When fans think of major sports athletes, no matter what the sport, they tend to assume that all of them are incredibly rich and are living the most amazing, lavish lives that everyone should be jealous of. While for many athletes that is the case, with the likes of Tom Brady and John Cena living a life that most can only dream of ever having, with the closest they get being watching people like that through reality TV.

However, for many athletes, that isn't the case. Plenty of top athletes live in small homes, driving average day to day cars and don't do anything fancy. They don't buy designer clothing or go for five-star meals, but instead live like you and me. For some of those athletes, that is a choice. They want to live that way and choose to do so, spending their money elsewhere, simply wanting to live a simple life without the glitz and glamor and without the fame, just because they are an athlete.

Others, on the other hand, have no choice but to live a simple life, whether that's through their own mistakes throughout their careers or due to unforeseen circumstances, they are put in a position where they must live simply.

The following list will examine both sides of the coin, looking at 12 athletes who choose to live simply, and 13 examples of athletes who had no choice but to live that way.

25 Had No Choice: Vin Baker

When you earn around $100 million throughout your career, you would expect to be living a comfortable and easy life, enjoying retirement and not having to worry about financial problems, but for Vin Baker that isn't the case. The Olympic Gold medalist had a solid NBA career, but by the time 2017 hit he was struggling, in a major way. Baker wasted a lot of his money and didn't invest wisely and wound up being a basketball director at a boys camp.

Even before 2017, he was down and out, retiring with very little money to his name.

A large reason for that was his unhealthy habits. Having spent three visits in help centers, it's obvious that a lot of his money was wasted. Baker spent so much he had to live a simple life, even going as far as getting a regular job working for Starbucks, pouring coffee for people who were likely starstruck to be meeting him, yet were also leaving him tips due to his wealth issue.

24 Chose To Live Simple: Andrew Chafin

The MLB star, Andrew Chafin is earning a great wage and could certainly be living a fairly rich life if that is what he wanted to do, perhaps living in a big house or driving a fancy car, but that doesn't seem to interest him. Instead, Chafin prefers to keep things as simple as possible, which is why he lives in a 42-foot Keystone Fuzion RV. Yes, it is fairly small compared to what he could be living in if he wanted to, but it suits him.

Speaking to AZCentral.com, Chafin said:“I’m pretty simple when it comes to what I need off the field. I’m not surrounded by houses and busy roads and stuff; it’s peace and quiet,” Chafin said. “It’s like being back home and being out in the woods, that kind of thing, just able to get away from stuff.” Keeping things simple is clearly what is best for him and if that peace and quiet are what helps his performance then it is certainly working, so if you see an RV about, just think you never know who might be inside.

23 Had No Choice: Lenny Dykstra

Lenny Dykstra went from MLB star to bottom in 2011 in one of the biggest falls from grace in sporting history which left his world turned upside down upon his release, forcing him to live a much simpler life. In 2011, Dykstra was sent to the can for bankruptcy fraud, despite being worth $58 million just three years prior. He owned carwashes and oil centers made plenty of mistakes with these businesses and it would prove costly.

It wasn't just in terms of money either, he also harassed a housekeeper and committed a GTA, all of which led to him winding up with a 12-year sentence, forcing him to pay the price. He may now be back on the track to sorting his life out with a best selling book, but the former MLB star is certainly not living the lavish, rich lifestyle he once was and really, he only has himself to blame.

22 Chose To Live Simple: Jordy Nelson

Jordy Nelson has earned huge money during his time in the NFL, especially after signing a $39 million extension with the Green Bay Packers several years ago, yet he has managed to stay grounded throughout all the hype and bravado. Nelson has ensured that no matter what he keeps his life simple and has very much remained a family man, rather than forgetting his roots and where he comes from, which is back on the farm in Kansas.

He has been known to return to the farm whenever he has spare time, including when he should be resting from an injury.

He likes to get back in and help the family business in any way possible. In an interview with ESPN, Nelson said: "Working cattle is my favorite farm duty,” Nelson told ESPN. “I probably identify more as a farmer (than a football player).”

