And that it pays to be associated with Taylor Swift. Jason Kelce may be able to score Taylor Swift tickets for free, but with a net worth like his, he can also afford to buy them himself—along with whatever stadium she’s playing at. 

“I think the Kelce brand, in general, is pretty high right now,” Kelce told Golfer’s Journal in November, when a reporter pointed out that his longstanding underdog status no longer seems relevant. “I don’t know that it should be this high. If anything, we’re the overdog now. We’re way overvalued, probably. But I think I still try to attack things with that same mentality of, you put the work in, you do your best and you just try to get better than the day before—all the mentality that I had before.”

It was that mentality that got Kelce, who played center for the Philadelphia Eagles for 13 seasons before announcing his retirement in March 2024, where he is now. Keep reading to learn more about his humble beginnings and what he gets paid today.

How did Jason Kelce get his start?

Jason Kelce had a slow and unconventional start in football, having played multiple positions over the course of his college career. In 2005, his first year at the University of Cincinnati, he was redshirted, which means he didn’t actually play in any games at all, but merely practiced with the team in hopes of getting better at the game. Then, in the years that followed, he mostly flew under the radar, bouncing from defensive player to offensive lineman, until finally landing on the position that would make him a star athlete: center.

“I entered the University of Cincinnati as a walk-on,” Kelce said in his emotional retirement speech earlier this year. “As a linebacker, I had no idea what to expect, but scenes from [the movie] Rudy would often race in my mind. It became apparent immediately that walk-ons would have to fight harder for their opportunities than the rest of the team. I had no stars, no investment from the team or the coaches. I’d have to earn everything, and that’s good, because I had no clue what hard work was yet. Knowing that I had to earn my respect every day made me committed like never before.”

In 2011, Kelce was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the sixth round (191st overall). He wasn’t exactly a top prospect, but he had a reputation for being a hard worker with a great mind for football.

“I won’t forget the call I got from [coach] Andy Reid on draft day, and my father rushing into the room with tears streaming down his face as his son’s dreams had just been realized,” he said at his retirement conference. “It had just been announced on TV I had been drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles.”

Kelce went on to play for the Eagles for the entirety of his career.

What is Jason Kelce’s net worth in 2024?

As of 2024, Jason Kelce’s net worth is estimated to be around $50 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. He’s amassed this fortune from his NFL salary, endorsements, business ventures including his “New Heights” podcast, a post-retirement deal with ESPN and more.

How much did Jason Kelce make as a rookie?

As a rookie in 2011, Jason Kelce signed a four-year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles worth approximately $2.3 million, including a $144,000 signing bonus. His base salary for the 2011 season was $375,000.

How much money did Jason Kelce make playing for the NFL?

Kelce made tens of millions of dollars in his 13-year career with the NFL. After his first three-year contract was up, he signed a six-year extension in 2014 for $37.5 million, a significant pay bump compared to his rookie deal and proof that he was by then a top center in the NFL. His second extension, a one-year contract for $7.25 million (including a $250,000 signing bonus), came in 2018.

In 2021, the charismatic player signed another one-year deal worth $14 million, including a $5.5 million signing bonus; and as of 2024, his last year with the NFL, Jason’s contract was a one-year deal worth $14 million.

That put his total earnings from football at about $80 million, and that’s without taking into consideration the millions he was paid for endorsement deals with brands like Old Spice, Nike and Bose.

Who makes more money, Travis or Jason Kelce?

With a reported net worth of $90 million, Travis Kelce is far richer than his big brother.

But of course, Travis’s girlfriend, Taylor Swift, is richer than them all.

How much is Jason Kelce paid for his ‘New Heights’ podcast?

In August 2024, co-hosts Jason and Travis Kelce reportedly signed a deal in the $100 million range with Amazon’s podcast studio Wondery for their “New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce” podcast. Although the podcast is still streamable on platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, the agreement gave Wondery exclusive ad-sales and distribution rights for all audio and video episodes.

How much does ESPN pay Jason Kelce for Monday Night Football?

For ESPN’s Monday Night Countdown, Kelce reportedly signed a deal for $1.8 million per year on a three-year contract. The deal was also said to include a $1 million signing bonus.

“Today, I must admit, I am officially overrated,” he said in his retirement speech. “Vastly overrated. It took a lot of hard work and determination getting here. I have been the underdog my entire career and I mean this when I say it, I wish I still was. Few things gave me more joy than proving someone wrong. … [W]henever I was faced with doubt in my career, be it from fans, from coaches, even from my own teammates, the American dream would burn from deep inside my bones which leads to my last Jeff Stoutland quote, ‘Hungry dogs run faster.’”