What is Tiki Barber's Net Worth and Salary?
Tiki Barber is an American retired professional football player who has a net worth of $16 million. Barber initially gained fame as a running back for the New York Giants before expanding his career as a correspondent and author.
Tiki spent 10 years with the Giants, eventually making an unsuccessful attempt to return to the NFL before retiring permanently. His twin brother, Ronde, also played in the NFL, furthering the family’s football legacy. Tiki has been featured on shows like "The Today Show" and "Football Night in America," both distributed by NBC.
Early Life
Atiim Kiambu "Tiki" Barber was born on April 7, 1975, in Roanoke, Virginia. Born five weeks premature alongside his twin brother, Tiki grew up in an athletic family. His father, James "J.B." Barber, was a star running back at Virginia Tech and briefly played in the NFL. Despite his father's athletic background, Tiki's father was not involved in his upbringing, and his mother supported the family by working multiple jobs.
Tiki attended the University of Virginia on an academic scholarship, focusing on business studies while also excelling in athletics. He set records in track and field and led the football team to new achievements, regularly rushing for over 1,300 yards in a season.
NFL Career
Tiki Barber joined the New York Giants in 1997 as a "third-down" running back. As other running backs underperformed, Tiki seized the opportunity to shine, though his career started slowly due to injuries and subpar performances. By 2000, Barber became a crucial part of the Giants' team and secured a six-year contract. He achieved memorable milestones, including a 203-yard game against the Philadelphia Eagles and scoring a career-high 15 touchdowns in 2003.
In the 2005 season, Barber and Eli Manning led the Giants to win the NFC East title. Barber rushed for a record-breaking 220 yards against the Kansas City Chiefs, finishing the season with 1,860 rushing yards, second in the league. 2006 was his final NFL season, ending with impressive performances including a 137-yard game against the Philadelphia Eagles and his last official game at the 2007 Pro Bowl in Hawaii.
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Despite surprising many by retiring at his peak, Barber aimed to avoid the physical toll of football and pivoted to broadcasting. The Giants offered a 2-year, $50-million contract, which he declined. Ironically, the Giants won the Super Bowl the year after his retirement, a victory Barber covered as a correspondent despite criticism from former teammates.
In 2011, Barber attempted an NFL comeback, though no team showed interest despite his training with the Miami Dolphins.
Post-Football Career
After retiring, Tiki Barber joined NBC’s "Today" show and worked as an analyst for "Football Night in America." Unlike many former athletes, Barber is interested in covering all kinds of news events. He has also hosted "Fox & Friends" and "Morning Joe," and appeared on "Iron Chef America," "Chopped," "Celebrity Family Feud," "Cash Cab," "Knight Rider," and a 2019 Broadway production of "Kinky Boots." Beyond broadcasting, Tiki has business interests in industries like bottled water, gyms, cannabis, and websites.
Relationships
Tiki married his high school sweetheart, Virginia Cha Barber, in 1999, and they had five children, including twin girls. However, their marriage ended while Virginia was pregnant with the twins, after it was revealed that Tiki had been unfaithful with a 23-year-old NBC intern, Traci Lynn Johnson. He and Johnson married shortly after his divorce was finalized and welcomed their first child in 2016.
