Before Justin Herbert’s rookie season, the Los Angeles Chargers dealt tackle Russell Okung to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for guard Trai Turner. The trade ultimately didn’t pan out for either team, as both players underperformed in their new roles.
Turner played in just 33 games after his one-year stint with the Chargers in 2020 and is no longer in the NFL. Okung appeared in only seven games for the Panthers that same year and later retired in 2023 after being out of action.
The Los Angeles Chargers traded offensive tackle Russell Okung to the Carolina Panthers before Justin Herbert’s rookie year, acquiring guard Trai Turner in return. The deal didn’t benefit either team, as both players fell short of expectations.
Turner played a total of 33 games after his lone season with the Chargers in 2020 and is now out of the NFL. Okung suited up for just seven games with the Panthers that same year and officially retired in 2023 after being inactive for multiple seasons.
Despite his early exit from the league, Okung has seen significant financial gains—thanks to a smart investment decision. After being traded by the Chargers, he opted to receive half of his $13 million salary in bitcoin.
With bitcoin reaching a record high of $111,691.50 on Wednesday, Okung’s 240 bitcoins—acquired in 2020 for $6.5 million—are now worth approximately $26.8 million.
Former Chargers OT Russell Okung quadruples his last NFL salary as bitcoin reaches record high
It’s unknown whether Okung has held onto his bitcoin the entire time. If he has, his $6.5 million investment has more than quadrupled in value—now rivaling the top salaries earned by NFL offensive tackles.
That wasn’t always the case. In 2022, bitcoin’s value dropped below $17,000, reducing Okung’s stake to just over $4 million at one point.
He’s not the only NFL player to dabble in cryptocurrency. Odell Beckham Jr. famously converted his entire 2021 Rams base salary into bitcoin and has proudly touted that decision.
Several other players have made public investments in crypto, but Okung remains the most prominent figure associated with the trend. Though he initially faced skepticism for requesting to be paid in bitcoin, if he held onto his investment, he clearly came out ahead.
Getting traded by the Chargers might have been the best thing that could have happened to Okung. It’s still helping him all these years later.
