Travis Kelce, the Kansas City Chiefs’ superstar tight end, has become a household name not only for his exceptional performance on the football field but also for his growing financial empire. Kelce’s net worth is estimated to be around $90 million, according to various sources like Celebrity Net Worth. This figure reflects his lucrative NFL contracts, endorsement deals, business ventures, and media projects, which have collectively propelled him into the upper echelon of wealthy athletes. This article explores the various facets of Kelce’s financial success, how he has built his fortune, and how his high-profile relationship with Taylor Swift has further amplified his earning potential.
NFL career and contracts
Kelce’s journey to financial success began with his entry into the National Football League (NFL) in 2013. Selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the third round of the NFL Draft, Kelce signed a rookie contract worth $3.12 million over four years, including a $703,304 signing bonus. While modest compared to his later deals, this contract marked the beginning of his professional earnings. Kelce’s breakout performance came in 2014, and his value to the Chiefs quickly became apparent. In 2016, he signed a five-year, $46 million extension, with $22 million guaranteed, translating to an average annual salary of approximately $14 million. This deal solidified his status as one of the league’s top tight ends.
In 2020, with two years remaining on that contract, Kelce signed a four-year, $57.25 million extension, which included $28 million in guarantees, maintaining his annual salary around $14.3 million. The pinnacle of his NFL earnings came in April 2024, when Kelce inked a two-year, $34.25 million extension with the Chiefs. This contract, which includes $17 million guaranteed for the 2024 season, made him the highest-paid tight end in the NFL, with an average annual salary of $17.125 million. By the end of this deal, Kelce’s career earnings from NFL contracts alone are projected to exceed $100 million, per Spotrac. His three Super Bowl victories (LIV, LVII, and LVIII) have also contributed to his earnings, with players on the winning team receiving significant bonuses—$171,000 in 2024, with the 2025 Super Bowl payout expected to be $178,000 for winners and $103,000 for losers, according to the NFL collective bargaining agreement.
Endorsements
While Kelce’s NFL salary forms the bedrock of his wealth, his endorsement deals have significantly boosted his net worth. As a charismatic and marketable athlete, Kelce has partnered with numerous high-profile brands, reportedly earning around $5 million annually from endorsements. His corporate sponsors include Nike, with a long-standing partnership that includes a signature sneaker collection, the Nike x Kelce Blazer Mid ’77 Vintage, launched in 2021; Bud Light, where Kelce has appeared in multiple advertising campaigns for the beer brand; State Farm, with commercials alongside Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes increasing his visibility; McDonald’s, Papa John’s, and Subway, food-related endorsements that capitalize on his widespread appeal; and Pfizer, a more recent partnership highlighting his influence beyond sports into health and wellness.
Kelce’s endorsement earnings reportedly surged after his relationship with Taylor Swift became public in September 2023. According to Forbes, he earned an estimated $35 million off the field between 2023 and 2024, a figure that includes endorsements, merchandise sales, and other ventures. The “Taylor Swift effect” has been undeniable—sales of Kelce’s jersey jumped nearly 400% on Fanatics after Swift attended a Chiefs game, per The Associated Press.
Business ventures and investments
Kelce’s financial acumen extends beyond football and endorsements into a diverse array of business ventures and investments. He has strategically invested in companies and launched his own brands, adding layers to his financial portfolio. Hilo Nutrition, founded in 2019, is a health brand that sells gummy supplements focused on performance nutrition and sleep, reflecting Kelce’s interest in wellness and his desire to build a legacy beyond sports.
Tru Kolors, launched in 2020, is a clothing brand that became the first by an NFL player to collaborate officially with an NFL franchise (the Chiefs) in 2022, showcasing Kelce’s personal style and entrepreneurial spirit. Club Car Wash is a car wash chain where Kelce is a co-owner, operating 109 locations across eight states in the central U.S., providing a steady stream of passive income. Travis Kelce’s Kitchen, launched in collaboration with Walmart in October 2023, offers a line of seven Kansas City-inspired barbecue products, tapping into the food and beverage market. His investments include stakes in several companies such as Cholula Hot Sauce, Hydrow (rowing machines), Indochino (men’s fashion), PlayersTV, RealTruck, and Kodiak, according to Investopedia.
