Biography & Early Wealth Journey
In fact, the Broncos have had only five losing seasons since Pat Bowlen purchased the team back in 1984 for $71 million, or $161 million in today's dollars. Bowlen bought the team from Edgar Kaiser and two minority owners.
Even accounting for the rise in inflation, Bowlen's purchase is an incredible steal. Today, the Broncos are worth $1.94 billion. Yes, billion with a b. Keep in mind, Bowlen only paid $71 million to purchase the team 32 years ago. That's an increase of more than 2,500%!
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Primary Income Streams & Multi-Million Contracts
The value of the franchise has skyrocketed in recent years, too. Just a couple years ago, in 2013, the Broncos were worth $1.16 billion. It wouldn't be a shock to see the team get over the $2 billion milestone next year.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Bowlen isn't alone–any owner who purchased a team more than 20 years ago has seen a similar return on investment. The average NFL franchise is worth $2 billion today. But no owner has reaped as much value for as small an initial investment as the Bowlen family.
Regardless of whether the Broncos win or lose Super Bowl 50, it'll feel like a winning day for Bowlen and his family. After all, they're reaping the benefits of a wise investment made long ago.