Marko Arnautović is one of European football’s most durable forwards — a striker who has played in six major leagues across three continents.
He heads into the FIFA World Cup as Austria’s all-time leading scorer. Here is everything you need to know about his net worth, salary, and career earnings.
Marko Arnautović’s Biography
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Marko Arnautović |
| Date of Birth | 19 April 1989 |
| Age | 37 |
| Nationality | Austrian |
| Height | 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) |
| Weight | 83 kg (183 lbs) |
| Position | Striker / Centre-Forward |
| Current Club | Red Star Belgrade (FK Crvena Zvezda) |
| Turned Professional | 2006 (FC Twente) |
| Net Worth | ~$20 million (estimated) |
| Current Salary | ~€46,400 per week / ~€2.4 million per year |
| Wife | Sarah Arnautović (née Lizakowski), married 2012 |
| Children | Two daughters: Emilia and Alicia |
| @markoarnautovic89 |
Early Life and Career
Marko Arnautović was born on 19 April 1989 in the Floridsdorf district of Vienna — a working-class part of the Austrian capital near the Danube.
His father, Tomislav, is of Serbian origin and played amateur football near Belgrade before the family settled in Vienna.
His mother, Gabriela, is Austrian. Growing up between two cultures gave Arnautović a distinctive identity that he has carried throughout his life.
Football entered the picture early. His father volunteered at Floridsdorfer AC, the small community club in the neighbourhood, and it was on those local pitches that Marko first kicked a ball alongside his older brother Danijel.
In 1998, the family enrolled him in the youth system at FK Austria Wien, one of Vienna’s biggest clubs.
Behaviour issues, however, led to a restless period where he moved through First Vienna FC, a second stint at Austria Wien, and then SK Rapid Wien before returning to Floridsdorfer AC.
Despite the disrupted youth career, his talent was clear to anyone watching. Dutch club FC Twente scouted him and signed him in 2006, taking the 17-year-old to the Netherlands. The move proved transformative.
Arnautović scored 22 goals in 24 matches for Twente’s Under-19 side in the 2007–08 season, and then made his senior professional debut as a substitute against PSV Eindhoven in April 2007.
His 2008–09 campaign — 14 goals in 41 senior matches — put him firmly on the radar of top European clubs.
Professional Career
Arnautović’s professional journey spans three continents and nine clubs, making him one of the more well-travelled strikers of his generation.
After his breakthrough at Twente, he joined Inter Milan on loan in August 2009 under José Mourinho.
Injury restricted him to just three appearances, but he was part of the squad that completed the historic treble — winning the Serie A title, the Coppa Italia, and the UEFA Champions League in the 2009–10 season.
In June 2010, he moved to Werder Bremen in Germany on a four-year deal. He became a regular starter at the Weserstadion, scoring five goals in 34 Bundesliga appearances in his first season and building a reputation as a technically gifted, physically imposing forward.
He remained in Bremen for three seasons before joining Stoke City in the Premier League in September 2013, where he spent four years and scored 26 goals in 145 appearances — becoming a favourite of the Britannia Stadium crowd.
His move to West Ham United in July 2017 for a £20 million fee brought his best individual season. He scored 11 Premier League goals, won the Hammer of the Year award with 68% of the fan vote, and was named Austrian Footballer of the Year in 2018.
After two seasons in East London and 21 goals in total, he joined Shanghai SIPG in China for a fee of $28.5 million in 2019.
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted that chapter, and he returned to Europe by signing for Bologna in 2021, where he scored 24 goals across roughly 54 Serie A appearances — the most prolific domestic spell of his career.
In August 2023, he rejoined Inter Milan — 13 years after his first stint — initially on loan, then permanently. He won the Serie A title and Supercoppa Italiana with the Nerazzurri before joining Red Star Belgrade in July 2025 on a contract running to June 2027.
On the international stage, he has earned 133 caps for Austria and, on 10 October 2025, surpassed Toni Polster’s long-standing record to become Austria’s all-time leading goalscorer with 47 international goals.
He scored a decisive stoppage-time penalty for Austria in their 2026 World Cup opening match against Jordan.
Wife
Marko Arnautović met his wife, Sarah (née Lizakowski), at a disco in Bremen in 2010, during his time at Werder Bremen.
The couple married in 2012 in a private ceremony attended by close family and friends. Sarah worked as both a model and a medical practitioner before stepping back from professional life after the birth of their first daughter.
Together they have two daughters, Emilia and Alicia. Arnautović has spoken openly about how becoming a father changed his approach — he famously credited Emilia’s birth in 2013 with helping him leave behind the “bad boy” reputation he had built up in Germany and Italy.
