Rob Gronkowski may have a reputation as the NFL’s fun-loving party animal. But when it comes to money, he’s always been remarkably disciplined.
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The legendary Patriots TE made more than $70 million in salary alone during his 11-year career from 2010 to 2021. And Gronk has repeatedly confirmed that he has never touched a single paycheck from his NFL playing days. Instead, Gronkowski chose to live entirely off endorsement deals with brands like Dunkin’, T-Mobile, Monster Energy, Tide, and Visa.
It’s this kind of financial strategy, and more importantly, discipline, that has kept the four-time Super Bowl champ well-protected long after retirement, especially in a league where many players go broke within a few years of leaving the game. But Gronk’s ‘frugality’ doesn’t stop at how he handled his NFL fortune.
It shows up in the Pats legend’s small, everyday decisions, too, like booking his own flights. Unlike most retired stars, Gronkowski doesn’t rely on assistants or travel agencies to arrange his trips.
“I book my own flights, make my own schedule. I just got to be hands-on like that,” Gronk recently told E! News host Jason Kennedy. “I’m like the best travel agent out there. I love doing it myself.”
And while he admits enjoying the process, there’s also a method behind it, one that he says has saved him thousands over the years. Gronkowski revealed the trick is to never book two tickets on the same reservation.
“If you’re travelling with two people, never book the same reservation,” Gronk said, before elaborating on the logic behind his advice. Airlines typically hike the price of both seats if one of the cheaper fare classes is already nearly sold out.
“Because it’s going to give you the price of the higher ticket. So say there’s one ticket left in first class, that’s $800. And if that one gets bought up, it goes to $1,200. So when you make the reservation for two, it’s going to give you the price for both of you at $1,200 instead of the one at $800 and the one at $1,200. Always separate,” explained Gronkowski.
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Most travellers never think about these small details. But for someone like Gronkowski, who flies often, the savings add up fast. It also complements the disciplined mindset that kept his NFL earnings untouched, while he built wealth through endorsements.
So for all the images of shirtless boat parties and lighthearted antics, Gronk continues to prove that there has always been a method to the madness. And the most endearing part about this all is that he’s figured out how to enjoy life while still being smart with his money.
The legendary TE’s hacks perhaps prove that mindless spending is not necessarily the gateway to happiness.
