Robert Kelly Slater was born on 11 February 1972, in Cocoa Beach, Florida USA of Syrian and Irish descent, and is one of the best-known names in sports, considered a legend in the field of surfing. Kelly Slater has won the ASP World Tour Surfing Championship a record eleven times. Further, not only was Kelly the youngest surfer to hold the title at only 20, but 19 years later became the oldest surfer to win it. Kelly Slater is the true king of the ASP Word Tour, having uniquely won the title five consecutive times between 1994 and 1998.
So just how rich is Kelly Slater? Sources estimate that Kelly’s net worth is approaching $20 million, accumulated from his sporting success, but also from books and business, including an interest in GoPro.
Kelly Slater Net Worth $20 Million
Kelly is famous for his competitive and powerful style on the water. He has replaced the legendary Mark Richards as the most successful surfer of all time. In addition to his many world records, he was also the first surfer ever to acheive receive a seven-figure reward from the sport. Kelly Slater has appeared in numerous surfing events over the years, and continues to compete and break surfing records to this day. This kind of success has also won him the third place on the list of the richest surfers in the world. For many years he has been sponsored by the Quicksilver brand which provided him with surfing equipment and gear but in 2014, to many people’s surprise, Kelly Slater announced the end of their long-time collaboration. Among other sponsors of Kelly Slater are GoPro, Komunity project, Chia seeds and Channel Islands.
Slater is also known outside the word of surfing. He has appeared in eight episodes of the famous TV series “Baywatch” as Jimmy Slad. This handsome American was included in the list of People Magazine’s “50 Most Beautiful People” and there were rumours of him dating such beauties as Cameron Diaz and Gisele Bundchen. So, the entertainment business welcomed the young sportsman with a warm embrace. Naturally, the athlete has been involved in numerous media projects that popularize surfing, such as “2008 Globe Pro Fiji” and “Surf Chronicles”. In addition, he has lent his voice to a character of the same name in an animated movie “Surf’s Up”.Additionally, he has published three books on surfing, which have of course added to his net worth.
Despite his glorious achievements and worldwide celebrity status, Kelly Slater tries to be as vocal about social issues as possible. From early on Slater decided to use his status and voice to help people who struggle with psychological problems. He is actively involved in the “Surfers against Suicide” initiative. The community’s primary goal is to raise awareness about the problem of suicide among surfers and promote healthy lifestyle. Slater himself has confessed that he has lost some of his closest friends to suicide. When he is not surfing, Slater does his best to try and find time to communicate with people and deliver motivational speeches regarding this increasing problem. Involvement in such social activities has made his name even more famous.
In his personal life, following a well-publicised relationship with actress Pamela Anderson for several years, Kelly Slater’s partner for the last six years has been Kalani Miller, who travels with him consistently .This heavyweight surfing champion is a true icon in the world of sports and his financial success not surprising at all. Fortunately, Slater is a very smart spender, so he is not likely to run out of cash any time soon.
Laureus World Sports Award for Action Sportsperson of the Year
Nominations
Best Male Action Sports Athlete ESPY Award, Best Record-Breaking Performance ESPY Award, Teen Choice Award for Choice Male Action Sports Star, Sports Emmy Award for Outstanding Camera Work
Movies
Kelly Slater in Black and White, The September Sessions, One Night at McCool's, The Sixth Element, A Brokedown Melody, Doped Youth, Life as a Movie, Clay Marzo: Just Add Water, Fighting Fear, ESPN: Down the Barrel, Absolute Mexico, A Fistful of Barrels, Hawaiian Surf Stories, Going Vertical: The Sho...
TV Shows
Trippin', Baywatch
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Quote
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It's a perfect wave when small and the most beautiful and scary wave on Earth when it's big, as the swell from deep water hits the shallow reef ledge. A ten-foot high wave and a 30-footer break in the same depth of water.
2
My belief is that 'heaven' and 'hell' are metaphorical terms for what you make of your life. In any instant, you have the ability to make your life total pleasure or total hell.
3
There are so many different elements to surfing. Small waves, big waves, long boards, short boards. This makes it a sport you can share with people. It's not just a solitary thing - it's become a family thing, too. It's about exercising and passing something on from father to son, and from mother to daughter.
4
A wave isn't like a skate ramp or mountain; everything's moving around and you have to time how to move along with it. That's easier with a slow wave.
5
Big waves are a whole different ball game. You're riding a wave with an immense amount of speed and power, generally over 10 meters. On the face of the wave, obviously life and death thoughts start to happen.
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I feel like an ambassador for surfing at this point. I'm happy to go and play that role and share that where I can in certain areas of the mainstream media that doesn't get the surfing attention.
7
I surf more now for other people than myself. I feel a lot of support from people wanting me to do well, and I feed off that. I can send a positive message to people from what I do.
8
I've been in a poor physical shape many times in my career and I've had some of my best results. My best performances happened because my mind was in the right place. The mind is definitely stronger than the body.
9
Most anything I've ever set my mind to, I could accomplish.
10
Most of what Hawaii has to offer is no secret. Pipeline is probably the most famous wave in the world.
11
Surfing is my religion, if I have one.
12
When I'm 50 I want to be a better surfer than I am now - for me it's a lifelong journey.
13
A lot of times I'll see guys who are nowhere near the level of the board they're riding. They might love surfing and love how it looks, but you really have to work your way up. It takes eating a little humble pie at first, and stepping back to equipment that might be a bit slow, but do it.
14
Fatherhood isn't always a planned thing, but when it happens you just do it. It's very natural and in that sense it's not really difficult.
15
For a surfer, it's never-ending. There's always some wave you want to surf.
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I still feel like my best surfing is ahead of me.
17
I wanted to be a comedian.
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Maintaining marriage seems to be tougher than fatherhood: apparently it's the most difficult thing in the world.
Kelly and former girlfriend Pamela Anderson were co-stars in Baywatch. Kelly played a guy who dreamed of becoming pro surfer and he won his first world title in real life same year, 1992.
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Was on the cover of Interview Magazine in May 1996, photographed by Bruce Weber.
4
Kelly was number one of the most influential people in action sports by ESPN.
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One of his maternal great-grandfathers was Syrian. The rest of Kelly's ancestry is English, Irish, and German.
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Retired from surfing contests 1999-2001.
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Won surfing world titles in 1992, 1994-1998, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2011.
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Statue of Kelly arrived in Cocoa Beach same day as he won 10th surfing world title.(November 6, 2010).
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Has two brothers and a half-brother on father's side.
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Slater Way in his hometown Cocoa Beach is named after him.
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Signed with Quiksilver at the age of 18 (1990).
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Has two Quiksilver stores named after him.
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Was model for Versace.
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Was a top student, math was his favorite subject.
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First professional surfer to earn a million dollars in prize money.
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He has surfed in over 15 countries.
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Kelly's book "Kelly Slater:For the love" was published in 2008.
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Has a record 7 Pipeline Masters wins.
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Kelly's biography "Pipe Dreams: A Surfer's Journey." was published in 2003.
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The only to be world champion surfer five years in a row.
$20 Million
