Travis Kelce's Net Worth: How the NFL Star Built $90 Million
Travis Kelce's Net Worth: How the NFL Star Built $90 Million.
What is Travis Kelce's Net Worth and Salary?
Travis Kelce is a well-known American football player with a net worth of around $90 million. He plays as a tight end and kicked off his NFL career with the Kansas City Chiefs back in 2013. Regarded as one of the best tight ends ever, he played a key role in helping the Chiefs snag Super Bowl titles in LIV and LVII.
Kelce has also set several NFL records, including being the quickest tight end to hit 10,000 career receiving yards. In September 2023, it was confirmed that he was dating Taylor Swift, especially after she started showing up at his games. Their relationship, along with the Chiefs' Super Bowl victory, became one of the biggest headlines in the U.S. that year.
Salary & Career Earnings
In his first decade in the NFL, Travis raked in just shy of $80 million from his salary. Back in 2013, he inked a four-year contract worth $3.12 million with the Chiefs. Then in 2016, he scored a five-year extension for $46 million, which included $22 million guaranteed, averaging out to about $14 million a year. Fast forward to late April 2024, and Travis signed a two-year extension with the Chiefs for $34.25 million, bringing his average annual salary to $17.125 million.
By the end of this deal, his total earnings in the NFL will surpass $100 million. On top of that, he pulls in around $5 million annually from endorsements with brands like McDonald's, Nike, Papa John's, Bud Light, State Farm, and others.
$100 Million Podcast Deal
In 2022, the Kelce brothers kicked off a weekly podcast called "New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce." Fast forward to August 2024, and they landed a massive 3-year, $100 million deal with Amazon's Wondery podcast service to host their show there. This agreement allows Wondery to handle distribution and ad sales for their hit podcast.
Early Life and High School
Travis Kelce was born on October 5, 1989, in Westlake, Ohio, to parents Donna and Ed. He has an older brother, Jason, who also made a name for himself in the NFL. During his teenage years, Kelce attended Cleveland Heights High School, where he played football, baseball, and basketball. He really shined in football, taking on the role of quarterback. By his senior year, he earned All-Lake Erie League honors after racking up 2,539 total offensive yards.
RELATED: Travis Kelce’s Dad Plans Heartfelt Birthday Surprise for Taylor Swift.
College Career
Travis decided to go to the University of Cincinnati, where he joined his brother on the Bearcats football team. After sitting out his first year in 2008, he made his mark in 2009 with eight rushes for 47 yards and two touchdowns. However, in 2010, he faced a setback with a season-long suspension due to a failed drug test. He bounced back in 2011, setting personal bests with 45 receptions and 722 receiving yards.
Kansas City Chiefs
In the 2013 NFL Draft, the Kansas City Chiefs picked Kelce in the third round. His rookie season was cut short when he landed on injured reserve in mid-October after undergoing knee surgery. However, he made a strong comeback in 2014, scoring his first NFL touchdown and racking up over 100 receiving yards in a game for the first time.
By the end of that season, he was the Chiefs' top receiver with 862 yards. As the 2015 season kicked off, Kelce had his first multi-touchdown game in a victory against the Houston Texans, helping the Chiefs finish the regular season with an 11-5 record. Unfortunately, they lost to the New England Patriots in the Divisional Round.
Kelce continued to shine in 2016, achieving personal bests with 1,125 receiving yards and 85 catches. The Chiefs topped the AFC West with a 12-4 record, but once again, they were eliminated in the Divisional Round, this time by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
In 2017, Kelce set a new career high with eight receiving touchdowns and ranked second among tight ends with 1,038 receiving yards. The Chiefs reached the Wild Card Round but were knocked out by the Tennessee Titans, and Kelce had to leave the game due to a concussion. He bounced back in 2018, helping the Chiefs secure first place in the AFC West and reach the AFC Championship, where they lost to the Patriots.
