Maro Itoje: Salary, Degree, and Life Off the Pitch

Maro Itoje has won five Premiership titles and holds a degree in African Studies, but his exact net worth remains a mystery. This guide separates verified facts from speculation covering his salary, education, engagement, health, and future in the game.

Full name: Oghenemaro Miles Itoje · Born: 28 October 1994 (age 31) · Position: Lock · Club: Saracens · Height: 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) · Estimated net worth: £2–3 million

How much does Maro Itoje earn per year?

What is Maro Itoje’s net worth?

Itoje’s exact income is private, but several sources converge on a plausible range. WageIndicator UK, which collects salary data from public filings, lists his annual salary at £800,000 (WageIndicator UK – salary data aggregator). A betting-site profile pegs his Saracens contract at £850,000 a year (bet365 News UK – sports betting affiliate).

Net worth estimates vary more widely. bet365 News UK puts it at around £1.46 million (bet365 News UK), while The City Celeb – a biography site with lower editorial standards – suggests £2.5 million (TheCityCeleb – entertainment biography site). A Daily Express article from 2025 lists his fortune at approximately £5 million (Express – UK national newspaper).

Off-pitch income adds to the picture. Itoje is co-founder of The Akoje Gallery and has a partnership with Silverstone Park. A Companies House filing for his company Oghene Limited shows total assets rose from £2.6 million to £3.4 million in the year ending 30 June 2024 (Ruck.co.uk – rugby news site).

These estimates span a factor of three, highlighting the lack of official disclosure.

The implication: Itoje’s true net worth likely sits in the £2–3 million range, but without official disclosure, every figure is an estimate. The gap between sources underscores the need for transparency in athlete earnings.

Who is the richest rugby player ever?

While Itoje is among the highest-earning active players, he is not the richest in history. That title belongs to Jonny Wilkinson (estimated £15–20 million) and Dan Carter (£10–15 million) – both retired fly-halves with long international careers and lucrative endorsements. Itoje, as a lock, commands a lower salary ceiling but is closing the gap through business ventures.

Is Maro Itoje retiring?

What is the latest on Maro Itoje’s England future?

Contrary to retirement rumours that circulate every international break, Itoje has not announced any retirement plans. In June 2026 he was rested from England’s summer squad as part of a rotation policy, not a retirement decision (BBC Sport – public service broadcaster).

“I will come back better.”

– Maro Itoje, in a statement to BBC Sport, June 2026

England management confirmed the rest period was performance management, not a farewell. BBC Sport reported that Itoje remains in Saracens’ plans for the 2026–27 Premiership season. Locks typically play into their early to mid-30s; at 31, Itoje likely has several more seasons at the top.

The pattern: England’s rotation policy signals confidence in Itoje’s long-term value, not a farewell.

Does Maro Itoje have a degree?

What is Maro Itoje’s educational background?

Yes – Itoje holds a degree in African Studies from the University of London, completed through an external programme while playing professional rugby (Wikipedia – established sports encyclopedia). He began his degree around 2014 and graduated in 2017.

One biography (TheCityCeleb – entertainment biography site) and earlier Wikipedia entries claimed he studied Politics at SOAS. However, the current Wikipedia entry and other reliable sources confirm the degree is in African Studies. The confusion likely stems from the subject matter – African Studies is housed within SOAS’s department, hence the overlap.

He also completed an MBA from Warwick Business School in 2023 (Wikipedia), further cementing his academic credentials alongside his rugby career.

What rugby player is also a doctor?

For context, Itoje is not the only player with a sideline in academia. Dr. Jamie Roberts, a former Wales and Lions centre, qualified as a medical doctor while playing. Roberts’ dual career is a more extreme example of balancing elite sport with rigorous study – Itoje’s degree and MBA are part of a broader trend but less demanding in terms of clinical hours.

Who is Maro Itoje engaged to?

What is Maro Itoje’s life away from the pitch – from glamorous fiancée to art and business?

Itoje is engaged to Sarah-Jane (SJ) Smit, often referred to in the press as Mimi Fall. The couple became engaged in 2024 (Ruck.co.uk – rugby news site). Earlier reports in 2023 from The Sun (UK tabloid) stated he was single at that time, suggesting the relationship and engagement happened quickly.

Sarah-Jane Smit is a model and artist. Together they curate The Akoje Gallery, a contemporary art space in London that showcases African and diaspora artists. The gallery is a core part of Itoje’s off-pitch identity – he describes it as “a platform for stories that are often overlooked.”

Some sources (e.g., Ruck.co.uk) claim the couple married in early May 2025, but this has not been confirmed by primary sources. The engagement is certain; the wedding date remains unclear.

The implication: readers should treat any specific wedding date as unconfirmed until official channels announce it.

What illness did Maro Itoje have?

How did Maro Itoje recover from his health setback?

There is persistent speculation that Itoje suffered from a viral illness – often rumoured to be glandular fever (Epstein-Barr virus) – which affected his energy levels during the 2023–24 season. However, no official medical diagnosis has been published by Itoje, Saracens, or the Rugby Football Union (Ruck.co.uk – rugby news site).

The lack of primary confirmation makes this one of the least certain claims in his biography. Reportedly, he took a period of rest and returned to full training by the start of the 2024–25 season, but the condition – if any – was never named by official channels.

What the pattern means: in the world of elite rugby, physical setbacks are common but rarely disclosed in detail. Itoje’s case is no different – readers should treat any specific illness label as unverified.

The pattern: the confirmed facts are solid, but the unclear items outnumber them, reflecting the low research confidence in many claims.

“The decision to rest Itoje was a performance management call, not a reflection of his long-term value to the squad.”

– England coaching management, as quoted by BBC Sport, June 2026

“He was awarded an MBA from Warwick Business School in 2023.”

– Wikipedia, Maro Itoje page

Key fact: Itoje has won five Premiership titles with Saracens (2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2023) – more than any other current English lock.

What this all adds up to: Maro Itoje is not just a rugby star. He is a carefully calibrated brand – part athlete, part intellectual, part entrepreneur. The uncertainty around his finances and health is a natural byproduct of a private man in a public sport. For the rugby fan, the takeaway is straightforward: he is still playing at the highest level, and his off‑pitch earnings are growing faster than his salary. For anyone evaluating the next phase of his career – whether as a player, a businessman, or a cultural figure – the smart money is on Itoje staying in the game for years to come, just on more than one field.

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