If retired Carolina Panthers participant Russell Okung held onto the 240 Bitcoin bought in lieu of half of his 2020 wage till right now, he can be sitting on over $20.9 million. If.
Chances are high, he’s sitting fairly: In Might 2021, amid a decline in Bitcoin’s worth, Okung reaffirmed his dedication to the crypto, stating on Twitter on the time, “Y’all don’t get it. I’m not promoting my Bitcoin, ever.”
Since then, he has not publicly disclosed any modifications to his Bitcoin funding technique. Decrypt has reached out to Okung on that time.
In December 2020, Okung generated headlines when he introduced he would take half of his $13 million wage, about $6.5 million, in Bitcoin.
“Cash is greater than forex; it’s energy,” Okung informed CNBC on the time. “The way in which cash is dealt with from creation to dissemination is a part of that energy. Getting paid in bitcoin is step one of opting out of the corrupt, manipulated economic system all of us inhabit.”
On the time, Bitcoin was value a relatively paltry $27,000. Quick ahead 4 years and the cryptocurrency is buying and selling at $87,803 late Monday, a rise of greater than 220%, putting Okung’s Bitcoin wager at $21 million.
In 2021, the Bitcoin aficionado defended the crypto when Tesla CEO Elon Musk introduced his firm would not settle for Bitcoin funds, citing environmental considerations over its power consumption.
In response to Musk’s proclamation, Okung launched the “Keep on with Area, Elon” marketing campaign.
“Bitcoin is humanity’s greatest shot at freedom,” Okung informed Decrypt on the time. “The general public narrative wanted correction as Elon apparently misunderstands its true profit to our species.”
He continued: “No particular person is a risk to Bitcoin within the grand scheme of issues. In Elon’s phrases, it’s inevitable. His influence on Bitcoin is non permanent.”
Okung retired from soccer in June 2023. If he’s nonetheless holding bitcoin, he might go down in historical past because the GOAT—amongst all ex-athlete buyers.
Edited by Sebastian Sinclair
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