Former NFL Player Calvin Johnson: The Worst Financial Decision I Ever Made

[Pack Rat]

NFL wide receiver Calvin Johnson retired from the league in 2016 after nine seasons playing for the Detroit Lions. Johnson, whose first job was bagging groceries, had a lot to learn about finance when he started making big bucks as a pro football player. He now boasts a net worth of $45 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.

The Worst Financial Decision He’s Ever Made
While appearing on “In Depth With Graham Bensinger,” Johnson shared that he regrets lending money to family and friends.

“You loan money and you think you’re going to get it back, especially [from] people that are close to you, but I would tell anybody now, if you’re loaning money to a friend or anyone close to you, just know that you’re not getting it back,” he said. “I’ve loaned a lot of money to people and I’ve grown. I’m just like, ‘OK, I know I’m not going to get it back.’ It’s cool with me now, but what that does though is it sours relationships. Money you can always get back, but relationships, you’ve got to cherish those.”

Johnson said to avoid involving money in family and friend relationships, if possible.

“Money can easily mess up a relationship,” he said.

 

[World B Free]

I only read this far: “You loan money and you think you’re going to get it back"

He really thought he was gonna get it back?

 

[Varis]

People ain't shit

 

[Adroit]

I thought he was going to talk about retiring and having to pay back bonus money when the team was planning to cut him.

 

[Helico-pterFunk]

One thing I’ve heard that has always stuck with me is loan it with the expectation you won’t get it back from friends or family. Be ok with that end result.

Also, feel free to level the playing field and negotiate collateral items from them beforehand. I.E. - they give you high value electronics or jewelry they may have ... and they won’t get it back until they’ve fully paid back.

That way if they try and play you, at least it isn’t as detrimental to you. You still have stuff of theirs that you can then keep.

 

[850credit]

If they can't afford to pay for whatever it is they need money for, why do you think they can afford to pay you back?

People will always prioritize themselves first. Paying you back will be last priority if a priority at all.

It's always an emergency when they need the money. It's never an emergency to pay you back.

Don't fuck up your PERSONAL credit. Those are the people that might have to get you out of jail one day.

 

[Ceenote]

It's always an emergency when they need the money. It's never an emergency to pay you back

Agreed!!

My wife just went through this with one of her nephews..

 

[Princenubian]

People ain't shit

The longer you live….this will be your ultimate assessment of your time on this planet.

The earlier in life that you figure this out….the better off you will be.

Carry on……

 

[illdog]

If yur ever tryin to ghost...fam/friend/chick..lend em money. My bro. hasn't seen/spoke to his only surviving auntie in 10yrs..

 

[850credit]

If yur ever tryin to ghost...fam/friend/chick..lend em money. My bro. hasn't seen/spoke to his only surviving auntie in 10yrs..

Better yet if you want to ghost someone learn to say no.

They'll move on down the list and start asking someone else once they know they can't get it from you.

Easy way to see if that's all your relationship was based on.

 

[Princenubian]

Better yet if you want to ghost someone learn to say no.

They'll move on down the list and start asking someone else once they know they can't get it from you.

Easy way to see if that's all your relationship was based on.

Or give them just enough that ur willing to take the loss and use them as the cautionary tale of why don’t lend money.

“You know how many people owe me money…..ain’t nobody gettin’ shi+ til I get all my money back.”

Even if it’s only one person, you ain’t lying and it’ll get them off your back. I’ve done it.

Carry on…..

 

[850credit]

I always look at it like...if I don't get it back, that was just the price of our friendship. You didn't care about me enough to pay me back so don't act like you care about me just to smooth things over so you can do it again.

People think in time you'll just forget the debt or just let it go. They never intended to pay you back in the first place.

 

[Madrox]

Or give them just enough that ur willing to take the loss and use them as the cautionary tale of why don’t lend money.

“You know how many people owe me money…..ain’t nobody gettin’ shi+ til I get all my money back.”

Even if it’s only one person, you ain’t lying and it’ll get them off your back. I’ve done it.

Carry on…..

Good advice. Personally I don't lend money (I'm no baller, but I'm decent at budgeting/saving/investing).. the most I may do is pay for something that the person in question might "need" the money for. But they won't see cash from me.

And if I decide I can't afford it, or if it would dent up my plan/budget, then I say so. No point in TWO of us struggling. How am I supposed to help you if I can't help myself?

 

[Helico-pterFunk]

I always look at it like...if I don't get it back, that was just the price of our friendship. You didn't care about me enough to pay me back so don't act like you care about me just to smooth things over so you can do it again.

People think in time you'll just forget the debt or just let it go. They never intended to pay you back in the first place.

Agreed - and unfortunately it's typically over a minimal amount.


People just flushing legit friendships down the drain.

 

[850credit]

Agreed - and unfortunately it's typically over a minimal amount.


People just flushing legit friendships down the drain.

It ripped my heart out cutting off my ex. But I had a long talk with her dad about it and he agreed that it was the only way she was gonna learn to change her ways.

When you lose a quality person from your life because they feel they are better off without you, you realize not to take people for granted cause that's hard to replace.

Keeping manipulative people around makes you their enabler. You have to cut them off so they can learn their life lesson.

 

[Helico-pterFunk]

It ripped my heart out cutting off my ex. But I had a long talk with her dad about it and he agreed that it was the only way she was gonna learn to change her ways.

When you lose a quality person from your life because they feel they are better off without you, you realize not to take people for granted cause that's hard to replace.

Keeping manipulative people around makes you their enabler. You have to cut them off so they can learn their life lesson.

Agreed.

Well said re: enabling, life's lessons, etc.

Regarding losing quality people ... what sucks too with certain friendships or family bonds is that the pros typically outweigh the cons. But then over time, unfortunately the cons become even more detrimental & negatively impact you and your own well-being.

 

[ZuluSam]

I only read this far: “You loan money and you think you’re going to get it back"

He really thought he was gonna get it back?

If a muhfucka was gonna give it back, he wouldn’t need it to begin with. lol

 

[850credit]

Had an ex that flat out told me one day, "If I need 100.00 I'll always ask for 200" smh.

That's when I realized she would ask me...and every other sucker in her phone. If I said no she'd just keep going down the list.

Opened me up to how women operate.

 

[ANGRY MAN]

If they can't afford to pay for whatever it is they need money for, why do you think they can afford to pay you back?

People will always prioritize themselves first. Paying you back will be last priority if a priority at all.

It's always an emergency when they need the money. It's never an emergency to pay you back.

Don't fuck up your PERSONAL credit. Those are the people that might have to get you out of jail one day.

Man they have a whole script ready, when they asking for money. It starts like, you know I don’t ask you for nothing..I need a favor..sad thing is they give you the date when they going to pay you back.

Lmao that date comes they don’t call you or text..while you like this MF ain’t hit me yet, the day isn’t over I’ll give them sometime. He did say Friday it’s like 9am I’m tripping!

Three days later you receive a text talking about I haven’t forgot about you.

Moral to the story keep your money for yourself, you earned it.

 

[34real]

Don't loan people money,don't give people money that don't have it cause if they did they wouldn't be asking you for money....

If they stop fucking with you because you said "NO" than they never fucked with you at all.Fuck em.

Let me get some millions,90% of my family wouldn't speak to me cause they wouldn't have my number nor know where I live....fuck em