Sarah has accompanied him through clubs in the Netherlands, Germany, England, China, Italy, and Serbia, and the couple is widely regarded as one of the most stable partnerships among top-level Austrian footballers.
Marko Arnautović’s Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Marko Arnautović’s has an estimated net worth of $20 million.
He accumulated this figure over two decades of professional football, earning wages across six major leagues — the Eredivisie, Bundesliga, Premier League, Chinese Super League, Serie A, and Serbian SuperLiga — and collecting significant transfer fees that drove up his earning power at each career stage.
Contract
Arnautović joined Red Star Belgrade on 21 July 2025, signing a contract through 30 June 2027.
Red Star — formally FK Crvena Zvezda — is one of the most decorated clubs in the Balkans, competing in the Serbian SuperLiga and regularly featuring in UEFA competitions.
In the 2025–26 season, Arnautović delivered 7 goals and 8 assists in the SuperLiga before heading to the FIFA World Cup 2026 as part of Austria’s squad.
His contract with Red Star represents the final stage of a career built across Europe’s biggest football leagues.
Salary
According to SalarySport’s database for Arnautović, his current weekly wage at Red Star Belgrade is approximately £40,000 (~€46,400) per week, translating to roughly £2.08 million (~€2.4 million) per year.
This is significantly below the peak salary he commanded at West Ham United, where he earned £100,000 per week, but reflects the natural arc of a forward entering the final years of his career.
His highest-earning period came during his two seasons at West Ham (2017–2019), when he earned approximately £5.2 million per year before heading to China.
His Inter Milan spells also saw him earn over £3 million annually, as documented in Capology’s salary breakdown for Arnautović.
Career Earnings By Year
| Season | Club | Weekly Wage (Est.) | Annual Salary (Est.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009–10 | Inter Milan | £30,710 | £1.5M |
| 2013–14 | Stoke City | £35,000 | £1.8M |
| 2014–15 | Stoke City | £35,000 | £1.8M |
| 2015–16 | Stoke City | £35,000 | £1.8M |
| 2016–17 | Stoke City | £50,000 | £2.6M |
| 2017–18 | West Ham United | £100,000 | £5.2M |
| 2018–19 | West Ham United | £100,000 | £5.2M |
| 2021–22 | Bologna | £57,436 | £2.9M |
| 2022–23 | Bologna | £57,436 | £2.9M |
| 2023–24 | Inter Milan | £63,910 | £3.3M |
| 2024–25 | Inter Milan | £74,535 | £3.8M |
| 2025–26 | Red Star Belgrade | £40,000 | £2.08M |
Career Statistics
| Club | Season | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FC Twente | 2006–2009 | 48+ | 14 (2008–09) | — |
| Inter Milan (loan) | 2009–10 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Werder Bremen | 2010–2013 | 90+ | ~15 | — |
| Stoke City | 2013–2017 | 145 | 26 | — |
| West Ham United | 2017–2019 | 59 | 21 | — |
| Shanghai Port | 2019–2021 | 30+ | 10+ | — |
| Bologna | 2021–2023 | ~54 | 24 | — |
| Inter Milan | 2023–2025 | 42+ | 10 | — |
| Red Star Belgrade | 2025–2026 | 16 | 7 | 8 |
| Austria (National) | 2008–2026 | 133 | 47 | — |
FAQs
What is Marko Arnautović’s net worth?
Arnautović’s estimated net worth is approximately $20 million. He built this figure through salaries at clubs including West Ham United, Inter Milan, and Bologna, supplemented by commercial representation and career-long earnings.
How much does Marko Arnautović earn at Red Star Belgrade?
He earns an estimated £40,000 per week at Red Star Belgrade — approximately £2.08 million per year. This is well below his peak wages at West Ham United, where he earned £100,000 per week during the 2017–2019 seasons.
How many goals has Marko Arnautović scored for Austria?
He has scored 47 goals in 133 appearances for the Austrian national team, making him Austria’s all-time leading goalscorer. He surpassed Toni Polster’s record of 44 goals on 10 October 2025 in a UEFA Nations League victory over San Marino.
Who is Marko Arnautović’s wife?
He is married to Sarah Arnautović (née Lizakowski), an Austrian former model and medical practitioner. They met in Bremen in 2010 and married in 2012. The couple has two daughters, Emilia and Alicia.
What clubs has Marko Arnautović played for?
He has played for FC Twente, Inter Milan (twice), Werder Bremen, Stoke City, West Ham United, Shanghai Port, Bologna, and Red Star Belgrade. His career spans the Dutch Eredivisie, Bundesliga, Premier League, Chinese Super League, Serie A, and Serbian SuperLiga.
