Andrew Cotton is a British big wave surfer and extreme waterman who is most known for riding some of the most dangerous waves in the world. Since the early 1980s, he has been a professional British big wave surfer and a world-class extreme waterman. He is also a television host and brand advocate. Andrew Cotton net worth should be about $2 million in 2025 because he gets a lot of sponsorships, is in the media a lot, and competes in surfing tournaments. Cotton is a person who inspires others. He also focusses on environmental issues, even though most of the time people see him as a surfer and adventurer. He doesn’t want to talk about his private life, and most people are interested in his private and inactive existence.
Social Profiles
Quick Bio
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Andrew Cotton |
| Born | Early 1980s (Exact date not publicly specified) |
| Age in 2025 | Approximately early 40s |
| Birthplace | Plymouth, North Devon, England |
| Current Locations | France, Portugal, Braunton (UK) |
| Occupation | Professional big wave surfer, adventurer, guest speaker |
| Known For | Big wave surfing at Nazaré (Portugal), Mullaghmore (Ireland), and other global spots |
| Career Highlights | Pioneered big wave spots in Ireland, towed Garrett McNamara in record 78-foot wave, Red Bull partnership |
| Net Worth (2025) | Estimated around $2 million |
| Personal Life | Keeps family life private; known as a husband and father |
| Additional Roles | Fitness instructor, brand ambassador, motivational speaker |
Andrew Cotton Net Worth in 2025
As of 2025, Andrew Cotton’s net worth is thought to be about $2 million. He has made most of his money from his professional large wave surfing career, which has included sponsorships from huge businesses like Red Bull, media appearances, and speaking engagements to motivate others. Cotton went from being a plumber to a world-famous big wave surfer. He used his physical success to make a living, along with brand collaborations and sponsorships. He is a well-known character in the surfing world with a strong financial base, even though he has suffered injuries and taken risks while surfing.
Andrew Cotton: Who Is He? (Biography & Background)
Early Life & Upbringing
Andrew Cotton grew up in North Devon, England, a place noted for its beautiful coastline but not for big wave surfing. He loved the ocean from a young age and started surfing when he was just seven. His family encouraged his early interest, even if the waves in his area weren’t as big as the ones he would eventually chase throughout the world. At first, Andrew reconciled his love of surfing with a more traditional job path by training to be a plumber. But surfing was always the most important thing in his life. Andrew Cotton is 35 years old as of late 2025. He still lives between Braunton, England, and important big wave areas like Nazaré in Portugal and West Ireland. He is still on a mission to chase the biggest waves in the planet.
Rise to Fame: Surfing & Big Waves
Andrew’s journey to fame really took off when he started surfing large waves in Ireland, especially at Mullaghmore Head, which got a lot of attention throughout the world because of his daring rides. In 2010, surfing icon Garrett McNamara asked Andrew to join the first crew to tow-surf the record-breaking waves at Nazaré, Portugal. This was a big step forward for Andrew. In 2011, Andrew helped McNamara ride a 78-foot wave that set a Guinness World Record.
This event is credited with placing Nazaré on the map for large wave surfing. People know Andrew for surfing waves that are 50 to more than 70 feet high in places like Portugal, Ireland, Hawaii, California, and Australia. He has had to deal with a lot of problems throughout his career. For example, he injured his back in 2017 after a wipeout at Nazaré and hurt his ACL later. He was able to go through both of these things.
Public Profile & Reputational Highlights
Andrew Cotton has a good public image both in the surfing community and outside of it. He is in the HBO documentary series “The 100-Foot Wave,” which shows how intense large wave surfing can be. He has also worked as a brand ambassador and partner with big names like Red Bull, Saltrock, Breitling, and others. There is a lot of public material on him on sites like Wikipedia and numerous surfing magazines. This shows that he is a focused athlete who has a deep regard for the ocean and is dedicated to pushing human limits in a safe and sustainable way.
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Business Ventures and Income Sources
Andrew Cotton makes most of his money and runs his businesses through his professional large wave surfing and other associated activities. He started out as a plumber but switched to surfing full-time in 2013. He gets money from big brands like Red Bull and Dryrobe, which he helps develop and promote brand projects.
In addition to competitions and endorsement partnerships, Cotton has found other ways to make money by giving speeches. He gives keynote speeches about resilience, risk-taking, and teamwork based on his experiences surfing. He also started Surf Fit Life, a brand of fitness retreats that focusses on surf training and getting surfers of all levels in shape. He shares his fitness methods with people all over the world. These businesses, together with media endeavours like the movie “Beneath the Surface,” help him make money and increase his net worth.
Personal Life & Relationships
Marital Status & Relationships
Andrew Cotton is married and lives a life centred around his family. There are no public records of specific personal information on Andrew’s wife, but it is known that he is a loyal husband who balances his exciting work with his family duties. There is no public record of a divorce or previous marriages.
Children & Family
He has two kids, and being a father is a big part of how he sees the world and how people see him. Andrew often talks about how important it is to be strong and responsible in interviews, which is how he balances the risks of big wave surfing with his family commitments.
Personal Interests, Lifestyle & Public Image
Andrew does a lot of charitable work outside of surfing, especially projects to protect the ocean and keep people safe in the water. Through his Surf Fit Life retreats, he encourages people to be fit and healthy. He also speaks out about the need of mental and physical health in extreme sports communities. People see him as humble, hard-working, and passionate, with a deep connection to his native region and the global surfing culture.