Media ventures
Kelce’s media presence has become a significant contributor to his net worth, particularly through his podcast and emerging roles in television and film. The New Heights podcast, launched in September 2022 with his brother Jason Kelce, a former Philadelphia Eagles center, quickly became one of the most popular sports podcasts. In August 2024, the Kelce brothers signed a three-year, $100 million deal with Amazon’s Wondery, granting the platform exclusive rights to distribute and monetize the podcast. This deal, one of the largest in podcasting history, significantly boosted Kelce’s net worth and underscored his influence in the media space. The podcast’s success is attributed to its blend of sports commentary, personal anecdotes, and celebrity guests, amplified by the brothers’ Super Bowl LVII matchup in 2023 and Travis’s relationship with Swift.
In television and film, Kelce has expanded into entertainment with roles such as hosting “Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity?” on Amazon Prime Video, which premiered in October 2024. While his exact salary for this role is undisclosed, reports suggest it could be around $750,000, based on estimates from Cosmopolitan. He also appeared in the 2016 reality show “Catching Kelce” on E!, earning a six-figure sum for the short-lived dating series, per his comments on The Pivot Podcast. Additionally, Kelce is set to make his film debut in the action-comedy Loose Cannons, produced by Chad Stahelski, and has a role in Ryan Murphy’s FX series Grotesquerie.
Real estate
Kelce’s real estate investments reflect his growing wealth and desire for privacy, especially amid his high-profile relationship with Taylor Swift. In 2019, he purchased a 10,000-square-foot mansion in Kansas City, Missouri, for $995,000. However, as his fame grew, he sought a more private residence. In October 2023, Kelce reportedly spent just under $6 million on a 16,000-square-foot mansion in a gated community in Leawood, Kansas City. This luxurious property features six bedrooms, six bathrooms, a chef’s kitchen, a wine cellar, a media lounge, a bar, and extensive outdoor amenities, including a swimming pool, waterfall, tennis/pickleball court, and miniature golf course, per Architectural Digest.
Philanthropy
While Kelce’s net worth highlights his financial success, his philanthropy underscores his commitment to giving back. In 2015, he founded Eighty-Seven & Running, a foundation that provides mentoring, training, and opportunities to underserved youth in Kansas City. He has also supported causes like childhood cancer research, appearing in a calendar for Braden’s Hope for Childhood Cancer.
The Taylor Swift effect
Kelce’s relationship with Taylor Swift, confirmed in September 2023, has undeniably amplified his fame and financial opportunities. Swift, with a net worth of $1.1 billion per Forbes, has brought unprecedented attention to Kelce and the Chiefs. Her appearances at games have boosted merchandise sales, viewership, and Kelce’s marketability. While some speculate that his net worth has “doubled” since dating Swift, as suggested by Life & Style, the exact increase is difficult to quantify. However, his off-field earnings—estimated at $35 million between 2023 and 2024 by Forbes—reflect the significant impact of this high-profile romance. The “Taylor Swift effect” has also fueled speculation about future collaborations or ventures, further enhancing Kelce’s earning potential.
Spending habits
Kelce’s wealth has enabled a luxurious lifestyle. He owns a car collection that includes a $400,000 Rolls Royce Ghost, a 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS Convertible, a 2014 Aston Martin Vanquish, and a 2015 Hyundai Genesis, per The Playoffs. His relationship with Swift has also led to extravagant spending, such as private jet travel to attend her Eras Tour performances across South America, Australia, Asia, and Europe. A source told Life & Style that the couple’s “extravagant spending is off the charts,” including costs for bodyguards, deluxe hotel rooms, and romantic gestures, positioning them as one of the most “excessively spending couples in the world.”