Cooper Manning might not be as famous as his NFL star brothers, but his net worth stands at an impressive $13 million. Most football fans recognize Peyton Manning’s achievements, while Cooper has built his own path to success in the business world.
The Manning family’s oldest son started with football dreams, but a spinal stenosis diagnosis ended his promising career early. Rather than continuing his family’s football legacy, Cooper transformed himself into a successful energy trader and partner at Scotia Howard Weil. He stays connected to sports through his role as the host of “The Manning Hour” on Fox Sports. The Manning football story lives on through his son Arch Manning, who now plays quarterback for the University of Texas.
Cooper Manning’s Net Worth in 2025
Cooper Manning continues to grow his financial portfolio through smart business moves and media appearances in 2025. He stands firmly in his own financial lane, separate from his NFL superstar brothers.
How much is Cooper Manning worth today?
Cooper Manning’s net worth stands at about $13 million as of 2025. This amount shows his business smarts in multiple industries after his football career ended before it truly began. He might not be as famous as his brothers, but he has steadily built his wealth through professional growth in the energy sector and smart investment choices.
His wealth has grown consistently in the last decade as his presence grew stronger in both business circles and media platforms. The eldest Manning brother’s financial portfolio shows remarkable stability as he approaches his 50s. Many former athletes struggle with managing their money after their careers end.
Comparison with Peyton Manning’s net worth
Peyton Manning’s wealth dwarfs his older brother’s by a lot, with an estimated worth of around $250 million. The huge difference comes from Peyton’s amazing NFL career that lasted 18 seasons. He earned about $400 million from salary and endorsements.
The financial gap between the brothers shows just how big the money difference is between top athletes and successful business executives. Peyton made use of his athletic fame to land massive endorsement deals with brands like Papa John’s, Nationwide, and Gatorade. Cooper built his wealth through less visible but equally smart business moves.
In spite of that, Cooper’s eight-figure wealth without NFL stardom proves his business smarts and drive to create his own path.
What contributes to his wealth?
Cooper Manning’s wealth comes from several key sources. His role as Principal and Senior Managing Director of Investor Relations at AJ Capital Partners creates the foundation of his wealth. He spent nearly two decades as an energy investment banker before this, including a senior position at Scotia Howard Weil.
His media career brings in substantial revenue too. Cooper hosts “The Manning Hour” on Fox NFL Sunday and has created his own space in sports entertainment. TV appearances and speaking events add to his income from investments.
He also benefits from smart investments in businesses and real estate projects through his work at AJ Capital Partners. The exact details of his personal investment portfolio remain private. The Manning football legacy opens unique business doors that others in finance might not have.
Cooper’s wealth proves you can achieve great financial success without professional sports stardom. His path differs from his NFL brothers but shows equal business intelligence.
From Football Dreams to a Life-Altering Diagnosis
Cooper Manning built his wealth long after his days as a talented football player at Isidore Newman School in New Orleans. His athletic journey started much earlier than his famous brothers’ but ended up taking a completely different direction.
High school football with Peyton Manning
Cooper dominated the field as a 6’4″ wide receiver, especially when he played with his younger brother Peyton during his senior year. The brothers became Mississippi’s finest quarterback-receiver combination, with Cooper catching Peyton’s touchdown passes. He caught 76 passes for over 1,000 yards without fumbling once in his junior season. His performance earned him All-State honors and team MVP recognition after he gained 1,250 yards in his senior year.
College plans and early promise
Success seemed certain for Cooper. Texas and Virginia recruited him, but he ended up choosing the University of Mississippi, just like his father Archie had done. The 18-year-old prospect looked ready to carry on the Manning football legacy at Ole Miss. Scouts saw his NFL potential based on his physical attributes and skills rather than quarterback abilities.
The spinal stenosis diagnosis that changed everything
Cooper noticed troubling signs before his freshman season. His hands and fingers felt numb, and his right bicep started to waste away. The doctors first thought it was an ulnar nerve injury needing surgery. Cooper’s symptoms persisted during summer practices at Ole Miss. The Mayo Clinic later discovered the devastating truth: he had spinal stenosis, a condition where the spinal canal narrows.
This life-changing news hit Cooper at just 18 years old. The doctors warned him that playing football could lead to paralysis or worse. Cooper made the tough choice to quit football right away. Peyton later chose number 18 in the NFL to honor his brother’s sacrifice.
“When they took football away from me, I never took it out on the game,” Cooper reflected. “I really never had any bitterness. I just said, this is the hand I’m dealt and I’m going to play it”.
Building a Career Beyond the Field
Cooper Manning switched his focus to business after his football dreams got cut short. His career path led to substantial wealth that makes up his current net worth.
Energy trading and Scotia Howard Weil
Cooper chose a different direction from football and entered the energy sector. He joined Howard Weil in 2000 after he spent three years selling seismic data to oil and natural gas producers. He quickly made his mark at Howard Weil, an energy investment boutique with offices in Houston and New Orleans. His specialty became institutional equity sales in the oil and gas business.
