In the midst of the 2015 NFL Draft, there is a great deal of money heading to rookie football players. Many of them will be experiencing the excitement of sudden wealth.
In 2014, for example, the NFL drafted more than 250 rookies who collectively signed contracts totaling more than $950 million—with 11 players receiving more than $10 million.
Of course, it's a mixed blessing. A sudden influx of wealth, plus increased notoriety, can quickly and dramatically change one's life. Oftentimes, people unaccustomed to great wealth are not prepared to manage their new financial realities.
There are countless examples of athletes who, after going pro, have engaged in unsustainable spending patterns.