Owning a home is a dream for many people. Whether for building generational wealth or simply having something to call your own, having a home is a top-tier goal people aspire to despite a volatile real estate market.

Former NFL superstar Chad Ochocinco Johnson would agree, but his approach is much different.

With homeownership being a part of wealth goals and personal dreams, those interested in the pursuit often want to make the most economical decision to avoid overspending and facing extremely high-interest rates.

One of the ways to help mitigate those issues is to have a solid savings plan, complete due diligence on the prospective neighborhood, and decrease spending until the closing process is complete.

Some would venture to believe that once a person reaches a certain tax bracket, the idea of being modest with income goes out of the window, mainly as you think about real estate.

Across several industries, people have witnessed some of the world’s most influential people indulge in high-end luxury items. With headlines about high-net-worth individuals buying homes worth hundreds of millions of dollars, it comes as a surprise when the opposite happens.

Johnson is a part of the minority, approaching his wealth with a modest perspective.

He entered the league in 2001 as a wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals. Over his 11 seasons of on-field play, Spotrac shows that Johnson earned $48,866,500 during his career. However, despite his high-earning achievement, he has been on record noting the many ways he was and continues to be frugal with this money.

As previously reported by AfroTech, Johnson was a guest on Shannon Sharpe’s podcast Club Shay Shay and detailed some of his savings methods. One of the most shocking discoveries was how he spent his first two years in the league as a resident of the Cincinnati Bengals stadium.

Johnson may be modest with his funds, but he is boastful about explaining his frugality. In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Johnson doubled down on his comments about living in a stadium. He even further explained that he lived with his grandmother as an additional measure to save money.

“As a rookie coming into the league, I stayed at [Paul Brown Stadium] my first two years because there was no point in spending money and wasting money when everything I need is already there,” Johnson explained.

“I didn’t move out of my grandmother’s house because I was content and used to where I lived,” he added. “I didn’t move out of her house until my fourth year in the NFL,” Johnson continued.

For the 45-year-old, his methods may seem unconventional, but it all made sense to him. The stadium provided all the amenities he needed in a home, and his grandmother’s house provided the comfort and familiarity he was used to.

Johnson knows that not everyone agrees with his perspective, but it is paying off. In the same podcast with Sharpe, Ochocinco revealed that his frugality allowed him to save about 83 percent of his income.

Editorial Note: Paul Brown stadium is now Paycor Stadium.