Russell Okung's $6.5M Bitcoin Bet Just Paid Out And It All Started With a Chargers Trade

A trade that flopped on the field ended up turning into a financial masterclass for former Chargers tackle Russell Okung, thanks to one bold move involving Bitcoin.

The Los Angeles Chargers traded DE Russell Okung to the Carolina Panthers for guard Trai Turner before the 2020 season in a move both teams hoped would upgrade their offensive lines.

Instead, neither player met expectations. Okung played just seven games for the Panthers, while Turner’s lone season with the Chargers fizzled before he exited the league.

But while Okung’s NFL journey was flopping, he was making a different kind of trade that would change his financial future. After the trade, Okung requested that half of his $13 million salary be paid in Bitcoin—an unprecedented move in professional sports at the time. The Chargers agreed, and Okung walked away with 240 bitcoins in 2020, valued at about $6.5 million.

Now in 2025, Bitcoin (BTC) reached an all-time high of $111,691.50 per coin. If Okung has been paid in BTC and held onto his coins, his original $6.5 million is now worth approximately $26.8 million.

That sum is nearly quadruple the top tackle salaries in 2025, which usually fall in the $7–$8 million range.

Okung’s request to be paid in Bitcoin drew skepticism at the time, especially when Bitcoin dipped below $17,000 in 2022, temporarily shrinking his investment to just over $4 million.

However, it seems the former Charger had an unyielding belief in cryptocurrency throughout, an opinion that's paying off now in a massive way. As others pulled out, doubt grew, and the market fluctuated, Okung stayed the course.

Odell Beckham Jr. also had a portion of his 2021 Rams salary paid in Bitcoin, and several other NFL players have invested in cryptocurrency in smaller amounts. But Okung has become the face of NFL crypto investing, and arguably its most successful case.

The trade that flopped on the field may ultimately have been a good thing for Okung. It allowed him to pivot into a bold financial move that continues to pay off today. Few former players can say they made more post-retirement than they did during their career.

But while Okung’s busy making new headlines for his Bitcoin payout, he’s also still in the news for his on-field contributions.