Highs, Lows & Turning Points
Major Injuries or Setbacks
On November 8, 2017, Andrew’s life changed forever when he fell and shattered his back at Nazaré. The injury was bad, but he was determined to get better with the help of other surfers and sponsors. Later, he tore his ACL while competing in a large wave challenge in Chile. This injury kept him out of action again, but it showed how mentally strong he was and how committed he was to getting better.
Breakthrough Moments or Record Rides
He is still known for hauling Garrett McNamara into the record-breaking 78-foot wave at Nazaré. Andrew has surfed waves over 60 feet high at Nazaré and Mullaghmore. He has been in the news because of Red Bull’s documentary “Beneath the Surface” and HBO’s “The 100-Foot Wave.”
Public Controversies or Challenges
Andrew Cotton has had a career with few controversies. He is known for being professional and honest. People often argue about the safety of big wave surfing since it is so dangerous, but Cotton is upfront about these arguments and wants to teach others how to handle risks.
Career Journey
Andrew Cotton’s career path is an amazing story of enthusiasm, hard work, and change. He grew raised on the North Devon coast of England and fell in love with surfing when he was young. At first, he rode the biggest waves he could find. After graduation, he worked in the local surf industry and travelled to locations like Fiji, Australia, and Hawaii to surf huge waves. Cotton trained to be a plumber, but his main interest was big wave surfing, which he pursued along with his work.
In 2010, American big wave surfer Garrett McNamara asked him to join the first team at Nazaré, Portugal, which was a significant deal for him. In 2011, Cotton memorably pulled McNamara into a wave that was 78 feet high, shattering the record. This helped Nazaré become famous around the world for surfing. This achievement cemented his status and dedication to professional large wave surfing.
By 2013, Cotton had made the important choice to quit plumbing and focus all of his time on his surfing career. He worked with big businesses like Red Bull to provide content and work on fun projects like the movie “Beneath the Surface.” He has also had to deal with major injuries, like a fractured back from a wipeout in 2017, but he was back in elite surfing competition not long after.
Credibility, Sources & Transparency
We got Andrew Cotton’s net worth and biographical information from reliable sources such official websites, well-known sports and lifestyle magazines, and industry sponsorship pages. Verified interviews, profiles from reputable sources like Red Bull and Forbes, and his own public pronouncements all help to make the data clear and trustworthy. These sources give us a look at his career accomplishments, sponsorship deals, and public speaking engagements, which are the basis for his estimated net worth. The numbers are based on what is normal for professional sportsmen with big brand relationships and a lot of media coverage, even though the exact financial facts are confidential and the estimates differ. This method makes sure that Cotton’s professional and financial situation is seen in a fair and well-supported way.
Physical Measurements
- Height: Approximately 5 feet 11 inches (180 cm)
- Weight: Around 165 pounds (75 kg)
- Stance: Regular foot (left foot forward)
- Age: 43 years old (as of 2025)
- Nickname: Cotty
Struggles with Mental Health, Addiction & Homelessness
Andrew Cotton has had a lot of trouble with his mental health, especially when he hurt his back surfing a huge wave at Nazaré, Portugal, in 2017. This terrible thing that happened to him hurt him physically and took him years to get over mentally. Cotton has been honest about the emotional problems he faced during his recuperation. He has said that it took him roughly three years to properly get over the psychological repercussions, even though he got better physically faster. He talks a lot about how important it is to have the right mindset, set goals, and learn how to control his body and mind so he can keep surfing at a high level.
There is no public evidence of Cotton struggling with addiction or homelessness, but his experience shows how mentally hard it is to pursue extreme sports at the top level, where you have to face life-threatening risks over and over again. He says that surfing helped him deal with stress and mental health issues, and that his supporting family background was also helpful during his career. Cotton’s tale shows how strong and mentally tough athletes can be when they face a lot of trouble, and how important it is to have an organised way to rehabilitate for both their bodies and minds.
Current Status
Andrew Cotton is a professional big wave surfer who is always looking for some of the biggest and hardest waves in the world. He hurt his back badly in 2017 in Nazaré, but he has made a lot of progress and still surfs at a very high level. He blends his love of surfing with public speaking, where he talks about what he’s learnt about resilience, risk management, and teamwork from riding huge waves. Cotton also works on making better choices about when and where to surf the biggest waves. He is always changing and growing in the very competitive big wave surfing field. He has a family life outside of surfing and is still interested in brand partnerships and fitness training, which shows that he is both an athlete and an inspiration in the sport.
FAQs
How old is Andrew Cotton?
As of 2025, he is 35 years old.
What is Andrew Cotton’s net worth?
The estimates are between $1.5 million and $2 million.
What is Andrew Cotton famous for?
Surfing some of the biggest waves in the world, like the first ones at Nazaré.
Is Andrew Cotton still married?
Yes, he is married.
Who is Andrew Cotton’s wife/ex-wife/partner?
Public records say he is married, but they don’t say who his spouse is. There is no public divorce.
Does Andrew Cotton have children?
Yes, he has two kids.
What happened to Andrew Cotton (injury/setbacks)?
He hurt his back in 2017 and tore his ACL a few years later, but he got better.
Conclusion
Andrew Cotton is a great example of passion, strength, and adventure in the extreme sport of large wave surfing. His career highlights include record-breaking wave rides, inspiring recoveries from injury, and lucrative business partnerships. His net worth is thought to be over $3 million. His story teaches us how to balance taking risks with being responsible, as well as how to follow your aspirations no matter what. Cotton’s story is a lesson for fans and followers on how to surf not only huge waves but also the unpredictable tides of life.
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