Gareth Bale net worth and life after football - new career, cosmetic surgery, hairdresser wife

Welsh football icon Gareth Bale is set to resume his , more than two years after hanging up his boots.

The 35-year-old will join the likes of Rio Ferdinand, Glenn Hoddle, Robbie Savage and Paul Scholes in analysing between Manchester United and his former side in Bilbao. Bale has earlier this season and will be back behind the microphone this Wednesday evening.

retired from professional football at 33 in 2023, leaving a legacy as one of the most decorated players of his generation and, in the eyes of some, the greatest British player ever, boasting 18 major trophies.

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Internationally, he earned 111 caps for Wales, netting a record 41 goals and guiding them to three significant tournaments, including their first World Cup appearance in 64 years in 2022.

On the club front, Bale rose through the ranks at Southampton before making a name for himself at Spurs and securing a then-record £85 million transfer to Real Madrid in 2013, reports .

His stint in Spain was marked by five Champions League victories and three La Liga titles, before concluding his illustrious career with an MLS Cup triumph with Los Angeles FC.

Even after hanging up his boots, Gareth Bale continues to bask in the limelight, keeping fans updated with snapshots of luxurious holidays, star-studded events, and rounds of golf on world-class courses.

Here's a glimpse into the Welsh wizard's post-retirement life, from his remarkable physical transformation to his blissful family life with his childhood sweetheart.

Gareth Bale net worth

Bale's financial clout

The ex-Real Madrid star was known to rake in a staggering £600,000 weekly during his peak playing days, but he's also made savvy business decisions to maintain his wealth.

In 2017, Bale launched 'Elevens', his own bar in Cardiff, followed by the opening of a mini-golf themed bar, Par 59, expanding to a second location in Bristol five years later.

Despite being teetotal, Bale has made a "significant investment" in Penderyn Distillery, securing a minority stake, and has put money into Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy's TGL golf league.

His bank balance has been further bolstered through lucrative endorsement deals with big names like Adidas, Playstation, and BMW.

While estimates vary, some suggest Bale's net worth hovers around the £115 million mark.

The latest Sunday Times Rich List has notably omitted Gareth Bale from its 40 Under 40 list, hinting that his wealth may be below the £100 million mark.

Hairdresser wife

Bale wed his childhood sweetheart and former hairdresser Emma Rhys-Jones in 2019. By the time they exchangTed vows, the couple had already welcomed three children - Alba, Nava, and Axel - with their fourth child, Xander, arriving in 2021.

The family is frequently spotted travelling to exotic locations worldwide, with Bale sharing snapshots of their holidays to Abu Dhabi, Lapland, and the United States on social media.

Their romance began at Whitchurch High School in Cardiff, leading to an engagement in July 2016 during Bale's birthday weekend, culminating in a wedding on the secluded Spanish isle of Tagomago in the summer of 2019.

The intimate wedding was attended by just 60 guests, who were only informed of the exact location 24 hours prior and were required to surrender their mobile phones to ex-SAS security personnel.

The nuptials followed a postponement due to "family turmoil" on Emma's side, which saw her father imprisoned and her brother-in-law pass away.

Emma's sister Katie is married to Welsh rugby icon Taulupe Faletau, making him Bale's brother-in-law.

Body transformation

At 35, Bale has undergone a remarkable transformation from the young talent who first emerged at Southampton nearly two decades ago.

Starting his career as a "skinny and shy" lad on the South coast, Gareth Bale quickly bulked up and gained confidence, eventually reaching his physical zenith after his move to Madrid. Images of his massive muscular thighs and bulging biceps went viral on social media.

Even in retirement, Bale has maintained his remarkable physique, flaunting his toned torso and six-pack while hitting the beach in Abu Dhabi last year.

But it's not just his body that's transformed over time; Bale reportedly had cosmetic work done on his ears. Subjected to teasing for his protruding ears in his youth, the Mirror reported in 2013 that the Welsh wizard had "discreetly" visited a top plastic surgeon's clinic during the summer to have his ears pinned back.

His hairstyle has seen its fair share of evolution too, with his iconic top-knot now replaced by a neater trim compared to his playing days.

£4m home and new career

Bale's illustrious career, spanning the Championship, Premier League, La Liga, and Major League Soccer, has seen him acquire properties across the globe.

Last year, reports emerged that his lavish Madrid mansion was snapped up by football sensation Kylian Mbappe for an impressive £11 million.

Gareth Bale's , but his £4 million abode in the Vale of Glamorgan takes it to another level, featuring six bedrooms, a dressing room and study, and notably, a bespoke three-hole golf course within its grounds.

The garden's miniature course is a golfer's fantasy, boasting recreations of three iconic holes – the 17th at Sawgrass, Royal Troon's 'postage stamp' 8th hole, and the 12th at Augusta National.

Renowned for integrating golf into his very active footballing days, Bale has been reported to play off an impressive two handicap.

With his retirement from football, he has pivoted even more towards golf, rubbing shoulders on the green with golfing royalty like Rory McIlroy, who praised Bale's prowess. "He has the potential to get to scratch [a handicap of zero], the way he hits the ball he could be a scratch player, but he's only played for the last few years," McIlroy remarked following a round together at an event last year.

McIlroy noted that while Bale strikes the ball with skill, refining game management and course navigation are the aspects he's currently mastering. "There is a difference between being able to hit the golf ball well and getting yourself around the golf course and managing your game – that's the part he's learning now."

Bale's affinity for the green also extends beyond playing; he became a figurehead for the Underrated Golf European Tour, initiated by basketball luminary Steph Curry and has collaborated with Adidas on their golf-related content.