Vince Papale Net Worth

Vince Papale is a former American football player, author, public speaker, and producer with a net worth of $2 million. Papale is best known for his remarkable journey from a 30-year-old walk-on to a Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver, a story that inspired the 2006 film Invincible, starring Mark Wahlberg. He also executive produced the 2017 Reelz special Invincible: The True Story.

Vince Papale Net Worth: $2 Million
Date of Birth: February 9, 1946
Place of Birth: Glenolden, Pennsylvania
Nationality: American
Profession: American football player, author, public speaker, and producer

Table of Contents

Early Life

Vince Papale was born Vincent Francis Papale on February 9, 1946, in Glenolden, Pennsylvania. A multi-sport athlete at Interboro High School, Papale excelled in football, basketball, and track and field. He earned All-Delaware County honors in football and became one of Pennsylvania’s top high school pole vaulters, clearing 12 ft 9 in, which earned him a track scholarship to Saint Joseph’s University.

At Saint Joseph’s, he continued to compete in pole vaulting, winning a United States Track & Field Federation college development competition with a vault of 14 ft 6 in. In 1968, Papale graduated with a degree in Marketing and Management Science.

Football Career

After college, Papale played for the Seaboard Football League’s Aston Green Knights while teaching and coaching at Interboro High. He later joined the World Football League’s Philadelphia Bell as a wide receiver, averaging 13.4 yards per catch and standing out on special teams.

Philadelphia Eagles

At age 30, Papale famously attended open tryouts for the Philadelphia Eagles, defying the odds. He made the team and played from 1976 to 1978, quickly becoming a fan favorite.

In 1978, teammates voted him Special Teams Captain, and the Eagles named him Man of the Year for his philanthropic efforts.
Papale’s NFL career ended in 1979 due to a shoulder injury.

Papale’s NFL salaries were modest: $21,000 in 1976, $25,000 in 1977, and $30,000 in 1978, not including bonuses or incentives.

Author and Media Work

Papale has shared his inspiring story in multiple books:

Invincible: My Journey from Fan to NFL Team Captain (2006)
Be Invincible! A Playbook for Reaching Your Full Potential (2011), co-written with his wife Janet Cantwell-Papale

He has also worked as a radio and TV broadcaster, a commercial mortgage banker, and executive produced documentaries about his life and career.

Personal Life

Vince Papale married Janet Cantwell, a former USA World Gymnastics team member, on August 14, 1993. They have two children: Vincent Jr. (Vinnie) and Gabriella. Vinnie played football for the University of Delaware and the Tampa Bay Bandits in the USFL.

Papale was previously married to Sandy Bianchini (1977–1983) and Sharon (divorced 1971). In 2001, he was diagnosed with colorectal cancer, which was detected early, and he has since appeared in public service campaigns to encourage screenings.

Vince Papale net worth is estimated to be $2 million.