Being a professional athlete is committing and difficult. It takes a particular person to have the physical skills, but they also have the mental makeup to succeed. Living the lifestyle of being an athlete also poses a severe challenge.
What is the Divorce Rate for Professional Athletes
The divorce rate for professional athletes is approximately between seventy and eighty percent. This rate is higher than the divorce rate for Americans, which is approximately fifty percent.
The divorce rate for NFL players is also between sixty and eighty percent. It is on par with the divorce rates of other professional sports leagues in North America. Athletes tend to get divorced far more often than others. Why is this?
Part of the reason is the commitment that is required to the sport. A player cannot be the best at their position without working incredibly hard and putting in very long hours. That’s taxing for family life and often takes them away from their families. This is especially an issue when considering athletes' time on the road.
You also have some of the issues of being a celebrity. Athletes are famous, and many of the biggest stars are always in the public eye. They have little privacy. They constantly meet fans and admirers. They are rich, even by modern standards, in many cases. Even players who are not household names may make more per year than many people will make. This lifestyle can stress a marriage and create instability.
With these high incomes, athletes also have much to lose in a divorce. Property division can grow complicated. They must know about all the legal options they have to protect their interests, reputations, and futures.