Name: Clark Dwaine Phillips III
Age: 24
Birthday: December 19, 2001
Born: Lakewood, California, USA
Net Worth: Approximately $2 million
Fun Fact: He was the highest-rated recruit in University of Utah football history
Clark Phillips III's net worth is a frequent search among NFL fans eager to understand how much the young cornerback has earned since entering the league. Phillips, who was traded to the Chicago Bears in August 2026, broke into the NFL as a fourth-round pick of the Atlanta Falcons in 2023 and has steadily built his wealth through a guaranteed rookie contract. Most estimates place his net worth at approximately $2 million, a figure that reflects both his early-career earnings and the promise of much larger paydays to come.
Born Clark Dwaine Phillips III on December 19, 2001, in Lakewood, California, he grew up in the Los Angeles area and developed into one of the most decorated defensive backs in college football. From a unanimous All-American selection at the University of Utah to becoming a starter on NFL Sundays, Phillips has turned elite coverage ability into a legitimate professional fortune. Here is a detailed look at how he makes his money and where his net worth stands today.
Who Is Clark Phillips III and How Does He Earn?
Clark Phillips III earns his money primarily through his NFL contract, which includes a base salary, a guaranteed signing bonus, and assorted bonuses and incentives. After three standout years at Utah, the Atlanta Falcons selected him with the 113th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, and he signed a four-year rookie contract worth roughly $4.57 million, headlined by a signing bonus of approximately $776,000.
That rookie deal has been the backbone of his net worth. Unlike first-round picks, who often receive signing bonuses in the millions, a fourth-round selection like Phillips receives a more modest but still life-changing guaranteed sum. His contract was structured so that his base salary rises each season, giving him predictable, escalating income for as long as he remained on an NFL roster.
In addition to his salary, NFL players can boost their income through performance-based pay, which rewards players whose on-field contributions exceed their contract value, as well as workout bonuses and, for established stars, endorsement deals. Phillips has also benefited from the league's standard benefits, including pension contributions and 401(k) matching, which quietly add long-term value to a player's overall net worth.
From La Habra to Utah: The Rise That Set Up the Payday
Phillips' path to NFL money began at La Habra High School in Southern California, where he starred as a two-way standout and earned Orange County Register Defensive Player of the Year honors as a senior in 2019. He originally committed to Ohio State before flipping his pledge to the University of Utah, a decision that made him the highest-rated recruit in Utes football history.
He wasted no time proving the hype was real. As a true freshman in 2020, Phillips started all five games and posted 25 tackles, an interception, and a touchdown. His sophomore campaign in 2021 was a breakout: 14 starts, 63 tackles, two interceptions, and another score. By 2022, he was named the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year and earned unanimous All-American honors, a distinction reserved for the very best players in the country.
That production put Phillips firmly on the radar of NFL scouts, who praised his instincts, short-area quickness, and ball skills despite a relatively modest 5-foot-9 frame. The scouting community projected him as a Day 2 or early Day 3 selection, and the Falcons ultimately called his name in the fourth round.
Breaking Down Clark Phillips III's NFL Contract
The numbers behind Phillips' rookie contract help explain his current net worth. Under the NFL's collective bargaining agreement, rookie contracts follow a strict wage scale based on draft position. For the 113th overall pick in 2023, that meant a four-year deal totaling approximately $4.57 million, with a signing bonus of roughly $776,000 paid in full shortly after he signed.
His base salaries escalated each season, beginning near $750,000 as a rookie and climbing past $1 million by the later years of the deal. By the end of the 2025 season, Phillips had collected the majority of that contract value while also producing on the field: he appeared in 11 games as a rookie, logged a career-high 16 games in 2024 with 35 tackles, his first career interception, and two forced fumbles, and played one game in 2025 before a triceps injury ended his year.
Like every professional athlete, Phillips faces a heavy tax burden. Federal income tax, state taxes, and the so-called jock tax, which taxes players in every state where they play road games, combine to take roughly 35 to 40 percent of his earnings. After taxes, agent fees, and the cost of living, his estimated net worth of about $2 million represents a young player who has earned responsibly and set himself up for a more lucrative second contract.
Where Clark Phillips III's Career Stands Today
After three seasons in Atlanta, Phillips was traded to the Chicago Bears in August 2026, with the Falcons receiving defensive tackle Gervon Dexter in return as part of the deal. The move came after a difficult 2025 season in which Phillips was placed on injured reserve on October 18, 2025, with a triceps injury after appearing in just one game. Through his first three NFL seasons, he started seven of the 28 games he played and compiled 63 total tackles, 10 pass deflections, one interception, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery.
Despite the injury setback, Phillips remains a promising young cornerback. Players with his coverage instincts and college pedigree tend to command solid second contracts once they prove they can stay healthy and produce, and his ability to play both outside and in the slot gives him the versatility that modern defenses covet.
What's Next for Clark Phillips III's Wealth
The next chapter of Phillips' financial story depends largely on his health and performance in 2026. If he earns a starting role in Chicago and delivers a productive season, he could position himself for a second NFL contract worth dramatically more than his rookie deal, potentially tens of millions of dollars over multiple years. Even a modest second contract would more than double his current net worth.
Off the field, Phillips has room to grow his wealth through endorsement opportunities, disciplined investing, and smart financial planning. Many young NFL players now work with financial advisors and wealth managers to protect their earnings, and Phillips' steady, low-drama rise suggests he is building for the long term rather than chasing short-term spending.
The Bottom Line on Clark Phillips III's Net Worth
Clark Phillips III has turned an elite college career into a solid NFL foundation, and his net worth reflects that disciplined climb. Here are the key takeaways:
- He was a unanimous All-American and Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year at Utah.
- The Falcons drafted him 113th overall in 2023 and signed him to a four-year, roughly $4.57 million rookie contract.
- His signing bonus of about $776,000 was fully guaranteed and paid upfront.
- His net worth is currently estimated at approximately $2 million.
- Now with the Chicago Bears, a strong 2026 season could unlock a far larger second contract.
Ultimately, Clark Phillips III's net worth of around $2 million is best understood as a starting point. For a 24-year-old cornerback still on his rookie contract, the most significant wealth-building years are likely still ahead of him.
