- Played 370 NRL games and won two premierships
- Represented New South Wales and Australia
- Enjoying an incredibly lucrative career as a retiree
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When NRL star Adam MacDougall retired from the game of football in 2011, he left the game as one of the toughest and most prolific wingers the game had ever seen. Now he is the richest.
Since creating his own meal supplement, the Man Shake, MacDougall, along with his wife Belinda, has developed a nutrition business empire now worth $635 million—enough to propel him into a new list of Australia’s top 250 richest people.
It includes individuals such as cryptocurrency gambling tycoons, the lesser-known female owners of well-known boot manufacturers Blundstone and the owner of one of Australia’s largest steel companies.
As a footballer, MacDougall was known for his abilities as a centre, winger and full back.
Most of his career was spent with the Newcastle Knights, where he won premierships in 1997 and 2001.
Former NRL star Adam MacDougall and wife Belinda (pictured) made their fortune through the nutrition company they founded, Cranky Health
MacDougall created the Man Shake so he could stay fit in retirement without spending hours at the gym – and it’s made him incredibly rich
MacDougall was one of the game’s biggest names in his playing days, racking up 370 NRL games and winning two premierships along with representing his state and country
MacDougall also played for the Sydney Roosters and South Sydney Rabbitohs.
During a 370-game NRL career, he also represented New South Wales at State of Origin 16 times and Australia 32 times.
His standout years were in 2000 and 2001, highlighted by 30 tries in 41 games and a crucial role in the Blues’ 3-0 series win over Queensland in 2000.
He contributed to Australia’s victory in the World Cup final in 2000. In 2001, he matched the club record of four tries in a single game for Newcastle against the New Zealand Warriors.
But it was in retirement that MacDougall truly found his calling. He wanted to create a product that would allow him to stay fit without having to spend the grueling hours of training required to play in the NRL.
So Man Shake was born.
MacDougall’s product allowed him to enjoy the finer things in life without having to worry about his weight
“When I retired from footy, I didn’t want to spend countless hours in the gym, I didn’t want to worry about eating things that were bad for me on the run,” he said after the product was launched.
‘So I needed something I could eat that was good for me. That’s why I created the Man Shake, I created it for myself.
‘I actually have two a day, every single day. One for breakfast, a good start to the day, then in the afternoon when I hit that 3pm, 4pm slump, I have another to carry me through to dinner.
So when I sit at the dinner table, I don’t grab the breads and pastas and rices.
‘I’m usually full, I’m happy and then I eat a sensible dinner.’
The success of Man Shake has set the MacDougall family up for life and made the former NRL star one of the richest people in Australia
The MacDougall family used some of their vast wealth to buy this mansion for $7.375 million from former teammate Paul Harragon
MacDougall set himself up for life after football by studying and completing economics and business degrees during his playing days and then started nutrition company Cranky Health with wife Belinda.
MacDougall sold a majority stake in parent company Cranky Health for $400 million to Australian investment giant Pacific Equity Partners, instantly making him possibly the richest rugby league player of all time.
In addition to Man Shake and new products including Man Fuel and Lady Shake, MacDougall has also written books on exercise and nutrition and also has real estate investments and other assets.
One of those property investments includes a Lake Macquarie mansion he bought from former Newcastle teammate Paul Harragon for $7.375 million in 2022.