Folau sought $3m to fund his legal action and those who see it as a test case proceeding to the High Court will find a way to channel the money to him. Folau and his father own nine properties but to be fair it’s a well-recognised cultural obligation for athletes of Polynesian background to provide accommodation for family. However, despite Folau’s oft-repeated declaration that he places God above mammon, the choices in his football career have been determined by mammon. Folau was identified by the Storm in his mid-teens and signed for $35,000 a year but a sensational 2007 season meant his value increased tenfold. The Storm offered him $350,000 to re-sign, yet it was announced in March 2008 that he would join the Broncos from 2009 on a four-year deal reported to be between $400,000 and $500,000 a year.

The Brisbane media reported that Folau was homesick for his Brisbane-based family. Loading In October 2008, Folau bought a $350,000 four-bedroom Boronia Heights house, south of Brisbane, for his family. In 2010, Folau rejected a two-year option with the Broncos amid reports the Melbourne Rebels, who clearly didn’t believe the homesick stories, had offered him $3 million over three years. But Folau signed with AFL expansion club GWS, also for $1 million a season for three years, although the Broncos claim it was $6 million over four years.

Folau was again fortunate to have family across the country, and now he wanted to live in western Sydney with some of his relations. Andrew Demetriou, the AFL CEO at the time, justified Folau’s salary as one of 10 Multicultural Ambassadors, saying, "We’re genuinely excited to provide 10 players with the opportunity to become leaders in the community, promoting the benefits of inclusion and diversity." Demetriou stressed "diversity and working together, regardless of backgrounds and beliefs," which are at odds with Folau’s subsequent attacks on gays and abandonment of the Wallabies in a World Cup year. In 2010, Folau Investments purchased another four-bedroom house in Kellyville, Sydney, for $773,000. Cameo: Israel Folau's big-money AFL stint landed just two goals for the fledgling Giants. Credit:Simon Alekna At the end of his 2011 season with the Giants, it was reported he had earlier cut ties with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and was now worshipping at the Assembly of God. "I had a personal experience with the Holy Spirit touching my heart," he told AAP. His father, Eni Folau, is a pastor at the church.

But his faith did not help his AFL career with his multimillion-dollar contract producing two goals. In December 2012, it was announced he was leaving the AFL, with The Age stating, "Folau’s struggles to turn himself into an AFL footballer became embarrassing for him and Thursday’s abandonment was an embarrassment for the AFL." Parramatta made Folau a $400,000 offer to return to the NRL but salary cap boss Ian Schubert would not allow this amount under the cap. Folau signed a one-year deal with the Waratahs for the 2013 season and the following year agreed to play off-season rugby union in Japan for $700,000 a year. An ankle injury and the Red Hurricanes' relegation prevented him playing in Japan. In March 2015, Folau bought an investment property at Stanhope Gardens, also in the Hills district, for $1,005,000. Three months later, he bought a house in Kenthurst in a similar neighbourhood for $2.1 million where he now lives with his wife, Maria Folau, an Adelaide Thunderbirds netballer.

Israel Folau bought a house in Kenthurst for $2.1 million in 2015. In December 2016, he added to his portfolio with three blocks of land in Austral, in Sydney’s southwest, for $1.12 million. Just a few months later, he bought at auction a one-unit apartment at Little Bay for $960,000 - some $170,000 over the reserve and a record price for the area. Over his career, he has received multiple sponsorships but he lost the last - Land Rover and Asics - following his anti gay statements. He also lost the support of the rich list Salteri family, who were contributing to his RA contract via the Australian Sports Foundation, gaining a tax deduction.