The 2019 season was a standout for Kelce and the Chiefs. In a late-season matchup against the Chicago Bears, he became the fastest tight end in NFL history to reach 500 career receptions. By the end of the season, he also made history as the first tight end to have four straight seasons with over 1,000 receiving yards.
The Chiefs cruised through the Divisional Round and the AFC Championship, ultimately winning Super Bowl LIV against the San Francisco 49ers with a score of 31-20. They returned to the Super Bowl the following year but were defeated by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, losing 31-9.
In 2021, Kelce broke or added to several records, including becoming the tight end with the most 1,000-yard seasons, hitting six. In the last game of the regular season, he made history as the fastest tight end to hit 9,000 career yards in the NFL. The Chiefs went on to win both the Wild Card Round and the Divisional Round, but they fell short against the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Championship.
Fast forward to 2022, Kelce was once again a key player in leading his team to the playoffs, eventually reaching Super Bowl LVII where they faced off against the Philadelphia Eagles. This matchup was special as it marked the first Super Bowl with two brothers on rival teams, with Jason Kelce playing for the Eagles. In the end, the Chiefs triumphed with a score of 38-35.
Endorsements
Travis rakes in an extra $5 million a year from endorsements on top of his NFL salary, thanks to partnerships with various companies.
McDonald's
Nike
Papa John's
Bud Light
Sleep Number
Tide
State Farm
Dick's Sporting Goods
T-Mobile
Experian
Old Spice
Pfizer
Walgreens
DirecTV
Did Travis Kelce Make $20 Million From Pfizer?
In September 2023, Travis kicked off his role as a spokesperson for Pfizer to help promote their educational campaign about the COVID vaccine. He announced the partnership with an Instagram post encouraging everyone to get the COVID-19 booster, and shortly after, commercials started airing during NFL games.
This campaign, along with his work for Bud Light, sparked backlash from conservative groups. Some tweets claiming that Travis received $20 million for the Pfizer deal went viral, but there's no proof to back that up. Based on similar partnerships, it's more realistic that the deal is worth around $1-2 million.
Casa Azul Tequila
Travis became an equity investor in Casa Azul Tequila in February 2023. Casa Azul was started by the same crew behind Core water and Fuze tea. Fast forward to October 2023, and Taylor Swift was spotted enjoying a Casa Azul Tequila in a private box at one of Travis' games.
Media Appearances
Outside of football, Kelce has had some memorable moments in the media. In 2016, he was the star of the E! reality dating show "Catching Kelce," where he chose Maya Benberry as his winner, though they split up in early 2017. After winning Super Bowl LVII in 2023, Kelce hosted an episode of "Saturday Night Live," featuring a guest appearance by his brother Jason.
Personal Life
Travis Kelce started seeing social media star Kayla Nicole in 2017, but they called it quits after five years. Fast forward to September 2023, and it was confirmed that he’s now dating Taylor Swift.
Kelce also runs a foundation named Eighty-Seven & Running, which focuses on mentoring and providing opportunities for underprivileged youth. He kicked off this initiative back in 2015.
RELATED: Taylor Swift's Net Worth Soars to $1.5 Billion in 2024.
Real Estate
In 2019, Travis bought a massive 10,000 square foot mansion in Kansas City for $995,000.
By October 2023, he reportedly shelled out just under $6 million for a sprawling 16,000 square foot home in a gated community in Kansas City.
Travis Kelce’s impressive net worth and career achievements reflect his dedication and talent both on and off the field. From breaking NFL records to leading the Kansas City Chiefs to Super Bowl victories, Kelce has solidified his place as one of the league’s top players. His success extends beyond football, with lucrative endorsement deals, media appearances, and investments further boosting his wealth.
Kelce’s commitment to philanthropy through his foundation also highlights his generosity and drive to give back. As he continues to excel in his career and personal ventures, Travis Kelce remains an inspiring figure for fans and aspiring athletes alike.