Travis Kelce is a famous American football player with an estimated net worth of around $90 million. He plays as a tight end and started his NFL career with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2013. Known as one of the best tight ends in the history of the NFL, he played a significant role in helping the Chiefs win Super Bowl titles in LIV and LVII.
Kelce has also broken many NFL records, including becoming the fastest tight end to reach 10,000 career receiving yards. In September 2023, it was confirmed that he was dating Taylor Swift after she was seen attending his games. Their relationship, along with the Chiefs’ Super Bowl win, became major news in the U.S. that year.
Salary & Career Earnings
During his first ten years in the NFL, Travis earned nearly $80 million in salary. In 2013, he signed a four-year contract with the Chiefs worth $3.12 million.
Then, in 2016, he got a five-year extension for $46 million, which included $22 million in guaranteed money, averaging about $14 million a year. In April 2024, Travis signed a two-year extension with the Chiefs for $34.25 million, which increased his average annual salary to $17.125 million.
By the time this contract ends, his total NFL earnings will exceed $100 million. In addition to his salary, he earns around $5 million each year from endorsements with companies like McDonald’s, Nike, Papa John’s, Bud Light, State Farm, and others.
$100 Million Podcast Deal
In 2022, Travis and his brother Jason started a weekly podcast called “New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce.” In August 2024, they signed a huge 3-year, $100 million deal with Amazon’s Wondery podcast service to host their show. This deal lets Wondery manage the distribution and advertising for their popular podcast.
Early Life and High School
Travis Kelce was born on October 5, 1989, in Westlake, Ohio, to his parents Donna and Ed. He has an older brother named Jason, who also became successful in the NFL.
During his teenage years, Travis went to Cleveland Heights High School, where he played football, baseball, and basketball. He stood out in football, where he played as quarterback. By his senior year, he was named to the All-Lake Erie League after accumulating 2,539 total offensive yards.
College Career
Travis chose to attend the University of Cincinnati, where he joined the Bearcats football team alongside his brother. After sitting out the 2008 season, he made an impact in 2009 with eight rushes for 47 yards and two touchdowns.
In 2010, however, he faced a setback when he was suspended for the entire season because of a failed drug test. He made a strong comeback in 2011, setting personal records with 45 receptions and 722 receiving yards.
Kansas City Chiefs
In the 2013 NFL Draft, the Kansas City Chiefs selected Kelce in the third round. His rookie season was cut short when he was placed on injured reserve in mid-October after having knee surgery. However, he came back strong in 2014, scoring his first NFL touchdown and gaining 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. When the 2015 season started, Kelce had his first multi-touchdown game in a win against the Houston Texans, helping the Chiefs finish the regular season with an 11-5 record.
Sadly, they lost to the New England Patriots in the Divisional Round.
Kelce kept performing well in 2016, setting personal records with 1,125 receiving yards and 85 catches. The Chiefs finished on top of the AFC West with a 12-4 record, but they were once again eliminated in the Divisional Round, this time by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
In 2017, Kelce set a new career best with eight receiving touchdowns and was second among tight ends with 1,038 receiving yards.
The Chiefs made it to the Wild Card Round but were defeated by the Tennessee Titans, and Kelce had to leave the game due to a concussion. He returned strong in 2018, helping the Chiefs finish first in the AFC West and reach the AFC Championship, where they lost to the Patriots.
The 2019 season was an exceptional year for Kelce and the Chiefs. In a late-season game 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 made history again as the first tight end to have four consecutive seasons with over 1,000 receiving yards.
The Chiefs easily moved past the Divisional Round and the AFC Championship, winning Super Bowl LIV against the San Francisco 49ers with a score of 31-20. They returned to the Super Bowl the next year but were defeated by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, losing 31-9.
In 2021, Kelce set or added to several records, including becoming the tight end with the most 1,000-yard seasons, reaching six. In the final game of the regular season, he made history as the fastest tight end to reach 9,000 career yards in the NFL.
The Chiefs won both the Wild Card Round and the Divisional Round but lost to the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Championship.
By 2022, Kelce was once again a key player in guiding his team to the playoffs and eventually to Super Bowl LVII, where they played against the Philadelphia Eagles.
This game was special because it was the first Super Bowl with two brothers on opposing teams, with Jason Kelce playing for the Eagles. In the end, the Chiefs won with a score of 38-35.
The Chiefs easily moved through the Divisional Round and the AFC Championship, winning Super Bowl LIV against the San Francisco 49ers with a score of 31-20.
They returned to the Super Bowl the next year but lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with a final score of 31-9.
In 2021, Kelce set or added to several records, including becoming the tight end with the most 1,000-yard seasons, reaching six. In the final game of the regular season, he made history as the fastest tight end to reach 9,000 career yards in the NFL.
The Chiefs won both the Wild Card Round and the Divisional Round, but they were defeated by the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Championship.
By 2022, Kelce was once again a key player in leading his team to the playoffs, reaching Super Bowl LVII where they played against the Philadelphia Eagles. This game was special as it was the first Super Bowl with two brothers on opposing teams, with Jason Kelce playing for the Eagles. In the end, the Chiefs won with a score of 38-35.
Did Travis Kelce Make $20 Million From Pfizer?
In September 2023, Travis began his role as a spokesperson for Pfizer to 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 soon after, commercials started airing during NFL games.
This campaign, along with his work for Bud Light, received criticism from conservative groups. Some tweets claiming that Travis received $20 million for the Pfizer deal went viral, but there is no evidence to support that claim. Based on similar partnerships, it’s more likely the deal is worth around $1-2 million.
Casa Azul Tequila
Travis became an investor in Casa Azul Tequila in February 2023. Casa Azul was created by the same group behind Core water and Fuze tea. In October 2023, Taylor Swift was seen enjoying a Casa Azul Tequila in a private box at one of Travis’ games.
Media Appearances
Outside of football, Kelce has had some notable moments in the media. In 2016, he was the star of the E! reality dating show “Catching Kelce,” where he chose Maya Benberry as the winner, although they broke up in early 2017. After winning Super Bowl LVII in 2023, Kelce hosted an episode of “Saturday Night Live,” with his brother Jason making a guest appearance.
Personal Life
Travis Kelce started dating social media star Kayla Nicole in 2017, but they broke up after five years. In September 2023, it was confirmed that he’s now dating Taylor Swift.
Kelce also runs a foundation called Eighty-Seven & Running, which focuses on mentoring and giving opportunities to underprivileged youth. He started this foundation in 2015.
Real Estate
In 2019, Travis bought a large 10,000 square foot mansion in Kansas City for $995,000.
By October 2023, he reportedly spent just under $6 million on a large 16,000 square foot home in a gated community in Kansas City.
Travis Kelce’s impressive net worth and career accomplishments show his hard work and skill both on and off the field. From setting NFL records to helping the Kansas City Chiefs win Super Bowls, Kelce has earned his place as one of the top players in the league.
His success goes beyond football, with profitable endorsement deals, media appearances, and investments helping to grow his wealth.
Kelce’s dedication to his foundation also shows his kindness and desire to give back. As he continues to succeed in both his career and personal projects, Travis Kelce remains a role model for fans and aspiring athletes.
