Of course, most average reasonable people could live off a #2 CB's salary and consider themselves upper class. We are talking about stars here and egos, Brady has an ego too, so it's not about having comfy or even good money but extravagant money which he achieves along with his super model wife. If you think he's giving a discount simply to win without his beneficial financial situation that includes his wife, a financial state which must be beyond our comprehension, then you are lacking the proper perspective according to the financially elite. Tom does not want to be 'just fine' and is able to go beyond that with his marriage
There's more ways to stroke his ego though than money. Having the most rings of anyone and going down as the GOAT is a massive ego play. Any decent QB can get a big contract but most can't get rings for every finger. That would drive me as much as the money. If I'm given the choice between $30m/year on an average team or $20m/year on a team that competes for the SB every year then I'm taking the latter. I can live pretty comfortably off of either amount. Your legacy last longer than your money. That's why billionaires like Gates get so philanthropic when they get older.