Former Chelsea midfielder Oscar has dropped one of the most surprising financial stories in recent football history. In a candid chat on former teammate John Obi Mikel’s Obione Podcast, the Brazilian admitted he never spent a single penny of the massive salary he earned during his seven years in China.
“I put my entire salary into a separate account and never touched it once. My family and I lived off the match bonuses because they were already huge.”
The revelation has sent shockwaves through football circles — especially coming just months after Oscar retired from the game at 34 following a heart-related health scare.
The Podcast Moment Everyone’s Talking About
Mikel, who played alongside Oscar at Chelsea, asked the question everyone wanted to know: Was it true he made around £150–175 million during his time at Shanghai Port?
Oscar didn’t dodge it. He confirmed the eye-watering figure and then explained exactly what he did with the money. Instead of living the high life, he treated his base salary like it didn’t exist. Every penny went straight into a separate account. The family lived comfortably on the performance bonuses alone — and apparently those were big enough to cover everything.
It’s the kind of discipline you rarely hear about in football.
Why Oscar Left Chelsea for China in the First Place
When Oscar made the shock £60 million move from Chelsea to Shanghai SIPG (now Shanghai Port) in January 2017, many fans were heartbroken. He was still only 25, had won the Premier League, Europa League and League Cup with the Blues, and looked set for a long career in England or Spain.
But the offer from China was impossible to ignore.
Oscar later revealed he couldn’t sleep for two days after seeing the numbers. His wife eventually convinced him: “You could break your leg playing for Chelsea tomorrow.” Coming from a big Brazilian family, the chance to secure generational wealth was too important to turn down.
At the time, the Chinese Super League was throwing serious money at top players. Oscar became one of the highest-paid footballers on the planet, reportedly earning around £400,000 per week.
He Didn’t Just Take the Money and Run
Here’s the part that makes the story even better — Oscar actually delivered on the pitch.
In 248 appearances for Shanghai Port, he scored 77 goals and provided 141 assists. He helped the club win three Chinese Super League titles (2018, 2023, 2024), a Chinese FA Cup, and a Super Cup. He became a fan favourite in Shanghai and left on emotional terms at the end of 2024 when he returned to his boyhood club São Paulo.
This wasn’t some mercenary move where he showed up, collected cheques, and disappeared. Oscar won trophies and played with quality.
The Discipline Behind the £175 Million
What really stands out is the financial self-control.
While countless players have earned huge money only to lose it through bad investments, flashy lifestyles, or dodgy advisors, Oscar did the opposite. He lived off the bonuses (which he described as “already huge”) and banked the salary.
Think about that for a second. He was earning superstar wages in one of the world’s biggest leagues at the time, yet he and his family maintained a relatively normal lifestyle by football standards. That kind of restraint is rare.
Now, at just 34 and retired due to a heart issue (vasovagal syncope that caused fainting episodes), Oscar has a massive safety net already secured. No need to chase coaching jobs or media work out of financial pressure. He can focus on his family and whatever comes next on his own terms.
Reactions from Fans and the Football World
The clip from Mikel’s podcast spread like wildfire on social media. Chelsea fans have been sharing it proudly, with many saying it shows the real character behind the player they loved. On Reddit and X, people are calling it one of the smartest financial moves they’ve heard from a footballer in years.
Some are understandably shocked by the numbers. Others are simply impressed by the discipline. In an era where we often hear stories of players going broke, this one feels refreshing.
What’s Next for Oscar?
Oscar officially retired in April 2026 after his contract with São Paulo was mutually terminated. The heart scare in late 2025 forced him to step away earlier than expected.
With his finances already sorted thanks to that untouched China salary, the future looks bright. Whether he moves into coaching, business, or simply enjoys family life away from the spotlight, he’s in a much stronger position than most players who retire young.
Final Thought
Oscar’s story is a reminder that sometimes the smartest move isn’t flashy — it’s disciplined. He took the big China gamble, won trophies, entertained fans, and still managed to walk away with his entire salary intact.
In a sport full of excess and short careers, that’s genuinely impressive.
Would you have done the same in his position? Most of us probably wouldn’t have had the willpower. Oscar did — and now his family’s future is secure because of it.
