Who Is Ben Cousins? Age, Biography and Wiki
Ben Cousins, born on June 30, 1978, is a former professional Australian rules footballer known for his impactful career in the Australian Football League (AFL). As of 2025, Ben is 46 years old. He started his career with the West Coast Eagles, where he quickly made a name for himself as a talented midfielder. Throughout his career, he won the prestigious Brownlow Medal in 2005 and amassed numerous accolades, solidifying his position as one of the greats in the sport.
| Occupation | Australian Rules Footballer |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | June 30, 1978 |
| Age | 47 Years |
| Birth Place | Geelong, Victoria, Australia |
| Horoscope | Cancer |
| Country | Australia |
Popularity
Ben Cousins's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Ben Cousins stands at an impressive height of 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in), which contributed to his agility and performance on the field. As for his weight, he has maintained a healthy physique, weighing around 82 kg (181 lbs). His athletic build has always been a significant asset, allowing him to excel in his position and withstand the rigors of professional football.
In 1997, Cousins took part in an education campaign for the WA Asthma Foundation. During his first year in the AFL, Cousins said his chest often felt tight and he had difficulty playing, "but if I monitored my asthma correctly and took the right medication, I was able to overcome those effects".
In 1999, he had a mild asthma attack while warming up for a game against Melbourne, then fainted while at a restaurant after the game. West Coast's football manager, Rod Lester-Smith, said Cousins may have been affected by asthma, low blood pressure from playing the game earlier, and a corked leg that caused some internal bleeding.
He was taken to Murdoch Hospital and recovered quickly.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Regarding his personal life, Ben Cousins has had a tumultuous history with relationships. In 2025, he is reportedly single after a high-profile relationship with American social media personality, which ended in 2023. He has two children from a previous relationship, and his focus is currently on co-parenting and maintaining a stable environment for them. While he has faced challenges in the past, Cousins continues to seek personal growth and stability in his life.
While Cousins was still at school, three AFL teams competed to draft him under the father–son rule: the Geelong Football Club, the West Coast Eagles, and the newly formed Fremantle Football Club. Cousins' father Bryan played 238 games for Perth in the WAFL and 67 games for Geelong in the VFL during the 1970s and 1980s.
Geelong's recruiting manager, Stephen Wells, said, "Ben barracked for Geelong and we tried everything to get him here." However, Cousins preferred to remain based in Western Australia and chose West Coast in October 1995.
Net Worth and Salary
As of 2025, Ben Cousins' net worth is estimated to be around $3 million. Although his earnings as a professional athlete were substantial during his playing years, he has faced financial challenges throughout his post-football career. He has engaged in various business ventures and speaking engagements that have helped bolster his earnings after retirement from the AFL. Despite some setbacks, Cousins remains resilient and focused on improving his financial situation.
Cousins won the Brownlow Medal, the AFL's highest individual player award, on 19 September 2005 with 20 votes, ahead of teammate Daniel Kerr on 19 votes and Nick Dal Santo on 18 votes. Cousins was the favourite to win with bookmakers, after five previous top-10 finishes.
He did not attend the award ceremony in Melbourne, remaining in Perth to prepare for West Coast's Grand Final match against Sydney Swans the following weekend. His celebration was "very quiet, I went over to the bar, bought the folks a bottle of champagne, had one lemonade and went up to the (hotel) room.
I managed to get to sleep before midnight, which was a bonus." West Coast's last training session in Perth before travelling to their first Grand Final game since 1994 was attended by 3,000 fans.
Trevor Nesbitt, West Coast's chief executive, said he expected that the combination of the team's Grand Final appearance, Cousins' Brownlow win, and Chris Judd's Brownlow win in the previous year, would lead to a turnover of around $2 million in club merchandise. Nesbitt added:
Career, Business and Investments
After retiring from professional football in 2010, Ben Cousins has had a varied career path. He has been involved in motivational speaking, using his experiences—both good and challenging—to inspire others. Cousins has also delved into sports commentary and journalism, sharing insights on the game he loves. In addition, he has invested in several fitness-related enterprises and local businesses, demonstrating a commitment to contributing positively to his community.
Benjamin Luke Cousins (born 30 June 1978) is a former professional Australian rules footballer and media personality who played for and in the Australian Football League (AFL). Cousins is listed by journalist Mike Sheahan as one of the fifty greatest players of all time.
During his 12-year, 238-game career with West Coast, he won several of the league's highest individual awards, including a Brownlow Medal, Most Valuable Player and a premiership medallion. He was also selected six times in the All-Australian Team and represented Australia in the International Rules Series.
He was West Coast's club champion for four seasons and captain for five seasons.
Social Network
Ben Cousins is active on various social media platforms, including Instagram and Twitter. He uses these platforms to connect with fans, share updates on his personal and professional life, and advocate for mental health awareness. His following reflects a strong support base, with many fans appreciating his honesty and vulnerability regarding his struggles and triumphs.
Cousins co-produced a documentary film titled Such is Life: The Troubled Times of Ben Cousins, saying he hoped it would serve as a cautionary tale against drug use.
Released days after his retirement, it was "one of the most-watched documentaries in Australian history." Post-football, Cousins continued to struggle with his drug addiction and have run-ins with the law, and in 2017 he received a 12-month prison sentence for a variety of offences including stalking and breaching a restraining order.
In 2023, after beating his addictions, Cousins joined the Seven News team in Perth where he reads the morning news sports bulletin and is emerging as one of the city’s leading sports reporters. In 2025, he joined the Hit Network to co-host the WA breakfast radio show, Pete & Kymba with Ben Cousins.
Education
Ben attended Aquinas College in Perth, where he excelled not only in sports but also academically. His educational background laid the groundwork for his successful career in the AFL and has informed his approach to public speaking and media. Throughout his life, Cousins has emphasized the importance of education, advocating for young athletes to prioritize their studies alongside their sporting ambitions.
When Cousins was 18 months old, his family moved back to Perth, Western Australia, where he was raised with younger siblings Matthew, Sophie and Melanie. He played junior football for the Bull Creek-Leeming Junior Football Club and for his private school, Wesley College.
In his last year at Wesley in 1995, he was recruited to join the East Fremantle Football Club's senior side in the West Australian Football League (WAFL) and played for both his school and East Fremantle throughout the season.
