Silent millionaires in football are a rare breed, and Martin Braithwaite, with a net worth of $287 million in 2024, is one of them. Known more for his on-field tenacity than his retirement plans, Braithwaite’s story is one of extreme wealth, remarkable resilience and determination.
After leaving the La Liga team RCD Espanyol, Martin Braithwaite made a bold financial move with an intent to purchase the club. Did you know?… It was rumoured that his decision was influenced by dissatisfaction with how he had been treated at Espanyol. Now, who does that!!! …buying a club because you’re angry with its management.
While Braithwaite hasn’t been one of the highest-paid players, he has frequently been recognized by Forbes as one of the wealthiest footballers of all time. Now, let’s tell his Wheelchair to Rise story.
From a Wheelchair to Football Greatness: The Martin Braithwaite Story.
Though he may not be widely recognized outside of football circles, Braithwaite has made headlines for more than just his performances. For instance, Forbes once highlighted his investments in Philadelphia alongside his uncle. His early years were marked by a profound challenge: at just five years old, Martin was confined to a wheelchair due to Legg-Calve-Perthes disease, which severely affected his leg bone development and mobility.
Raised in the seaport town of Esbjerg Municipality on Denmark’s Jutland peninsula, Martin grew up in a middle-class family with a strong understanding of financial education. His mother, Heidi, hails from Esbjerg, while his father, Keith, comes from Guyana. Despite his early struggles and health issues, Martin’s passion for football remained undiminished. A photograph of him kicking a ball at just two years old captured his early love for the game.
Preamble:
Reflecting on his childhood, Braithwaite has shared the difficulty of being in a wheelchair, saying,
“Sitting on a wheelchair was really difficult. I was very young and I didn’t understand why I had to be in a wheelchair. In frustration, I was always trying to get out of it. I felt embarrassed. Back then, I needed people around me all the time, to take care of me, like a baby. I couldn’t do the things other kids did. All I wanted to do was to get up and play football.”
In summary, this Martin Braithwaite biography covers everything you need to know about him, from his childhood and early life to his parents—Heidi and Keith Braithwaite—sister, Mathilde Braithwaite, and his affluent family background. It also touches on his wife, children, uncle (Philip Michael Mathilde and Ian Chan), granddad – Frede Christensen, lifestyle, net worth, and personal life. To give you a taste of what’s to come, we’ve included an overview of his early years and rise to fame—a great introduction to Martin Braithwaite’s story.
The Financial and Football Success of Martin Braithwaite: From Childhood Trials to Global Fame
Martin Braithwaite Childhood Story:
For Biography starters, he’s nicknamed “The Street Fighter“. As a five-year-old, little Martin Braithwaite was forced into a wheelchair. This is, without doubt, the most heartfelt moment of his childhood years.
Upon his birth, Martin Braithwaite’s parents had him bear the name “Martin Christensen Braithwaite“.
The naming of their child followed the Danish family customs, as the name “Christensen” was bored by Martin Braithwaite’s mother (Heidi) before she got married to his dad. The surname “Braithwaite” comes from his dad.
Martin Braithwaite was born on the 5th day of June 1991 to his mother, Heidi Braithwaite and father, Keith Braithwaite, in Esbjerg, Denmark. The Dane was born 24 days after Barça lifted the 11th League of its history.
The truth is, in the first years of Martin Braithwaite’s early life, there is absolutely nothing that suggested that he would grow up and become a football star, one who would play in one of the world’s biggest clubs.
Martin grew up alongside his sibling (a sister named Mathilde Braithwaite) in the seaport town of Esbjerg Municipality, located on the west coast of the Jutland peninsula (southwest Denmark).
Behold the rare and earliest childhood photo of Martin Braithwaite.
The earliest of Martin Braithwaite’s Childhood Photo- Here, he is pictured alongside his sibling in their family home.
During Martin Braithwaite’s childhood time, there weren’t many black people in the city where he lived.
According to Le Parisien (2014), he initially was told he was the kind of child who had a fairly strong personality but later had to let go.
Martin Braithwaite Family Background and Origin:
Raised in a middle-class family background, Martin Braithwaite’s parents were the visionary type, one who had a fair knowledge of financial education. Perhaps you must have considered his mixed-race facial looks and probably asked the question; – Where is Martin Braithwaite’s family from?
The truth is, the football forward isn’t entirely Danish. Did you know?… one of Martin Braithwaite’s parents, notably his mum Heidi (pictured below), is Danish by virtue of her birth and family ancestry.
