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Miami Mayor Francis Suarez says he\u2019s sitting on major gains from his Bitcoin paychecks, telling Fox Business he\u2019s \u201cup 300%\u201d since taking his salary in bitcoin.<\/p>\n
\u201cI got paid at $30,000,\u201d Suarez said<\/a>, noting that Bitcoin had even been up 400% when it hit $120,000 earlier this year. Despite recent market volatility \u2014 with Bitcoin slipping below $100,000 this week \u2014 Suarez said he isn\u2019t worried about short-term price swings.<\/p>\n [The volatility of bitcoin] \u201creally doesn\u2019t bother me,\u201d he told host Stuart Varney. \u201cI\u2019m more concerned with the macro impact of having a store of value that people have faith in, that has a money creation system known through the code.\u201d<\/p>\n Suarez, who famously became one of the first U.S. politicians to take his pay in Bitcoin<\/a>, said the focus should be on how decentralized finance and crypto are evolving alongside AI. \u201cWhat\u2019s more interesting is this evolution of where decentralized finance is going, where crypto is going, where AI is going,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Speaking at the American Business Forum in Miami, Suarez also highlighted the city\u2019s rise as a financial hub. He said Miami\u2019s pro-capitalist ethos<\/a> stands in \u201cdiametric opposition\u201d to cities like New York, predicting a surge in real estate and business interest as a result.<\/p>\n Back in 2021, Suarez said<\/a> the city will soon give bitcoin to its citizens as part of a plan to build a full Bitcoin economy. Suarez said he envisions a future where \u201cthe Satoshi system\u201d is used for payments, including city taxes.\u00a0<\/p>\n He added that increasing Bitcoin\u2019s utility will drive further value and adoption. Suarez also said he wants city employees paid in BTC and residents to pay fees in the cryptocurrency.\u00a0<\/p>\n Miami\u2019s current mayoral race is heading to a Dec. 9 runoff between Democrat Eileen Higgins and Republican Emilio Gonzalez. Suarez was term-limited, and couldn\u2019t run for mayor again. <\/p>\n Recently, NFL star Odell Beckham Jr. vindicated his decision to take his 2021 Los Angeles Rams salary in Bitcoin<\/a>. Beckham had converted<\/a> his $750,000 base salary to BTC through a Cash App deal when Bitcoin traded around $60,000.\u00a0<\/p>\n Critics mocked the move as Bitcoin later crashed nearly 80%, but by July 2025, the asset had surged to record highs above $120,000.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cSafe to say we still happy with our decision,\u201d Beckham posted on X as Bitcoin hit new all-time highs.\u00a0<\/p>\n At $118,000 per BTC, his original payout was worth about $1.47 million \u2014 nearly double its 2021 value. Even after a combined 49.3% tax rate, Beckham would have taken home roughly $1.1 million, almost triple what he\u2019d have earned in cash.\u00a0<\/p>\n Other notable athletes who have taken their earnings in Bitcoin include Russell Okung, who received half of his $13 million Panthers salary in BTC, and Saquon Barkley, who opted<\/a> to take $10 million in endorsements in Bitcoin.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nCelebrities getting paid in Bitcoin<\/h2>\n