Sonny Bill Williams Biography: Age, Net Worth, Wife, Children, Height, Parents

Sonny Bill Williams was a multi-talented athlete who excelled in rugby league, rugby union and boxing.

He is one of the few players to have won the Rugby World Cup twice and holds many boxing titles.

He is famous for his powerful physique, skillful offloads and generous gestures towards fans and opponents alike.

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  • Full name: Sonny Bill Williams
  • Date of birth: August 3, 1985
  • Age: 39 years old
  • male
  • Place of birth: Auckland, New Zealand
  • Nationality: New Zealand
  • Occupation: Former rugby union and rugby union player, boxer
  • Height: 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in)
  • Parents: Ioane (“John”) Williams and Lee Woolsey
  • Siblings: John Arthur, Niall and Denise
  • Spouse: Alana Raffie
  • Children: Imaan Bill, Aisha Bill Zaid Bill, Essa Bill
  • Relationship status: Married
  • Net worth: 15 million USD

Early life and education

Sonny Bill Williams was born on August 3, 1985 in Auckland, New Zealand and he is currently 39 years old as of 2024.

He is the son of Ioane (“John”) Williams, who is of Samoan descent, and Lee Woolsey, who is half New Zealand and half Australian.

He has an older brother, John Arthur, and two younger twin sisters, Niall and Denise.

He grew up in a low-income area of ​​Auckland, where he faced racism and violence. He attended Owairaka School, Wesley Intermediate and Mount Albert Grammar School.

He played rugby union and rugby union from a young age and was recruited by the Canterbury Bulldogs when he was 15 years old. He moved to Sydney, Australia, to join the Bulldogs in 2002.

Personal life

Sonny Bill Williams married Alana Raffie, a former model and dancer, in 2013. They have four children: Imaan, Aisha, Zaid and Essa.

Williams converted to Islam in 2009 after being influenced by his Muslim friends and teammates.

He has been outspoken about his religion and participated in various charitable and humanitarian causes, such as supporting refugees, war victims and the Christchurch mosque shootings.

He was also involved in controversies, such as having an affair with Candice Warner, refusing to wear sponsor logos and abruptly leaving his rugby contract.

Career

Sonny Bill Williams began his professional rugby league career with the Canterbury Bulldogs in 2004 and quickly became one of the NRL’s best players.

He won the 2004 NRL Premiership, the 2004 Dally M Rookie of the Year and the 2007 Dally M Lock of the Year.

He represented New Zealand in 12 international matches, winning the 2008 World Cup and the 2013 Four Nations.

He has also played professionally since 2009, winning 10/10 matches. He was the NZPBA and WBA international heavyweight champion but was stripped of these titles after failing to meet the challenges.

In 2008, he shocked the rugby world when he canceled his contract with the Bulldogs and joined Toulon in France without permission.

He switched to rugby union and played for various clubs in France, Japan and New Zealand. He also played for the All Blacks in 58 tests, winning the 2011 and 2015 World Cups as well as the 2017 Rugby Championship.

He became the first player to win the NRL and the Rugby World Cup. He also played rugby for New Zealand, participating in the 2016 Olympics.

After a brief spell with the Toronto Wolfpack, he retired from both rugby teams in 2021, ending up in financial trouble.

Prize

Some of the awards that Sonny Bill Williams has won throughout his career are:

  • 2004 NRL Premiership.
  • 2004 Dally M Rookie of the Year.
  • Dally M course of the year 2007.
  • 2008 Rugby World Cup.
  • 2011 Rugby World Cup.
  • Super Rugby 2012.
  • 2013 Four Kingdoms.
  • 2015 Rugby World Cup.
  • Rugby Championship 2017.
  • New Zealand heavyweight champion.
  • WBA international heavyweight champion.

Net value

Sonny Bill Williams has an estimated net worth of $15 million. He has earned his wealth from his rugby and boxing careers, endorsements and sponsorships.

He is one of the highest paid rugby players in the world, earning up to NZ$10 million per season.

Argumentative

Sonny Bill Williams has been involved in a number of controversial incidents throughout his career, such as:

  • Quit his contract with the Bulldogs in 2008 and joined Toulon in France without permission.
  • Banned for 4 weeks for fouling South Africa’s Bryan Habana in 2010.
  • Allegedly had an affair with Australian model and socialite Candice Warner in 2007, leading to a public feud with her husband, cricketer David Warner.
  • Refused to wear the logo of Bank of New Zealand, a sponsor of the Blues, on his shirt in 2017, citing his Muslim faith and opposition to banks charging interest.
  • Criticized for his poor performance and high salary with the Toronto Wolfpack in 2020 before leaving the club amid financial difficulties.

Social Media

  • Instagram: @sonnybillwilliams
  • Twitter: @SonnyBWilliams

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