Martin Braithwaite’s parents- his mother, Heidi Braithwaite.
To say his mum comes from Denmark is a bit over-generalized. Did you know?… Martin Braithwaite’s mother, Heidi, has her family roots in the Danish town of Esbjerg, which is her son’s birthplace.
On the other hand, Martin Braithwaite’s dad, Keith, has a family origin in Guyana, a former British colony in northern South America.
Martin Braithwaite Childhood – The Wheelchair Story:
Braithwaite was football-mad from his childhood. A childhood photo of him kicking a ball was once captured by a Danish newspaper when he was just two years old.
But at the time he was age five, everything changed for the worse. The Danish striker was forced into a wheelchair because of serious health difficulties. According to FourFourTwo, it was a disease called Legg-Calve-Perthes.
Martin’s leg bone developed abnormally and became deformed, one which made him have difficulties in walking.
As a result, he was advised not to put his legs under any pressure, for example, by running around. This was why the poor Dane was forced to use a wheelchair.
Speaking about his agony, he once said,
“Sitting on a wheelchair was really difficult. I was very young and I didn’t understand why I had to be in a wheelchair. In frustration, I was always trying to get out of it. I felt embarrassed.
Back then, I needed people around me all the time, to take care of me, like a baby. I couldn’t do the things other kids did. All I wanted to do was to get up and play football.”
Early Life (before career start):
Initially, Braithwaite was not told how long he’d be in that wheelchair. It’s just that he had to wait, waiting for the day his bones would become strong enough to allow him not just to walk but to kick a ball again.
The joy of Martin Braithwaite’s parents and family members knew no bounds as Martin got up from the wheelchair after two years, becoming stronger than ever.
He was given “OK” by doctors to continue playing his football, which was the only thing that mattered for him.
When it came to evoking his football education, Martin fell back to his father, Keith Braithwaite.
Keith spent hours with his son on the local pitch, encouraging him to take inspiration from the Brazilian star Ronaldo. Speaking to a FrenchFootballColumn in 2016, Martin once said,
“My father insisted that I observe Ronaldo de Lima’s gestures and dribbling”
Martin Braithwaite’s Biography – Early Life in Football:
After a successful trial, Braithwaite got enrolled into the academy roaster of the local Danish club- Sædding-Guldager Idrætsforening (SGI).
It sounds like someone was pursuing their football career. They initially joined Esbjerg fB, the biggest club in their city, to advance their development. After that, they spent some time at FC Midtjylland’s sports academy, which is known for its strong youth development program. However, they decided to return to Esbjerg to be closer to their family. This shows a balance between pursuing career ambitions and valuing family connections.
Early on, Martin became this ambitious academy player who was eager to play his football abroad.
Did you know?… During his second stint at the Esbjerg academy, the young Dane went on trials with both Reggina and Newcastle United. For family reasons, he decided to settle for senior football with Esbjerg fB.
Braithwaite was quick to make an impression on first-team Danish football as he helped his team win the Danish Cup in the 2012–13 season.
Achieving this feat saw him attracting the interest of European clubs, notably Celtic, Hull City, and Toulouse.
Road to Fame Story:
Martin finally moved to France to join Toulouse for €2m, where he immediately hit the ground.
To the delight of Martin Braithwaite’s family members, notably his dad, the young Dane got his senior international call-up while in his first season with Toulouse.
After scoring 35 goals for The Violets (Toulouse FC’s nickname), Martin, who captained the club, became hot-heat in the transfer market. He soon decided to go taste his skill set in England, where he joined Middlesbrough.
Unfortunately, Braithwaite failed to leave a major mark at the Riverside Stadium. England never benefited him, and this development led him to become a journeyman.
Martin paid his dues by accepting loan moves with Bordeaux and Leganés – the latter he finally settled for.
However, the biggest highlight in Braithwaite’s road to fame years came when he delivered one of his trademark international goals, one which saw fans giving him the nickname “The Streetfighter“.
The Streetfighter nickname came thanks to this Goal.
Martin Braithwaite Bio – The Rise to Fame Story:
Precisely on the 20th of February 2020, the joy of Martin Braithwaite’s parents and family members knew no bounds at the time Barca triggered his release clause and signed him.
Thankfully, Braithwaite became the fifth Danish player in history to wear the Barça shirt, after Allan Simonsen, Michael Laudrup, Thomas Christiansen, and Ronnie Ekelund.
After his debut, the Barca new boy joked that he “will not wash his clothes” after receiving a hug from Lionel Messi. Professing his love for the GOAT, Martin once said,
“If football were a religion, Messi might be a God”
The new Barca boy once vowed not to wash his clothes after his first hug with Messi.
