A former Liverpool striker has gained a huge net worth after building up an impressive property empire over the last few decades. The player in question had two spells at Anfield, scoring a whopping 183 goals during his time at the club. He also played for Leeds United, Manchester City and Blackburn Rovers before hanging up his boots in 2012.
The forward will have earned a huge amount of money from his football contracts but has also been making millions away from the pitch. He started investing when he was a teenager and has built up a wide-ranging portfolio of properties. A few years ago, he even set up his own academy to teach aspiring investors via workshops and courses.
The player in question is, of course, former Liverpool and England marksman Robbie Fowler. He is thought to be worth in excess of £31million, according to Celebrity Net Worth, making him richer than current Reds stars like Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker.
Fowler did not wait until the end of his career to build his property empire, making the Sunday Times Rich List on two occasions when he was still playing. At one point, he was even dubbed the 'richest sportsman living in Britain' by The Observer.
Reflecting on his investment journey back in 2015, Fowler explained that former Liverpool captain Graeme Souness was responsible for planting the initial seed.
"I started investing in property almost by accident," he told The Guardian. "Graeme Souness put me in touch with a financial adviser who advised me to go into property.
"Since then, and I’m not embarrassed to admit this, it’s my wife who’s the one who has been wearing the trousers. She’s the boss. She did it all while I was playing. Basically I go out and earn the money. She’s happy with that concept."
Most of Fowler's properties are in the Liverpool area, but it is not known exactly how many he owns. Asked to give a ballpark figure, he replied: "I’ve got more than 10. I’m a private person. I don’t like to disclose everything."
Having been raised in a working-class environment in Toxteth, Fowler has never been interested in fleecing his tenants despite the reputation of some landlords.
"Some people can’t afford to buy, so as a landlord you are providing a benefit for other people," he added. "You are providing a service. Some landlords have been greedy, but you certainly won’t get that from me after the upbringing I had in Liverpool."