21 Had No Choice: Patrick Cummins

UFC is only really just breaking out as a major sports company that can offer its fighters huge money contracts, but back in 2015, that wasn't the case, with UFC not being able to provide big money for all the fighters. Despite the company making $600 million that year, Patrick Cummins was one fighter who didn't gain much of that money, despite putting his body on the line to help make UFC a major MMA company.

His finances became a serious situation and he announced he had become homeless, yet remained dedicated throughout the difficult time and continued to train for an upcoming fight, despite not owning a home. The story inspired many and certainly made Cummins a bigger name than he previously was, but in the end, a career in MMA might not have been the best choice, at least financially.

20 Chose To Live Simple: Giovani Bernard

Most people who become major athletes tend to just splash their cash as much as possible, and that is something you can't exactly blame them for, after all, if you had just come into a huge sum of money you would be tempted to do the same. However, that is not what Giovani Bernard did when he was picked up in the 2013 NFL Draft, choosing instead to be very careful with what he would and would not spend his money on, which is a smart way to look after your money in the long term.

During his rookie year, he even decided not to buy himself a car and instead drove his girlfriend's mom's Honda Minivan, meaning he had to ask for permission every time he could ever drive the vehicle. He did that even though that initial deal saw him earn over $5 million, so you could have forgiven him for getting a car, after all, it wouldn't even have needed to be an expensive one, but he opted against it to save the money and live simple.

19 Had No Choice: Travis Henry

It was back in 2009 when the former NFL star, Travis Henry announced that he was broke, with Henry blaming child support on the reason why he has no money left from his career. That is a poor excuse, after all, he had nine different women to make payments to for nine children, and it was his decision to find himself in that situation, and therefore paying the price for that is what has to be done.

He attempted to make extra money by financing a trafficking syndicate, which was probably the worst decision of his life as he got caught and had to serve time. Now that he is released, Henry is attempting to sort his life out and get back to where he once was, doing various autograph signings, but given that he has very little money to his name, it is unlikely he is living the same lifestyle he once was.

18 Chose To Live Simple: Dean Ambrose

Dean Ambrose is one of WWE's top stars and while he might currently be on the shelf, injured, ever since he debuted on the main roster as a member of the Shield, he has been constantly in the main event scene. However, despite the top money that the former WWE Champion has earned, Ambrose clearly enjoys sticking to his roots from what he learned during his independent wrestling days, saving money and living a simple life.

While his house with Renee Young is certainly very nice, when you compared it to others that featured on Total Divas such as The Miz's mansion or John Cena's huge home, it appears fairly small and relaxed, which suits Ambrose's personality. Crazily expensive meals are something that doesn't really interest him either, with Ambrose much preferring a simple pizza at home with a few beers or a jack and coke, keeping things as easy as possible.

17 Had No Choice: Lacey Evans

The wrestling career of Lacey Evans is only just getting started, with the female superstar competing in the first ever Mae Young Classic as well as now being part of WWE's developmental system, NXT. Evans hasn't made the millions that are there to be made if you reach the very top level of professional wrestling, which she certainly has the potential to do, but that made her circumstances even more devastating.

The former U.S. Marine had her home totally destroyed by the impact of Hurricane Irma, with Evans sharing images of the damage and destruction on her Instagram, admitting she was most upset about the personal items such as photos that can never be replaced. She showed her strength by getting straight back to work both on her home and in the ring, taking very little time off despite dealing with such a tragedy and hopefully things will be back up and running for her again soon.

16 Chose To Live Simple: Klay Thompson

The reason Klay Thompson lives a simple life, despite earning over $17 million a year right now is that his parents ensure that he does, keeping him grounded and making sure he doesn't do what many on this list have, spend everything they own. In 2013 it was revealed that Thompson still received an allowance from his mom and dad, with his father taking all of Klay's paycheques and putting them straight into the bank for his son.

