Diamonds Are Forever

Joe Burrow says he makes “too much money” to have fake diamonds, is extremely ready for Los Angeles

January 31, 2022

Joe Burrow is just a simple Ohio boy. Molded in Athens, carved in Columbus, and eventually polished in Baton Rouge, there is nothing “Broadway” about “Broadway Joe.” So it’s fair to ask: How is Burrow going to handle the bright lights of La La Land come Super Bowl week? Well, if this moment following the Bengals’ first AFC championship in 33 years is any indication, he should feel right at home.

Asked by reporters if his “JBO” Nike swoosh necklace was the real deal, Burrow gave a hilarious (and refreshingly honest) response. “They’re definitely real,” he said. “I make too much money to have fake ones.” If that doesn’t sound like a guy who’s ready to turn SoFi Stadium into his own bachelor pad on Valentine’s Eve, we don’t know what does.

As for how much money Burrow actually makes, the former Heisman winner and National Champion signed a four-year, fully guaranteed contract as the top overall pick in 2020. The contract included a $23,880,110 signing bonus with an average annual salary of over $9 million, bringing the total contract worth to $36,190,137 by 2024. Enough for real diamonds, even in this economy.