What was Bud Adams' Net Worth?
Bud Adams was an American billionaire businessman with a net worth of $1.1 billion at the time of his death in 2013. He was best known for owning the NFL team, the Tennessee Titans. Adams initially amassed his wealth in the oil business before co-founding the American Football League, later part of the NFL. His ownership of the Tennessee Titans significantly increased his fortune.
Early Life
Kenneth Stanley "Bud" Adams, Jr. was born on January 3, 1923, in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. His father, K.S. "Boots" Adams, succeeded Frank Phillips as president of Phillips Petroleum Company in 1939. Bud Adams graduated from Culver Military Academy in 1940, where he excelled in three sports. After attending Menlo College briefly, he transferred to the University of Kansas, where he played varsity football and earned an engineering degree.
Adams served as a Lieutenant (Junior Grade) in the United States Navy during World War II. During a fogbound flight layover in Houston, Texas, he decided to settle there upon his discharge in 1946.
American Football League
In 1959, Adams tried to purchase the Chicago Cardinals to relocate them to Houston, but the deal fell through. Partnering with Lamar Hunt, he co-founded the American Football League, which eventually merged with the NFL.
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Tennessee Titans
Adams relocated the Houston Oilers to Tennessee, renaming them the Tennessee Titans. In 2005, he co-founded the Nashville Kats Arena Football League team with Mark Bloom. His popularity fluctuated due to his hands-on management style with these teams.
Other Business Ventures
Apart from football, Adams was involved in various businesses. As Chairman and CEO of Adams Resources & Energy Inc., he accumulated his initial wealth in petroleum. He also owned multiple Lincoln-Mercury automobile dealerships and was the founder and owner of the Houston Mavericks ABA basketball franchise from 1967-1969.
Personal Life
Adams was married to Nancy Neville Adams for 62 years until her death in 2009. They had three children: Susan, Amy, and Kenneth S. Adams III, who tragically died in 1987. A member of the Cherokee Nation through his maternal line, Adams was actively involved with the Cherokee National Historical Society. He remained active in business and personal interests until his passing in October 2013 at the age of 90.