The rest, as they say, is now history.
Martin Braithwaite‘s Wife and Kids:
Behind every successful man, there is always a woman.
For a successful footballer like Martin, there first came a glamorous girlfriend who later turned into his wife. She is no other than Anne-Laure Louis, the famous French Journalist and TV show host.
Meet Martin Braithwaite’s Wife, Anne-Laure Louis.
Martin Braithwaite met his future wife Anne-Laure Louis through her workplace after admiring her on several occasions on French TV.
The lover boy requested a date, and the rest, as they say, ended in marriage.
Martin Braithwaite and Anne-Laure Louis’ wedding photo.
Just like her husband, Anne-Laure Louis is also a hardworking lady. Aside from journalism, she has also ventured into fashion. Did you know?… Anne-Laure Louis is the founder of the clothing brand @trentefrance.
Judging from the photo above, you’ll agree with me that a handsome guy like Martin and a beautiful lady like Anne-Laure Louis deserve to have cute kids.
Both couples are parents to three children (Romeo Lion Braithwaite et al.), with a fourth kid (a son) being expected in April 2020.
Meet Martin Braithwaite’s Children and Wife.
Martin Braithwaite Personal Life:
Getting to know Martin Braithwaite’s personal life facts away from football will help you get a complete picture of his personality.
Starting off, away from football, the Dane focuses his thought more on how and where to invest his football money.
Despite being fascinated by his football career, Martin lives with the constant fear of getting broke after his football career. He constantly thinks about what to do when his career ends.
Getting to know Martin Braithwaite’s Personal Life away from Football. He lives a constant fear of being broke after his career ends, one which he has overcome.
Perhaps you might not know?… Martin Braithwaite’s family is close-knit in the US real-estate business.
The FC Barcelona forward partners with his uncle and grandfather as they invest in housing for students in the US city of Philadelphia.
Finally, on Martin Braithwaite’s personal life, his wheelchair story has made him learn more about focusing on opportunities rather than limitations.
This has turned him into a charity giver, one who combines football with philanthropy in the hope of inspiring others.
Did you know?…, in the 2016/2017 season, Martin created the #Score2Help hashtag. He pledged to donate €1,000 for every goal he scored, with the view of helping children & babies with limitations.
Below is a screenshot of his first and second donations, a substantial part of Martin Braithwaite’s biography he would never forget.
The Dane combines football with philanthropy in the hope of inspiring others.
Martin Braithwaite Family Life:
For Martin, family is everything; it is the most important thing in the world, even more than his fame.
In this section, we’ll throw more light on Martin Braithwaite’s parents and the rest of his family members (his sister, uncles, and granddad).
About Martin Braithwaite’s Father:
For those who know him, the father of Martin Braithwaite (Keith Braithwaite) is the coolest homeboy around, especially when it comes to performing his fatherly and granddad duties.
The truth is, many grannies would want to seek Keith’s help in a bid to learn tips and tricks of conquering the challenges of grandfatherhood, especially one which applies the use of Karate skills.
Meet Martin Braithwaite’s Father, Keith
The photo above depicts a true picture of Martin Braithwaite’s family life. Without a doubt, “Boys will always be boys”. Like many ageing fathers, Keith Braithwaite is also that person who hypes his favourite movies but can’t watch them for more than 10 minutes without being knocked out by sleep.
About Martin Braithwaite’s Mother:
Great mothers have produced great sons, and the beautiful mother of Martin (Heidi Braithwaite) isn’t an exception.
Unlike some mums of footballers, Heidi is not the kind of Mum who chooses to remain far back in Denmark while his son explores Europe.
She, together with the Braithwaite family, once lived in France, where her son played football.
Below is a photo of Heidi alongside her best friend Lisbeth Mørkeberg and her son, who, at the time, lived in Toulouse.
Martin Braithwaite’s Mother is pictured alongside her best friend and son, Martin.
Martin Braithwaite’s Sister:
She is Mathilde Braithwaite. Remember that little kid in the Martin Braithwaite Childhood Story section of this article?…
We have guessed that she is most likely to be Martin Braithwaite’s sister, who goes by the name Mathilde Braithwaite. She is all grown up and, of course, beautiful.
Meet Martin Braithwaite’s Sister, Mathilde Braithwaite. Isn’t she beautiful?
Martin Braithwaite’s Uncles:
It appears that in Mathilde Braithwaite’s family, his dad is probably the first child. Did you know why?… It’s because Martin has lots of young uncles who are most likely to be his father’s kid brother.
