SBW is off to play for the Panasonic Wild Knights in Japan for a meagre $1.7 million before going back to rugby league for a one-season contract rumoured to be worth $800,000.
No matter which side of the fence you sit on with regards to his decision, you can't help but do the math and realise this is a lot of dosh. Who would honestly turn their nose up at such offers and opportunities?
Traditionalists clinging to the amateur ethos feel cheated that Williams decided to choose money over mana, especially for those who consider donning the All Black jersey the ultimate honour.
Capitalists and opportunists understand his motives in terms of getting as much out of his commodified body as he possibly can while he still has the X factor on and off the field (as well as in and out of the ring).
Everyone who has met him or seen him in action with the All Blacks, Chiefs and Crusaders has nothing but praise for his professionalism, team focus and intensity when it comes to giving his all.
He has surprised many with his commitment to learning all he can since his switch from league to union and, refreshingly, he has been relatively free of controversy.
As a rugby purist, I'm disappointed Sonny Bill Williams didn't stay longer in rugby union to see what he was truly capable of.
During his time with the Crusaders he showed potential and many were cynical of his rapid rise into the exclusive All Black club after such a brief apprenticeship. Despite the critics, he persisted and got even better, demonstrating his talents at the Rugby World Cup.
It wasn't until this season, during his time with the Chiefs and in games against Ireland, that SBW's star really started to shine.
What would he be capable of if he stayed with union for a few more seasons?
How much more could he learn under the tutelage of Dave Rennie, Wayne Smith and Tom Coventry at the Chiefs, as well as the All Black coaches?
We can only speculate. He was on the rise, and opted out before reaching his peak and that is the most disappointing aspect of his departure from union.
Should we be quick to condemn him for "selling himself" to the highest bidder?
Well, if you listen to the rhetoric, he doesn't necessarily always go with the highest bidder and we shouldn't begrudge professional athletes these days the opportunity to exploit their talents while they can.
Sporting superstars like Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan and David Beckham are few and far between.
SBW is a superstar with wide appeal. Men want to be him and women want to be with him.
Mothers want to lick their hand and adjust his coiffed hair, and fathers want to sit him down and give him some advice regarding which sport he should play.
Working and middle-class communities watch his sporting antics in rugby union, league and boxing to see if he'll fail, succeed, embarrass himself or achieve. Most have been impressed by what he has achieved in such a short time.
Sponsors want to be associated with his brand, and teams want his professionalism and athleticism to improve their chances of performing on the field (winning) and off the field (bringing in the fans).
There have been only a few cringe-worthy moments in the time that he has called himself a rugby player.
At times, his antics with other players have seemed childish.
For instance, his secret handshake with Israel Dagg, his ventriloquist impersonation at a media debrief with Ali Williams, and his awkward attempt at a ring-side kiss with Jaime Ridge didn't go down too well.
In general, however, it has been a win-win situation for both New Zealand rugby and Sonny Bill.
The NZRU exploited his image in posters encouraging youngsters to play rugby at school, and sponsors got bang for their buck using the powerful SBW brand in combination with the AB brand to produce the SBWAB superbrand.
In return, Sonny Bill had a much-needed hiatus from rugby league fans and politics, added more to his toolbox in terms of sporting skills, increased his worldwide appeal, and feathered his retirement nest even more.
Like the recent "TomKat" split, the world is in "I told you it was a scam" mode, but life for these individuals and for Hollywood carries on.
Like gold and diamonds - together they are magical, but apart they hold their own - New Zealand rugby and the All Blacks have lost a bit of their glamour and glitter with the departure of SBW, but life will go on.