miami Dolphins. He was selected by the Falcons in the 2017 NFL Draft. As of 2025, Duke Riley net worth is estimated at around $6 million.

Early Life

Duke Riley was born in August 1994 in Buras, Louisiana. During his childhood days, he went through tough conditions. At 11 years of age, his family was deeply affected by Hurricane Katrina. Riley’s parents had left nothing after the Hurricane destroyed his community. He faced numerous challenges spending his early days in poverty. Riley was the least athletic and smallest member of his family.

Duke used to get bullied by other kids. His mom, Waukesha played a pivotal role in his upbringing. She encouraged and motivated him to be strong and stand up for himself. Similarly, his dad, Duke Berghman taught important lessons. He had an impactful conversation with his father when he was 12, who gave him a critical life choice; either work hard now and taste success later, or walk in the limited paths available in his community. His dad gave him references for more alternatives like working in commercial fishing or oil fields.

Riley’s family got relief from financial hardships after his dad found success in the oil industry in 2010. He remained fully committed to academic as well as athletic excellence. Riley viewed sports and education as the only alternative to get out of poverty. He studied at John Curtis Christian High School. Later, he joined Louisiana State University (LSU) and played college football.

Career

Duke Riley dedicated three years at LSU playing as a backup for the first three seasons. In his senior year, he was selected to play as a starter for the first time. Duke began his professional NFL career after being chosen by the Atlantic Falcons in the 2017 NFL Draft. Riley wore No. 0 at the senior bowl with the hope that he would achieve success as Deion Jones, whom he considered a role model.

After being named as the backup weakside linebacker, he eventually got an opportunity to appear in the Falcon’s season-opener match against the Chicago Bears. During the game, he made 6 combined tackles and missed 4 tackles. In October 2017, he played with the Falcons against the New England Patriots and recorded a solo tackle. However, his team lost the game. Riley went through surgery after tearing his meniscus against the Patriots.

Duke appeared in his debut playoff match against the Los Angeles Rams in January 2018. However, he failed to perform at his best throughout the season. In September 2019, he was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles. He was named the captain of special teams for the wild card match for the Eagles against Seattle. Then, in the fifth week of the 2020 season, he led the Eagles with 13 tackles against the Steelers.

Riley injured himself during a game with the Steelers. He recorded his first interception against the Saints. On January 1, 2021, Riley was placed on injured reserve. At the end of the season, he finished with 55 tackles. In March 2021, he signed with the Miami Dolphins and appeared in 16 games. Riley recorded 26 tackles primarily on a rotational linebacker and special teams. Duke extended his contract for a year with the Dolphins on March 15, 2022, and appeared in 17 games. In March 2023, he signed a two-year contract extension with the Dolphins.

Duke Riley’s Ex-Girlfriend- YesJulz

Duke Riley was previously in a relationship with social media star, Julz Goddard aka YesJulz. Their relationship garnered media attention due to Julz’s huge social media presence. Riley and Goodard’s affair was a high-profile romance. They reportedly started dating in 2021. They became engaged in July 2021 during Miami’s Rolling Loud Music Festival. Within a short time, their relationship quickly progressed.

In March 2022, they welcomed their daughter, River. The couple appeared in several public events in the Miami social scene. Their intense connection grabbed public and media attention. After having a blissful moment for four years, Goddard gave a hint at their breakup in January 2024. She shared a cryptic Instagram post featuring a picture of Angel Reese, a WNBA star with a ringless finger. She captioned the post, Single ladies gather here.

Goddard shed some light on their complex relationship on Netflix’s W.A.G.s to Riches. She revealed that she had become pregnant again, and had to abort the child expressing that Riley was not ready for another kid. As of now, they are continuing to co-parent their daughter, River. Their daughter was born with a rare medical condition, Gastroschisis.

Duke Riley Net Worth

As of 2025, Duke Riley net worth is nearly $6 million. Through his successful NFL career, he has built an impressive financial portfolio. Riley’s total career earnings are approximately $12,621,516.  His NFL journey started after the Atlanta Falcons drafted him for 4 years, $3.51 million in the 2017 NFL draft. Riley earned around $2.5 million while playing with the Falcons.

He has strategically navigated team transitions playing for the Philadelphia Eagles and the Miami Dolphins. Riley’s annual earnings have consistently increased which was at over $1 million and peaked at nearly $3 million in 2022. The Miami Dolphins offered him a 2-year, $5 million deal in 2023, which turned out to be a crucial moment in his financial growth.

In 2024, he received a base salary of over $2 million from the Dolphins. He approximately earned over $8 million with the Dolphins. His primary income has been stemmed from his NFL contracts. He achieved the major financial milestone of his career in 2022 when he extended his contract with the Dolphins for $3 million. It was also his largest single-year cash payment.