Super Bowl rings are some of the most expensive pieces of memorabilia in American sports, and their value doesn’t just come from the diamonds, the gold and the glamour, but from the exclusivity and sentimentality connected to each new set created.
The best rings are reserved only for players, coaches and management, and the effort, sacrifice, and time taken to earn one makes them nearly invaluable once handed out.
But how much do they cost to produce in the first place?
What’s the Cost of a Real Super Bowl Ring?
Super Bowl rings today cost between $30,000 and $50,000 each after customization by team owners and management.
In recent years, teams have been giving out more rings to lower level staff members, and those that have not received them for free were offered the ability to buy them.
Those rings can be different and often less expensive than those given to players and coaches.
Some team executives will likely also get this more expensive ring, though it is not easy for a rank and file office employee to flat-out purchase one.
NFL Plays a Role in Ring Purchasing
The NFL puts $5,000 toward each ring for the first 150 and the team covers the cost of the overruns. The difference in costs may come out of a player’s salary.
Furthermore, the players pay a tax on the rings as an expensive gift.
In 2020, for example, each Chiefs player paid approximately $11,000 in taxes for their ring. However, considering they also received a sizable bonus for winning the Super Bowl, it likely did not seem like too big of a deal at the time.
Design Choice Makes All the Difference in Super Bowl Ring Price
A lot goes into designing a Super Bowl ring and, unsurprisingly, those design choices all make a difference when it comes to the price. Each new diamond and jewel that goes on the ring, sends the price higher and higher.
For example, the 2015 New England Patriots’ rings had 205 meticulously placed diamonds, with a resulting cost of about $37,000 per ring.
When the 1985 Chicago Bears won Super Bowl 20, their rings cost $4,000 each, funded entirely by the $4,000 per ring stipend handed out by the NFL at the time.
Last season, the Kansas City Chiefs paid approximately $40,000 for their rings. And despite the exorbitant cost, there was a typo on each ring. The inside of the top of the ring lists the scores of the playoff games Kansas City won en route to their title. But it lists the Miami Dolphins as the No. 7 seed. In actuality, Miami was the No. 6 seed.
