Ivan Cleary’s net worth stems from his rugby league football career. He is an Australian professional rugby league coach and former professional rugby league football player. Currently, he coaches the Penrith Panthers in the National Rugby League (NRL). 

The estimated Ivan Cleary’s net worth is undisclosed. Nonetheless, his income is linked to his rugby league football career of over three decades. As a player, he had contracts with Manly Warringah Sea Eagles, North Sydney, Sydney City Roosters, and New Zealand Warriors. When it comes to coaching, he has guided New Zealand Warriors, Wests Tigers, and Penrith Panthers. 

Additionally, in 2024, he also published a memoir titled Not Everything Counts but Everything Matters, providing another income from book sales. 

Rugby league football career highlights 

Playing

Ivan Cleary began his professional playing career with the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in 1992 after progressing through the club’s junior and reserve-grade teams. Initially playing as a fullback, he scored eight tries and kicked 50 goals in 15 first-grade appearances for Manly.  

He then joined the North Sydney Bears for the 1994 and 1995 seasons, making 37 appearances and scoring 15 tries. 

In 1996, he moved to the Sydney City Roosters, where he played until 1999. One of the highlights of his playing career came in 1998 when he became the NRL’s leading point scorer, accumulating 284 points during the season. 

In 2000, he joined the New Zealand Warriors, where he spent the final three seasons of his playing career. He featured in the club’s historic run to the 2002 NRL Grand Final, although the Warriors ultimately lost to the Sydney Roosters.  

He retired at the end of that season after making 186 first-grade appearances across his career. His playing achievements also included reaching the 1,000-point milestone, placing him among a select group of players to accomplish the feat. 

Coaching 

Following his retirement, Ivan Cleary transitioned into coaching, initially joining the Sydney Roosters as head coach of their New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) Premier League team in 2003.  

He guided the side to the competition’s premiership in 2004 before returning to New Zealand in 2005 as an assistant coach with the Warriors.  

Later that year, he was appointed head coach, officially beginning his NRL coaching career in 2006. During his six-year tenure, he helped develop the Warriors into competitive premiership contenders, culminating in their appearance in the 2011 NRL Grand Final against his former club, Manly.  

Although the Warriors lost the decider 24-10, reaching the grand final marked a significant achievement in his coaching career. 

In 2012, he returned to Australia to take charge of the Penrith Panthers. His first stint with the club lasted until 2015, during which he guided the team to the 2014 preliminary final. 

Most remarkably, that season, his coaching performances earned him his first Dally M Coach of the Year award, one of the NRL’s most prestigious individual coaching honours.  

He subsequently joined the Wests Tigers in April 2017, leading the club through the 2017 and 2018 seasons. Although the Tigers narrowly missed the finals in 2018, he eventually negotiated his release from the club to return to Penrith. 

Ivan Cleary began his second tenure with the Panthers in 2019, working alongside his son, Nathan Cleary, who plays as the club’s halfback. After a challenging start, he gradually transformed the team into one of the competition’s strongest sides. 

In 2020, Penrith secured the NRL minor premiership after recording a remarkable 17-game unbeaten streak and reached the grand final, where they lost to the Melbourne Storm.  

Most notably, his achievements that season earned him his second Dally M Coach of the Year award. 

His greatest coaching success followed in 2021 when he guided Penrith to a 14-12 victory over the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the NRL Grand Final, securing his first premiership as a head coach.  

The Panthers successfully defended their title in 2022, defeating the Parramatta Eels 28-12.  

In 2023, he led the team to another historic triumph, overcoming the Brisbane Broncos 26-24 to secure a third consecutive premiership.  

Penrith completed an unprecedented four-feat in the NRL era in 2024 after defeating the Melbourne Storm 14-6 in the Grand Final. This achievement made the Panthers the first team since St George in the 1950s and 1960s to win four consecutive premierships. 

Following their four consecutive premierships, he continued to lead Penrith through the 2025 and 2026 seasons. In 2025, the Panthers recovered from a difficult start to finish seventh on the ladder and reach the preliminary final, where they narrowly lost 16-14 to Brisbane.  

In 2026, he reached another significant career milestone when he coached his 500th NRL game, becoming only the seventh coach in the competition’s history to achieve the feat. He also guided Penrith to another minor premiership before their preliminary-final exit against Newcastle.  

In May 2026, he announced that he would leave his position as Penrith’s head coach at the end of the 2027 season. The club also indicated that discussions were underway regarding a possible advisory position for Cleary.  

Wrap up on Ivan Cleary net worth 

Overall, Ivan Cleary’s long-standing involvement in professional rugby league, both as a player and coach, has provided him with several income opportunities. His success at Penrith, including four consecutive premiership victories, has strengthened his standing as one of the competition’s most respected coaches and contributed to his earning potential.  

Featured image: Ivan Cleary on penrithpanthers.com.au