Tim Cahill is one of the greatest footballers Australia has ever produced.
This article covers his estimated net worth, full career earnings, contracts, salary history, endorsements, and everything that built his financial legacy.
Tim Cahill’s Biography
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Timothy Filiga Cahill |
| Date of Birth | December 6, 1979 |
| Age | 46 years old |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Height | 178 cm (5 ft 10 in) |
| Position | Attacking Midfielder / Striker |
| Current Club | Retired (2019) |
| Turned Professional | 1998 (Millwall, England) |
| Net Worth | ~$12 million (estimated) |
| Peak Salary | $3.63 million/year (New York Red Bulls, 2014) |
| Wife | Rebekah Cahill (married May 15, 2010) |
| @timcahill |
Early Life & Career
Timothy Filiga Cahill was born on December 6, 1979, in Sydney, Australia, to an English father and a Samoan mother.
He grew up in the western suburbs of Sydney and showed an early passion for football. He attended Bexley North Public School, where sport became the center of his world.
Cahill joined Sydney United’s youth setup and later played for Sydney Olympic between 1995 and 1997 before catching the eye of English club Millwall.
In 1997, at just 17, he made the bold move to England, crossing the globe to pursue a professional career in the Football League.
He turned professional with Millwall in 1998, and what followed was an eight-year spell at The Den that laid the foundation for everything that came next.
At Millwall, Cahill was not a headline name at first — he was a grinder, a box-to-box midfielder with an extraordinary ability to arrive late into the box and head the ball with pinpoint accuracy.
By the time he left, he had appeared in 249 games and scored 56 goals for the club. His outstanding 2003–04 season, in which Millwall reached the FA Cup Final against Manchester United, put his name firmly on the radar of Premier League clubs.
Professional Career
Cahill’s transfer from Millwall to Everton for £2 million in July 2004 changed his life.
He hit the ground running at Goodison Park, finishing as Everton’s top Premier League scorer in his debut season with 11 goals in 33 appearances and winning the club’s Player of the Season award.
That same season, his performances helped Everton secure a fourth-place Premier League finish and qualify for the UEFA Champions League.
He stayed at Everton for eight seasons, making 254 appearances and scoring 62 goals — a remarkable return for a midfielder.
In 2012, he left Everton for the New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer, where his earning power hit its peak. He recorded one of the fastest goals in MLS history, scoring just eight seconds into a match against the Houston Dynamo.
After his MLS stint, Cahill moved to China’s Super League with Shanghai Shenhua in 2015, scoring 11 goals in 28 league games, then joined Hangzhou Greentown in 2016 before returning to Australia with Melbourne City.
He had a brief return to Millwall in 2018 and wrapped up his playing days with Jamshedpur FC in India’s ISL in 2018–19.
On the international stage, Cahill represented Australia 108 times and scored 50 goals, making him the Socceroos’ all-time record goalscorer.
He is the first Australian to score in three separate FIFA World Cup tournaments — a distinction that no other Australian player has matched.
Wife
Tim Cahill married his childhood sweetheart, Rebekah Greenfield (now Rebekah Cahill), on May 15, 2010, in Las Vegas en route to Sydney.
The couple has been together for over 15 years and remains one of Australian football’s most stable family partnerships.
They have four children together: Kyah (born 2003), Shae (born April 26, 2005), Sienna (born 2007), and Cruz (born September 2, 2012).
Cahill has been consistently private about his family but frequently shares moments from their lives on social media.
Tim Cahill’s Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Tim Cahill’s has an estimated net worth of $12 million. He built this wealth through two decades of professional football contracts across England, the United States, China, Australia, and India, combined with endorsement income, property investments, and post-career business ventures.
Contract
Cahill’s biggest and most financially significant club contract came at the New York Red Bulls, where he signed as a Designated Player in 2012.
Designated Players in MLS receive salaries far above the league’s standard cap, which allowed Cahill to command one of the highest wages in American soccer at the time.
