Unlike most team owners, James “Jim” Irsay owes his net worth to his ancestors. His father, Robert Irsay, passed his wealth onto him in 1997 as well as the acquisition of the Indianapolis Colts organization. As for Robert, he had first purchased the Los Angeles Rams in 1972 for $12 million and swapped it with Carroll Rosenbloom for the Indianapolis Colts, then known as the Baltimore Colts.
The Colts enjoyed tremendous success under Robert, followed by the Peyton Manning-led behemoths of the late ’90s and ’00s under Jim. Together, the Irsays have seen three NFL championships (1958, 1959, 1968) and two Super Bowls (1970, 2006) with only the latter coming while in the city of Indianapolis.
Let’s examine Jim Irsay’s net worth and consider how he can continue building the family’s dynasty with the Colts.
What Is Jim Irsay’s Wealth?
Jim Irsay inherited the wealth from his father’s heating and air conditioning businesses, and the Colts owner has leveraged his net worth to the tune of $4.4 billion, most of which is generated through the Indianapolis franchise.
He went to SMU in 1982 to pursue a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism. He also played college football with the Mustangs as a linebacker and joined as a walk-on. However, his collegiate career ended early due to an ankle injury.
Irsay served as a ball boy when his father owned the Colts and worked in the ticket office. He grew up on the field with many football legends — like Eric Dickerson — which made his love for the game even more profound and inspired him to carry on his father’s legacy. Irsay was appointed the team’s vice president and general manager soon after the franchise relocated from Baltimore to Indianapolis.
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Since then, he has been highly involved with various NFL operations. He’s known to express strong opinions when he disagrees with something potentially occurring in the league. For example, in 2022, he said there was a “merit to remove” Daniel Snyder as the owner of the Washington Commanders amid the misconduct allegations.
The Colts owner also gives back to the community. In Nov. 2022, he donated $1 million to the Indianapolis Zoo and frequently contributed to the city’s welfare.
Irsay’s Collection
The Colts owner is also a passionate music and pop culture memorabilia collector. His collection includes iconic items like Jerry Garcia’s “Tiger” guitar, John Lennon’s Gibson J-160E, and the drumhead from The Beatles’ historic Ed Sullivan Show performance.
Despite receiving a $1.15 billion offer for his collection from a Middle Eastern buyer, Irsay turned it down, valuing it as priceless.
Beyond his collection, Irsay also leads The Jim Irsay Band, performing alongside legendary musicians like John Mellencamp and Buddy Guy. The band has hosted free concerts nationwide, with pieces from his collection displayed at these events, blending music history with live performances.