COVER STORY
by john hilton
F
ootball star Travis Henry le a r ne d t he h a rd w ay that fathering children is expensive. Not even the $20 million Henry earned over a seven-year career in the National Football League was enough to support his offspring. Of course, having 11 children by 10 different women contributed to the financial strain. Henry claimed to be broke in 2009 after he was arrested for nonpayment of
20 InsuranceNewsNet Magazine » July 2019
child support. At the time, an attorney for the 30-year-old Henry estimated that his client owed about $170,000 annually to the mothers of his children. The one-time “Mr. Florida Football” bemoaned his predicament in a New York Times interview: “I’ve lost everything in this mess I’ve gotten myself into.” The Travis Henry story is not atypical. Young athletes and big money continue to be a potent cocktail for potential misery. In Henry’s case, his NFL orientation included a session on family planning
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It takes a team to Rescue athletes from themselves
and the financial dangers of having children out of wedlock. Henry admitted that he paid no attention. And that highlights the difficulty sports leagues, agents, family and loved ones face in trying to steer athletes toward sound financial principles.
Travis Henry’s story is a classic case of spending big on friends and family.