David Beckham is at the eye of a media storm after his private emails were leaked to European press over the weekend.

The intimate messages show his anger at not being knighted by the Queen and raise questions about his commitment to UNICEF, the charity for which he is an ambassador.

The leak, which his team thinks was an illegal hack, appears to have taken some shine off the wholesome Beckham image. But they also serve as a reminder of the power of his brand and his achievements.

Beckham is arguably even more famous now than he was at his football peak.

He’s married to 41-year-old fashion designer and former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham, has been the face of some of the most iconic brand and sport endorsements, has four multitalented children – Brooklyn, Romeo, Cruz, and Harper – and countless famous friends.

His Instagram, which he only launched in 2015, has 32.7 million followers. From the football and family to the fortune and fashion, scroll down to see the incredible life of David Beckham.


This is 41-year-old David Beckham. You've probably heard of him.

Foto: sourceLintao Zhang / Getty

He's one of the most famous footballers of all time...

Foto: sourceStephen Dunn / Getty Images

...and one of the world's biggest celebrities.

Foto: sourceScott Barbour / Getty Images

Beckham got his start playing for one of the biggest football clubs in the world — Manchester United.

Foto: sourceClive Brunskill / Getty Images

After that he had a four-year stint at Real Madrid, a club that's now also one of the biggest in the world.

Foto: sourceDenis Doyle / Getty Images

He is the only footballer to win league titles in Britain, Spain, the US, and France.


Here he is with his wife, 42-year-old Victoria Beckham, fashion designer, ex-member of the Spice Girls, and superstar in her own right.

Foto: sourceASSOCIATED PRESS

They met at a football match in 1997. "I didn't really know who he was," she reflected. "I was never into football."

Foto: sourceKevin Winter / Getty Images

Beckham recently told the BBC it was love at first sight.


The Beckhams have become one of the world's foremost 'power couples' — and fashion icons.

Foto: sourceMike Coppola / Getty Images

They have four children together — Brooklyn, 17; Romeo, 14; Cruz, 11; and Harper, 5 — who are proving to also be multitalented.

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At the age of 17, Brooklyn has already made a career in world of modelling, landing international covers of Vogue and Burberry campaigns.

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Beckham is a big family man​, and is often seen out with the kids.

Foto: sourceAlex Livesey / Getty Imgages

Since stepping down from football, he has become known for his high profile brand endorsements, such as a deal with electronics giant Samsung.

Foto: sourceSamsung

He has also teamed up with Adidas...

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...and his contract with Pepsi saw him rub shoulders with Beyonce and Jennifer Lopez.

Foto: sourceCarlos Alvarez / Getty Images

He even has his own brand of whiskey, Haig Club...

Foto: sourceWhiskey Exchange

...and a massive contract with clothing company H&M, even releasing his own lines of menswear.

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Basically, he's a style god.

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In 2015 People Magazine even named David as its Sexiest Man Alive.

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All of these deals, as well as Victoria's success in the fashion world, give the couple a combined wealth of around £470 million — more than the Queen.

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Source: Business Insider


The couple paid nearly £22,000 a day in tax in 2015, according to government figures obtained by Sky.

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Beckham Brand Holdings Ltd., the firm to which they channel their combined income, made a total of £47.2 million over the course of the year, which includes revenue from Victoria Beckham's fashion business and Beckham's global image rights.

The couple paid £7.9 million in tax - just under £22,000 a day - on the profits, leaving them with £39.5 million.


They used to live in Rowneybury House, dubbed 'Beckingham Palace,' located in Hertfordshire.

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Now they live in a very swanky house in Holland Park. They also have a pad in LA.

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Beckham uses his influence for charity work, and is a UNICEF ambassador.

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He also likes hanging out with the troops.

Foto: sourceWPA Pool / Getty Images

He spoke about his charity work when he appeared on the 75th anniversary edition of BBC Radio 4's flagship biographical show 'Desert Island Discs.'

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"I think more than anything… one of the most important things in my life at the moment is my charity work," he said.

"It's not just about the amount of money that we raise, it's meeting these children, it's knowing that we are changing children's lives." He added that his work is "not for vanity."

He also spoke about his roots in football, as well as his love for his family and Victoria.


However, his commitment to UNICEF was questioned as a result of the leaked emails.

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Among other allegations, the emails reportedly showed that Beckham billed the charity for a £6,685 business class flight he never even boarded.


They also allegedly showed Beckham's anger at not being knighted by the Queen after receiving an OBE in 2013.

Foto: sourceWPA Pool / Getty Images

The Queen isn't the only high-profile person he's rubbed noses with. He has a lot of famous friends. Here he is hanging out with Lakers legend Kobe Bryant...

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...US superstar Kevin Hart...

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...not to mention Noel Gallagher and Liv Tyler.

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The couple also attended the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's wedding in April 2011.

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Despite his active business and social life, Beckham still prioritises his fitness...

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...although he also knows how to indulge.

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But he seems at his happiest watching sports, like Wimbledon tennis.

Foto: sourceJulian Finney / Getty Images

Or the Olympics.

Foto: sourcePascal Le Segretain / Getty Imgaes

However, his first love is football — he has over 1,000 pairs of football boots, rivalling Victoria's shoe collection.

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Source: BBC