Cooper became one of the firm’s best salespeople during his 16-year stint. His coworkers saw him as “a class clown and a hard worker”. This mix of personality and professionalism helped Cooper establish Howard Weil as a leader in the energy sector.
A major milestone came when Cooper joined the employee group that bought the firm. The previous owner, Legg Mason Inc., had put the unit in an asset swap with Citigroup. He then played a crucial role in Howard Weil’s sale to Scotia Bank in 2012 and stayed on as a partner through the changes.
Role at AJ Capital Partners
Cooper’s career path shifted in 2016 when he became Principal and Senior Managing Director of Investor Relations at AJ Capital Partners. This Chicago-based private real estate company gave him a chance to grow his business interests beyond energy trading.
His role focuses on new business growth while he builds and maintains investor relationships. He helps expand the Graduate Hotels portfolio—a collection that targets university markets across the country.
Key real estate projects and investments
Cooper has stayed involved in various investment projects at AJ Capital Partners, especially in the southern United States. The Pontchartrain stands out as one of his notable projects—an iconic hotel in New Orleans’ Garden District that opened in June 2016.
The Graduate Hotels brand makes up much of AJ Capital’s portfolio. These boutique design-driven hotels serve university markets nationwide. The firm has grown beyond this flagship brand into apartment development with Memoir Residential. This venture combines hotel design elements with flexible-lease apartments in cities like Portland, Nashville, New Orleans, Miami, and Austin.
Cooper Manning’s business ventures show how he turned his athletic potential into business success. His diverse investments continue to strengthen his financial position.
Media Presence and Family Spotlight
Cooper Manning has built a unique media presence that adds to his business achievements while keeping his family’s football connections strong.
Hosting ‘The Manning Hour’
Cooper hosts “The Manning Hour” on Fox Sports and shows off his natural comedy skills in two-minute segments. His funny style reminds viewers of “Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis” and creates an entertaining football-themed show. He has made many memorable moments during his six years with the show, including getting his septum pierced with Alvin Kamara and baking with Baker Mayfield.
Cooper takes a relaxed approach to the show. He looks at scripts just 15 minutes before filming to keep things spontaneous. “It’s almost better sometimes when things go wrong,” he says, pointing out that unexpected moments bring out real reactions from players.
Appearances on Fox Sports and ESPN
Cooper became part of Fox NFL Kickoff on September 13, 2015. He handles feature interviews and creates extra content. The hour-long show airs at 11 am EST before Fox NFL Sunday, which stands as America’s most-watched NFL pre-game show.
His TV work grew when he started co-hosting “College Bowl” with his brother Peyton in 2021. He had earlier appeared as a correspondent for “The Dan Patrick Show” during Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans with his “Manning on the Street” segments.
Fox NFL Kickoff reached its highest viewer numbers in 2019 with Cooper on board, growing 3% from the year before.
The Manning family legacy and Arch Manning’s rise
The Manning story continues through Cooper’s son, Arch Manning, who plays quarterback at the University of Texas. Arch carries forward the family’s football tradition as a third-generation Manning quarterback.
Children’s Hospital New Orleans made a big announcement. They changed their name to “Manning Family Children’s” after receiving a large donation. Archie Manning, now 75, shared his feelings: “It’s very hard to put into words, to have a hospital named after you… it’s one of the greatest things that’s happened in my life”.
While Cooper’s brothers became NFL stars, he has left his mark on the Manning legacy through business, media, and his son’s rising sports career. These achievements remain the most important parts of his identity and net worth.
Conclusion
Cooper Manning’s untold story shows that success comes in different shapes and sizes. A medical condition called spinal stenosis cut his football dreams short, but he turned this setback into amazing business wins. His experience shows how adaptable he is – going from a star high school receiver to making his mark in energy trading and real estate.
Cooper’s net worth of $13 million doesn’t come close to Peyton’s $250 million. In spite of that, his financial success shows his business smarts rather than sports skills. His smart moves from Scotia Howard Weil to AJ Capital Partners prove you can be successful without the bright lights of pro sports.
The oldest Manning brother made his own space in media with “The Manning Hour” on Fox Sports. His natural funny bone and off-the-cuff style bring a fresh viewpoint to sports entertainment. This helps him create his own identity beyond his brothers’ football careers.
Family sits at the heart of Cooper’s world. His son Arch, a talented University of Texas quarterback, keeps the Manning name in football. The family’s generosity led Children’s Hospital New Orleans to become “Manning Family Children’s,” showing their effect goes way beyond the football field.
Cooper Manning’s story proves that finding your own way – whether you choose it or life chooses it for you – can lead to real success. His life reminds us that having famous siblings doesn’t have to define who you are or limit what you can achieve.
