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. Bud Adams initially made his fortune in the oil business and later earned significant wealth through the rising value of the Tennessee Titans.
Early Life and Education:
- Birthdate: January 3, 1923
- Birthplace: Bartlesville, Oklahoma
- Parents: K.S. “Boots” Adams and Blanch Keeler Adams
- Education:
- Graduated from Culver Military Academy in 1940
- Briefly attended Menlo College
- University of Kansas: Played varsity football and earned an engineering degree
Military Service:
- United States Navy: Served during World War II, attaining the rank of Lieutenant (Junior Grade). Discharged in 1946.
American Football League (AFL):
- Formation: Collaborated with Lamar Hunt to form the AFL after an unsuccessful attempt to purchase the Chicago Cardinals in 1959. The AFL eventually merged with the NFL.
Tennessee Titans:
- Ownership: Initially brought the team to Tennessee as the Tennessee Oilers, later renamed the Tennessee Titans.
- Arena Football League: Co-founded the Nashville Kats in 2005 with Mark Bloom.
Business Ventures:
- Oil and Gas: Chairman and CEO of Adams Resources & Energy Inc., a wholesale provider of oil and natural gas.
- Automobile Franchises: Owned several Lincoln-Mercury automobile franchises.
- Basketball: Founder and owner of the Houston Mavericks ABA basketball franchise from 1967-1969.
Personal Life:
- Marriage: Married to Nancy Neville Adams for 62 years until her death in February 2009. They had two daughters, Susan and Amy, and a son, Kenneth S. Adams III, who died in June 1987.
- Cherokee Nation: An enrolled member, served on the executive committee of the Cherokee National Historical Society.
Death:
- Date: October 21, 2013
- Age: 90
- Cause: Natural causes at his home in Houston, Texas
Bud Adams’ legacy is marked by his significant contributions to professional football, particularly through his role in the formation of the AFL and his long-term ownership of the Tennessee Titans. His influence extended beyond sports, encompassing successful ventures in the oil and gas industry and various other business enterprises.