He would then give Klay just $300 a week, despite it being his money, for him to spend on whatever he wanted in a method to help Klay not fall down the trap many others do, helping his financial future. Klay might have hated it at the time, but it certainly taught him important values and ensured that he won't become another statistic of a former athlete who then becomes bankrupt and it is likely something he will thank his father for down the line.

15 Had No Choice: Jeff Hardy

Jeff Hardy has always lived his life fairly open and in the craziest way possible, it is what makes him stand out, even if it has cost him at times with several moments that he would probably rather forget. However, one unfortunate moment was out of his control when he was hit with tragedy in 2008 when his entire home burned down, and as you can see from the photo above, the fire was a devastating one.

Hardy actually rebuilt his home in the same area, but it was not as large and he was forced to simplify it. However, he has also had to live his entire life in a much simpler way after being busted so many times for misbehaviour. Because Jeff has broken the WWE's wellness policy several times one more strike would see the company be forced to release him, so calming his life down was the only option for the current United States Champion.

14 Chose To Live Simple: Shawn Michaels

Shawn Michaels is considered by many to be the greatest in-ring wrestler in the history of the sport. That is an accolade which, at one point in his career, brought a major ego which caused HBK a lot of problems with people backstage. However, after finding god and quitting alcohol, it would appear that Michaels totally turned his life around, opting for a more simple approach, with the WWE Hall Of Famer enjoying time on his ranch going hunting rather than spending loads of money.

After retiring, Michaels has been asked to return to the ring on numerous occasions and all of them would have been huge paydays, but he has rejected every single one of those ideas in order to stay retired. The retirement itself was even his idea, making the decision to call time on his career in order to go and live simply at home with his family, rather than having the rock and roll traveling lifestyle of a WWE wrestler.

13 Had No Choice: Ric Flair

He lived the gimmick of being the Nature Boy until it was simply no longer affordable, with Ric Flair no longer having the finances he once did, largely down to his massive spending habits. Flair might be one of the greatest wrestlers of all time but that doesn't mean he can live the lavish lifestyle that he once did, with the Nature Boy having to take a major cutback in that department due to all the costs he has.

From his medical bills after nearly passing away in 2017, to the amount of drinks he has bought over the years or the four divorces he has had to go through, Flair has lost an incredible amount of money, despite how much he owed. Vince McMahon even had to lend him a huge sum, with Flair having to pay Vince every penny of his retirement match fee with Shawn Michaels right back to his former boss. So, it's safe to say you can expect to see him popping up in more rap videos moving forward.

12 Chose To Live Simple: Michael Carter-Williams

Michael Carter Williams did something that many other NBA players could really learn a lesson from when he signed his first major contract for $4.5 million following the 2013 NBA Draft. He immediately took all that money and placed into a trust fund which he was banned from having access to for the first three years of his career, the time when most players tend to have the urge to splash their newly found cash.

Whether this was his decision or if it was down to advice he gained isn't known, but either way, it was a great call by Williams.

He still had plenty of money to spend which came from endorsement deals with companies like Nike and Panini, but the fact he saved so much was a smart move. After all, you never know when it is all going to come to a halt and Williams gave himself a back up for if that ever happens and learning the valuable lesson of saving money from an early age will only help him later in his career when bigger money comes up.

11 Had No Choice: Hulk Hogan

If you want to learn a lesson about how to not manage your finances then Hulk Hogan is a good example to look at, brother. Not only will he teach you to eat your vitamins but the Hulkster is a prime example of someone not to copy when it comes to financial management. Hogan may very well be one of the biggest names in wrestling history, but that doesn't mean that he has always been able to live an amazing lifestyle, because when his divorce to Linda took place she almost bankrupted him.

Hogan's problems got that bad that he admitted he considered taking his own life, showing just how much the divorce had taken from him, not just financially but emotionally with the toll being high. Hogan's financial situation massively improved after winning the lawsuit against Gawker, pocketing him a cool $115 million following the release of private footage, however that also came at a major cost to Hogan's wrestling career.

