Tendai Mtawarira is a Zimbabwean-South African retired professional rugby union player who has an estimated net worth of well over $1 million.
It was a moment of glory for the entire South Africa National Rugby team in 2019 when the team conquered England in Japan to return home with the Rugby World Cup. However, there were a few names on the lips of everyone; Siya Kolisi, who became the first black man to captain the Springbok in its entire history and also the first black man to captain a World Cup-winning team, as well as Tendai Mtawarira, a Zimbabwean born South African rugby player who despite many challenges, rose to the top of his career.
Tendai is one of the most acclaimed individuals in the sports in South Africa who played for the national team from 2008 until he retired from the Springbok in 2019 after a very eventful career that almost derailed even before it took off as a result of the controversies that surrounded his citizenship. He still managed to rise in ranks with many achievements to his name and a net worth that is estimated to be more than $1 million.
Quick Profile Of Tendai Mtawarira
- Name: Tendai Mtawarira
- Date of Birth: 1 August 1985
- Age: 39 years old
- Place of Birth: Harare, Zimbabwe
- Profession: Rugby player and entrepreneur
- Net Worth: $1 million
Tendai Has Been Earning Big Salary Looking At His Net Worth
There is no denying the fact that Tendai Mtawarira, popularly known as the Beast, has seen and done it all. It is thanks to this that it is not surprising that his net worth has been estimated at over $1 million. The former South African rugby star made his fortune from his impressive career that spanned more than a decade.
He made his fortune through his salary, endorsement deals, business, and other engagements. One of the most high-ranking players of the South African team, he was paid a salary of over R3.74 million in 2018, excluding bonuses. This means that he took home R311,600 each month while the season lasted.
In addition to that, he was paid R1,292,250 alongside other members of the World Cup-winning squad of 2019 after their victory in Japan. The bonus was only for the games they played and won; the quarter-final, semi-final, and final. There were other unspecified benefits for games before this period.
In 2019, he made a one-year move worth $45,000 to Old Glory DC in the United States. The move for him was more about the legacy than what he could make financially. This is because it was estimated that he could have earned a massive $800,000 had he decided to sign for one of the established leagues in either France or England. His salary, while he was with the Sharks, was not revealed.
His Other Income Streams Outside Rugby
The Zimbabwean-born rugby star, like most other stars in sports, has also cashed in on various endorsement deals. In 2019, he was announced as the official brand ambassador for HotForex as the brand sought to expand its presence on the international stage. His other lucrative deals include Fidelity Services Group, Doves Men Care, Husqvarna USA, Starbucks SA, and ASICS SA.
Standing 6 feet tall and weighing 260 pounds, the Beast also has a foot in the business arena. He is the CEO of the South African company, Umlindi Security, as well as its shareholder. The company is a subsidiary of one of the country’s biggest integrated security firms, Fidelity Services Group.
To improve himself towards getting more involved in the business, Tendai was reported in 2020 to be pursuing his MBA at the Henley Business School Africa on a special scholarship.
In general, he made his fortune through the following means:
- Salary from Springbok (R3.74 million in 2018)
- Bonuses (over R1.3 million in 2019)
- Old Glory DC Salary ($45,000)
- Endorsement deals with brands such as HotForex, Starbucks SA, and ASICS SA.
- Business engagements
Tendai Mtawarira Started His Career In Zimbabwe Where He Was Born
Contrary to what many might want to believe, Tendai Mtawarira was born in Zimbabwe on 1 August 1985 in the country’s capital, Harare. It was also there that he was brought up by his parents, Felix and Bertha. He had his early education at Churchill School in Harare, where he studied for five years before he gained a scholarship to study at Peterhouse Boys’ School in Mashonaland East.
Before he gained the full scholarship, he was already spotted by Joey Muwadzuri, who was the coach of the Zimbabwean team and was invited to play for the Under-19 team at the National Schools Festival. He was 15 at the time, and still at Churchill.
The Loosehead Prop would go on to have an interesting Rugby union career. He played for the Sharks XV from 2006 to 2012, and then for Natal Sharks from 2006 to 2013. More so, he got to slug it out for the Sharks in the Super Rugby from 2007 to 2019, while his international career with South Africa spanned from 2008 until 2019.
His Rough Paths To Joining The Springbok
The former Springbok star’s path to the national team was not one that was easy. Although he had already made his mark in Zimbabwe and there was no denying the fact that he was already an excellent player, there was one problem still; he was not a South African.
The rules of rugby’s world governing body were on his side to play for South Africa because of his residency, but the government of the country made it clear that it would be a violation of its regulations to have anyone who is not a citizen playing for the team. Because of this, he was axed from the team in November 2009, pending proper documentation, even though he had already made his debut for the country against Wales on 14 June 2008.
The SA Rugby Union (Saru) championed the citizenship application of the star player and thanks to the help of highly respected individuals such as Archbishop Desmond Tutu, he got a call from the office of the Home Affairs Minister, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, within a week requesting for him to come to Pretoria with his documents. His citizenship request was then granted, and he surrendered his Zim passport, making him eligible for selection to the Springbok.
Tendai Mtawarira Had A Great Career And Retired from International Rugby in 2019
By 2018, the Beast had already seen it almost all, and he was ready to take a final break from the sport that has been the highlight of his life for many years. However, he decided to give it one more run as he eyed the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan. This turned out to be a very fortunate decision as he ended up lifting the highly coveted trophy.
After the tournament, Tendai decided to retire from international rugby. He was 34 at the time and had already worn the colors of the country for close to 120 times in the 11 years that he played. He also played in the Super Rugby for the Sharks, and by the time he called it quits, he had already made 160 appearances, making him the most capped player in the history of the league.
In 2020, he signed to play in the US for Old Glory DC in Major League Rugby, where he continues to play. According to him, he hopes to continue to play for the team and also come to coach.
The Beast Is A Man Known For His Philanthropy
More than just making money, Tendai Mtawarira has also been loved and respected for his overwhelming spirit of giving. He has a foundation in his home country of Zimbabwe, The Get Involved Foundation, which he began in 2018 to foster social cohesion and promote education in the country and other parts of the African continent.
Two years later, he started The Beast Foundation, which he founded in 2020. The foundation was created to support and grow communities in Africa by uplifting the disadvantaged and underprivileged youths through sport, which has changed his life, as well as education and life skills development.