‘I’ve Got Millions of Dollars’

The previous NFL participant mentioned he “labored onerous” and “saved” his hard-earned cash

says his reasoning for submitting a lawsuit in opposition to wasn’t primarily based on monetary achieve.

In a brand new interview revealed by on Sunday, Aug. 18, greater than a yr after , the professional athlete whose life impressed , 38, says needing cash was not his motivation for suing Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy, the couple who took him in throughout highschool. Oher, whose lawsuit resulted in the long run of a conservatorship by the Tuohys, alleges they lied about adopting him whereas making hundreds of thousands off his identify.

He has his personal cash, he advised the Occasions.

“I labored onerous for that second once I was achieved taking part in, and saved my cash so I may benefit from the time,” he advised the NYT. “I’ve acquired hundreds of thousands of {dollars}. I’m positive.”

, a web site that tracks NFL salaries, the Tremendous Bowl champion earned $34 million from the three NFL groups he performed for.

TheBlind Aspect introduced in $309.2 million on the field workplace following its 2009 launch and gained a number of awards, together with ‘s Academy Award and Golden Globe for her portrayal of Tuohy household matriarch Leigh Anne.

Associated:

Earlier than making it to the massive display, the story started as a — although Oher advised the NYT it painted a painful and inaccurate “narrative” of him.

In authorized paperwork beforehand obtained by PEOPLE, the Tuohys mentioned they agreed to the distribution of the proceeds from The Blind Aspect e-book and film earlier than Oher retired from the NFL.

“The household, together with Mr. Oher, got here to a verbal settlement to divide the proceeds from the e-book and the film revenues evenly. Mr. Oher obtained and accepted one fifth (1/5) of the entire funds by means of 2016, subsequently, his share has been deposited into an account for the good thing about his son,” the doc from March 2024 reads.

Throughout his in-depth interview with the NYT, Oher allowed that residing with the Tuohys in Tennessee was “nice” as a result of the rich household bought clothes for him and even employed a tutor so he can be eligible to play school soccer — amongst different issues.

“I had a mattress to remain on. I used to be consuming good. They acquired me a truck,” he continued.

Associated:

Nonetheless, Oher skipped the movie’s premiere, conflicted due to how he was “outlined” in each the e-book and drama, which he believed painted him as “dumb.” When he lastly did watch the film a couple of month later, he mentioned, “It didn’t register.”

Oher mentioned his portrayal within the movie made others query his intelligence, and had price him a better draft place.

“The NFL individuals have been questioning if I may learn a playbook,” he mentioned.

“I began seeing stuff that I’m dumb. I’m silly. Each article about me talked about The Blind Aspect, prefer it was a part of my identify,” he added of the social media period starting to bloom.

Oher, who had since , feared for a way his household can be perceived.

“If my youngsters can’t do one thing at school, will their trainer assume, ‘Their dad is dumb — is that why they’re not getting it?’ ” he mentioned.

By no means miss a narrative — join to remain up-to-date on one of the best of what PEOPLE has to supply​​, from movie star information to driving human curiosity tales.

In keeping with the previous soccer star, he waited greater than a decade to file the lawsuit as a result of he was specializing in his profession.

“Professional soccer’s a tough job. It’s important to be locked in one hundred pc,” he mentioned. “I went together with their narrative as a result of I actually needed to concentrate on my NFL profession, not issues off the sector.”

The Tuohys beforehand established a conservatorship over Oher, granting them management over his funds and main life choices, even though he had no recognized disabilities, as is required by Tennessee state legislation.

The Tuohys claimed in a 2023 submitting that they “by no means signed any contract” on Oher’s behalf since his conservatorship started.

One month after the retired NFL star filed his lawsuit in Shelby County, Tenn. Probate Court docket in Aug. 2023, Probate Court docket choose, Kathleen Gomes, .

For extra Individuals information, ensure that to

Learn the unique article on .