10 Had No Choice: Emmanuel Adebayor

When you think about elite soccer players, Emmanuel Adebayor might not be a name that immediately screams to you, with the likes of Messi and Ronaldo likely being the first people you think of. However, the striker had a very good career and spent his time playing for some of the biggest clubs in the world, from Arsenal to Manchester City and even Real Madrid where he scored plenty of goals and earned a great wage.

He was kind with his wealth and helped some of his poorer family members, giving them millions in order to live a life they would otherwise only have dreamed of. This is a great thing to do, after all, soccer players earn so much that they just have tons of money sitting around. The problem for Adebayor was that once people saw what he was doing, every family member and close friend wanted a payday, squeezing every penny out of him, which actually led to him having mental health issues over the pressure of money and this forced him to change things up, living a much more simple life.

9 Chose To Live Simple: Mick Foley

Taking one look at Mick Foley, if you didn't know who he was you would never expect him to be an incredibly rich man who spent his entire career being an athlete, as he doesn't look like your traditional wrestler. Of course, the fact he doesn't look like a traditional wrestler is one of the reasons why Foley was so successful, eventually receiving the honour of becoming a WWE Hall Of Famer, but even with his wrestling riches, Foley still lives a very simple life.

Granted, he may have a very nice, big house, something he needs considering the number of children he has and the fact an entire room in his home is dedicated to Christmas. But he can afford that because Foley was so cheap throughout his career. Notorious for not spending money, Foley wouldn't pay for hotel rooms but would simply sleep in his car or find a fans sofa to lay on for the evening. He wouldn't even stop off for food either, often grabbing buckets of popcorn to eat on route to the next place. His wardrobe is also known for not exactly being expensive or flashy, with a flannel shirt simply doing the trick for the Hardcore Legend.

8 Had No Choice: One Man Gang

One former wrestler who hasn't fallen on his feet since hanging up the boots is One Man Gang, the former WWE star was an unfortunate victim of mother nature, which has forced him out of his home and in an incredibly tough situation. His home was totally destroyed by flooding in Baton Rouge and left him needing to replace the entire interior of his home, which comes at a cost. With his insurance not footing any of the bill as he didn't have any, One Man Gang quickly fell under hard times.

The giant wrestler decided to not purchase insurance due to not living in a designated flood zone, but sadly the weather had other ideas and made him regret that choice.

He actually wound up living in a hotel with his wife and their eight cats, in what can't have been comfortable living circumstances. He then left that and moved on to live in his friend's trailer, again, a much simpler life than he was used to having. One Man Gang had to pay around $75,000 to get everything fixed.

7 Chose To Live Simple: Kawhi Leonard

Just like Vin Baker, Kawhi Leonard is an NBA star that is earning top money, with his 17-18 contract reportedly just over $18 million, an incredible sum of money that most people would dream of earning in a single year. Leonard tends to stay away from the public eye and isn't the attention seeker that many of his fellow NBA stars are, not being as bothered by the media attention and simply enjoys his own life and gets on with things.

He also doesn't like spending massive money when he can make a saving. Because just like every other average person, Leonard is still looking for the best deals, with the NBA player even using coupons when he goes out for meals in order to save a little money. He sponsors Wingstop and can often be found spending his time at the restaurant chain during the season dining on free wings to keep him going throughout the year, while also saving plenty of money.

6 Had No Choice: Evander Holyfield

Evander Holyfield's story was incredibly with a true rag to riches tale as he went from poverty to earning millions through his boxing career, becoming one of the greatest to ever step into a ring. Despite knowing exactly what it was like to be incredibly poor, Holyfield put himself back into an incredibly difficult position when he decided to spend his millions as if money was going out of fashion.

In one infamous match against Mike Tyson which saw his ear be bitten off, Holyfield earned himself $35 million, but the boxer claims it was tough to say 'no' to things when he was earning so much, which led to him spending it all. He went bankrupt and had very little money to his name which led to him actually having another boxing match at the age of 51, when he should, and could, have been retired and enjoying his life.