National Football League

Roger Goodell got a mind-boggling bonus after the Ray Rice scandal

Published Feb. 16, 2016 12:22 p.m. ET

foxsports

Roger Goodell is a very rich man. Like, a very, very, very rich man.

The NFL submitted tax filings on Tuesday and the documents showed what the NFL Commissioner was paid for the 2014 season. So, how much was it?

A cool $34.1 million, according to ESPN's Darren Rovell. That salary made him the league's highest-paid employee that season. Goodell had a base salary of $3.5 million and was awarded a pre-determined bonus of $26.5 million. He also received $3.7 million in pension and other benefits.

The league's second-highest paid employee -- in case you were wondering -- was general counsel Jeff Pash, who made $7.51 million. Wow.

What's amazing is the salary came during a year that saw the league deal with the Ray Rice, Greg Hardy and Adrian Peterson scandals.

Rovell also points out that over Goodell's first nine years on the job, he has made $180.5 million. So, for that kind of compensation, do you think Goodell has a problem with taking questions from snippy reporters and reading snarky blog posts about his job performance?

Pssssh.

By the way, according to mentalfloss.com, Goodell's 2014 salary alone could net him quite a collection of private islands. He could buy a garage worth of cars. He could light cigars with $100 bills.

This will be the final year that we can marvel at Roger's paycheck, because the NFL decided in 2015 to give up its tax-exempt status. That way, the league can keep Goodell's compensation private.