After a surprising absence from the playoffs last season—the first since 2022 that the Kansas City Chiefs didn’t make it to the Super Bowl—Travis Kelce has still found much to celebrate over the past year. In August, he shared the news of his engagement to Taylor Swift. Meanwhile, his successful podcast, “New Heights,” co-hosted with his brother Jason, continues to thrive and is valued at over $100 million.
Adding to his list of achievements, Kelce has now become a minority owner of a Major League Baseball team.
The Cleveland Guardians recently announced Kelce’s involvement as a minority owner. While specific terms of the agreement remain undisclosed, the team’s estimated value of $1.7 billion suggests Kelce’s investment is substantial.
Lauren Bacho/MLB Photos via Getty Images
In 2020, Kelce’s teammate, quarterback Patrick Mahomes, also ventured into MLB ownership by acquiring a minority stake in the Kansas City Royals, estimated at around 1%. Should Kelce have purchased a similar 1% stake in the Guardians, the investment would amount to approximately $17 million.
So far, Kelce has amassed around $111.1 million during his NFL career. The 36-year-old tight end has extended his contract with Kansas City for one more year, worth $12 million. His earnings are further bolstered by his podcast and endorsement deals.
This venture into baseball isn’t Kelce’s first foray into business investments. Alongside Mahomes, he holds stakes in the Alpine Formula 1 team. He has also invested in companies like Six Flags Entertainment and Sleep Number, and together with his brother Jason, he co-owns Garage Beer.
The Chiefs drafted Kelce in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft, and he’s remained with the team ever since. But Kelce has strong ties to Ohio. He was born in Westlake and grew up in Cleveland Heights, then played his college ball at Cincinnati.
Kelce regularly attended Guardians (then known as the Indians) games with his dad during the 1990s. He called those games a “core memory” and believe he’d wind up playing professional baseball, not football.
In an interview with ESPN, Kelce said, “I have so much love for this city. I say it all the time: I’m just a kid from the Heights living the dream. I credit every good thing in my life to Cleveland and being raised here with the values and the people and the work ethic. Cleveland Heights is such a diverse and dynamic place. Every friend, neighbor, teacher and teammate—they all made me the man I am today.”
Kelce also noted that he’s “here to observe and learn and really to support the team and the city when and where I can.” In other words, don’t expect him to be making any final personnel or stadium decisions.
Still, it’s got to be cool to own a piece of the team you saw all the time growing up. It’s one of many dreams Kelce has made come true.
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