Pictured below are two of his uncles, who are most likely to be in their 30s or 40s. Philip Michael Mathilde (pictured right), while Ian Chan is pictured left.
Martin Braithwaite’s Uncles- Philip Michael is Right, and Ian Chan is Left.
Did you know?… Philip Michael Mathilde is Martin’s business partner and a fellow investor in his real-estate business. Philip is also a writer, one who has produced several best-seller books about finances.
Martin Braithwaite’s Grandparents:
Frede Christensen is Martin Braithwaite’s grandad and business partner from his mother’s side. Pictured below, Frede was the former director of HTH Kitchen in Esbjerg, Denmark, for more than three decades. He has 33 years of experience in real estate investing, a reason why his grandson chose him to be his business partner.
Meet one of Martin Braithwaite’s grandparents- His grandpa, Frede Christensen.
Lifestyle:
The Danish footballer earns his money from his real estate business, contracts, salaries, bonuses, and endorsements.
Looking at his assets minus liabilities, Martin Braithwaite has a net worth of more than €10.00m. This can be attributed to him being a millionaire and also a pointer to an exotic lifestyle.
The FC Barcelona forward lives an organized life in Barcelona, a life devoid of showcasing his wealth.
He is not the kind of footballer who goes on Instagram to showcase flashy cars, big houses (mansions), expensive wear, etc. Martin drives a decent car and spends lots of time with his family.
Martin Braithwaite’s Lifestyle is a clear reflection of his personality. Credit: Twitter
Untold Facts:
In this final section of Martin Braithwaite’s biography, we’ll tell you some of the untold facts about one of the richest footballers in the world.
Buying Former Club:
Former Barcelona striker Martin Braithwaite grabbed attention when news emerged that he was considering buying Espanyol just weeks after leaving the La Liga team. Rumours indicated that his dissatisfaction with his treatment at Barcelona might have driven this decision. This move highlights the wealth of the Danish forward. Despite not being one of the highest-paid footballers, Braithwaite has frequently appeared on Forbes’ lists of the richest players in the sport’s history.
Disappointing FIFA Facts:
FIFA Facts reveals Martin is highly underrated.
Whenever a new FIFA game comes out, updated player ratings both good and bad are always a hot topic of discussion. The FIFA card above didn’t come out well for Martin Braithwaite, as he and Alexander Sorloth were among those who suffered from poor ratings.
The Danish footballer is among the footballers who had the misfortune of finding out he is underrated. Now the question is: Would FIFA increase his ratings now that he is playing for FC Barcelona?
What is Martin Braithwaite’s Religion?
“St Martin“ is one of the most familiar and recognizable Roman Catholic saints. Also, Martin Braithwaite’s parents agreed to give him the middle name “Christensen“, which literally means “son of Christen” – not related to Andreas Christensen.
This is a common Danish variant of the given name Christian, which derives from the Greek word (christianos), meaning “follower of Christ.” Hence, without a doubt, Martin Braithwaite’s family members, including himself, adopted the Christian religion.
Martin Braithwaite’s Tattoo Facts:
Tattoo culture is very popular in today’s sporting world as many footballers we know often use it to portray their religion and family members. Martin, at the time of writing, is tattoo-free, with no inks in his upper and lower body.
Supported Real Madrid as a Child:
One of Martin Braithwaite’s Facts you never knew is that which denotes his support for Real Madrid as a child. He made this known in 2011 when he got interviewed by Lokalavisen, a newspaper published in Hadsten, Denmark. This is where we stop on this, we don’t have to drill into that.
The Chris Brown Resemblance:
Is there a striking resemblance to Chris Brown? Let us know in the comment section. Credit: Tribuna
This is, perhaps, one of Martin Braithwaite’s facts, we bet, and it will probably surprise you. Upon signing for FC Barcelona, football fans began to notice a new Chris Brown on the pitch.
At the time of writing (Tribuna report), some football fans still think Martin Braithwaite and Chris Brown are brothers. Now, on a 1 to 10 scale rating, with 10 being more affirmative, Do Martin and the American rapper look alike?
Fact Check:
Thanks for reading our Martin Braithwaite Childhood Story Plus Untold Biography Facts. We strive for accuracy and fairness in our delivery of Danish football stories. Surely, the Life History of Erling Haaland and Rasmus Hojlund is a good read. If you find something that doesn’t look right, please share it with us by commenting below. We’ll always value and respect your ideas.
