Rassie Erasmus’ salary has become one of the most talked-about topics in rugby, sparking debate about just how much the mastermind behind the Springboks is really worth.
If you thought Siya Kolisi lifting the Webb Ellis was the biggest flex in South African rugby, think again. The real heavyweight champ of the green-and-gold payroll isn’t wearing a scrum cap or smashing into rucks – it’s Rassie Erasmus, the coach, the puppet master, the man who somehow manages to look permanently annoyed and smug at the same time.
So how much does the Bok boss actually earn? And is it enough to keep him stocked up with Klippies, biltong, and a Wi-Fi connection strong enough to upload his infamous referee rant videos? Let’s break it down.
Rassie Erasmus: Salary Fit for a King (or at Least a Cape Winelands Landlord)
What is Rassie Erasmus’s salary?
The number being thrown around most often is £650,000 a year. That’s about R15 million annually, or, if you want it pint-sized, Rassie Erasmus salary per month is around R1.25 million (RUCK, IOL).
That puts him second only to England coach Steve Borthwick, who gets £700,000 a year. Which is hilarious, because if you gave Borthwick and Erasmus the same players tomorrow, we all know which coach would win — and it’s not the one who looks like a maths teacher trying to run detention.
Some sources, like The South African, are even cheekier and say it’s closer to R1.5 million a month, or R18 million a year. Maybe they’re counting performance bonuses, maybe they’re just rounding up to stir the pot – but either way, the guy is comfortably in the “you’re not paying for your own drinks” club (The South African).
Rassie Erasmus Net Worth: The Foggy Part
What is Rassie Erasmus’s net worth?
When it comes to Erasmus’s net worth, things get a bit dodgy. Some sites say he’s worth between $1 million and $10 million (Surprise Sports). Which is like saying a Springbok forward is somewhere between “a little bruised” and “hospitalised.” Not very useful.
Let’s do some pub maths instead: if he’s been pulling in R15 million a year for a while, add World Cup bonuses, add whatever he’s stashed away from his playing days and that Munster stint, and sprinkle in the fact he doesn’t exactly live like a Premier League footballer… yeah, we’re talking a multi-millionaire in rand terms. Dollars? Who knows. Depends how many bottles of KWV he’s blown it on.
Where Does the Money Come From?
- Base Salary: The confirmed big hitter. £650k a year. Banked.
- Bonuses: If you think SARU didn’t slide him an envelope for winning two World Cups, you’ve been spending too much time in the concussion bin.
- Other Gigs: Rumours of endorsements and side hustles float around, but there’s no hard proof. Let’s be honest: it’s not like Adidas is rushing to have Rassie model boots on TikTok.
- Munster Days & Playing Career: Don’t forget, Erasmus made bank coaching in Ireland and had a decent career as a Springbok loose forward before that.
Is He Worth It?
Short answer: Yes.
Long answer: Imagine SARU paying someone less and ending up with a coach who “just wants the boys to express themselves” while losing 40-10 to Argentina. Rassie doesn’t just coach – he schemes, he manipulates, he dives headfirst into the dark arts like a rugby version of Littlefinger from Game of Thrones.
And unlike most coaches, he’s backed it up. Two World Cups. A nation behind him. A reputation as the most creative, irritating, and effective rugby brain alive. R15 million a year almost feels like a bargain.
The Blindsided Bits
Here’s what blindsides most people about Rassie’s money game:
- He’s not even the best-paid coach in the world. England’s Steve Borthwick is, which feels like paying more for an Opel Corsa than a Land Rover. (Ruck)
- South Africans complain it’s too much. When Briefly reported his R15m salary, locals moaned that he’s overpaid (Briefly). Meanwhile, if Rassie was English, they’d be calling him “Sir Johan” and giving him a castle.
- His net worth is pure guesswork. Anywhere between $1m and $10m, depending on which site is trying to fill wordcount that day.
Final Whistle
Rassie Erasmus is pulling in roughly R15 million a year, and depending on who you believe, maybe closer to R18 million. He’s sitting comfortably in the top two best-paid coaches in world rugby, but somehow his net worth remains more mysterious than a TMO decision in the 79th minute.
One thing’s clear: SARU knows what they’ve got. The man isn’t just a coach – he’s a strategist, a disruptor, and a headline-generating machine. And if you’re paying R1.25 million a month to keep the Springboks at the top of world rugby, that’s not just money well spent. That’s a bargain.
Because let’s face it – you can’t put a price on 63 million South Africans walking into work on a Monday with a smug smile after another World Cup win.