His contract at the Red Bulls ran from 2012 to 2014 and remains the most lucrative deal of his playing career by reported annual figures.
At Everton, Cahill signed multiple contract extensions across his eight-year stay, beginning with a reported salary uplift to approximately £27,000 per week in August 2005 after his breakout debut season.
Everton signed him from Millwall for £2 million and renewed his contract multiple times, with his deal ultimately expiring in June 2012 before his MLS move.
Salary
During his time at Everton, Cahill earned a reported salary of approximately £2.9 million per year at his peak, according to figures referenced by Express.
His MLS earnings with the New York Red Bulls reached $3.63 million per year in guaranteed compensation by 2014, making him the eighth highest-paid player in the entire league that season according to MLS Players Union data.
The ABC confirmed at the time that Cahill pocketed just over half the league’s top earner Kaká’s wages.
Career Earnings by Club
| Club | Period | Reported Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Everton | 2004–2012 | ~£27,000/week (~£1.4M/year, rising to ~£2.9M/year at peak) |
| New York Red Bulls | 2012–2013 | $3.5 million/year |
| New York Red Bulls | 2014 | $3.63 million guaranteed |
| Shanghai Shenhua | 2015 | N/A |
| Melbourne City | 2016–2017 | N/A |
| Jamshedpur FC | 2018–2019 | N/A |
Endorsements
Cahill built a meaningful endorsement portfolio during his playing career. His known brand partners included Caltex, travel platform TripADeal, and sports brand New Balance.
He also appeared on the cover of EA Sports’ FIFA video game series, one of the most commercially valuable video game tie-ins in global football.
After retirement, Cahill became a brand ambassador for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and invested in EVDirect, the company bringing BYD electric vehicles to Australia — signaling a shift from sports sponsorship to entrepreneurial brand partnerships.
On the property side, Cahill purchased a 13-hectare farm in Byron Bay, Australia in November 2017 for approximately US$1.7 million.
He is also a partner in two football academies — one in Wollongong, Australia, and the other, the Elite Sporting Academy, based in Dubai.
Post-retirement, he serves as Chief Sports Officer at the Aspire Academy in the UAE and sits on the board of Belgian club KAS Eupen.
Career Statistics
Club Career
| Club | Period | Appearances | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Millwall | 1997–2004 | 249 | 56 |
| Everton | 2004–2012 | 254 | 62 |
| New York Red Bulls | 2012–2014 | 72 | 16 |
| Shanghai Shenhua | 2015 | 34 (all comps) | 12 |
| Hangzhou Greentown | 2016 | 17 | 4 |
| Melbourne City | 2016–2017 | 33 | 13 |
| Millwall (2nd spell) | 2018 | 10 | 0 |
| Jamshedpur FC | 2018–2019 | 12 | 2 |
| Total | 1997–2019 | ~681 | ~165 |
International Career
| National Team | Period | Appearances | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (Socceroos) | 2004–2018 | 108 | 50 |
FAQs
What is Tim Cahill’s net worth?
Tim Cahill’s net worth is estimated at $12 million. He earned this through his professional football career, brand endorsements, property investments, and post-retirement business roles.
How much did Tim Cahill earn at the New York Red Bulls?
Cahill earned a guaranteed salary of $3.63 million per year at the New York Red Bulls in 2014, making him the eighth-highest-paid player in Major League Soccer that season.
Is Tim Cahill still involved in football?
Yes. Cahill currently serves as Chief Sports Officer at the Aspire Academy in the UAE and sits on the board of Belgian club KAS Eupen. He also co-runs football academies in Wollongong and Dubai.
Who is Tim Cahill’s wife?
Tim Cahill married Rebekah Greenfield on May 15, 2010, in Las Vegas. Together they have four children: Kyah, Shae, Sienna, and Cruz.
What records did Tim Cahill set for Australia?
Cahill scored 50 international goals in 108 appearances for Australia, making him the Socceroos’ all-time record goalscorer. He is also the first Australian to score in three separate FIFA World Cup tournaments.
