How did Jim Irsay get rich?

Publish date: 2024-06-06

Jim Irsay is a renowned American businessman, best known as the owner and CEO of the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL).

James “Jim” Irsay was born June 13, 1959, in Lincolnwood, Illinois, the U.S. to Harriet Pogorzelski and Chicago businessman Robert Irsay. His father, Robert is of Hungarian Jewish ethnicity while his mother was the daughter of Polish Catholic immigrants.

Jim Irsay had a brother named Thomas, who was born with a mental disability and died in 1999. He also had a sister named, Roberta who died in a car accident in 1971. Regarding his education, Jim Irsay attended high school at Loyola Academy in Wilmette, Illinois before proceeding to Mercersburg Academy ’78, Mercersburg, Pennsylvania.

Jim Irsay later graduated from Southern Methodist University in 1982 with a degree in broadcast journalism. Following his graduation, Jim Irsay joined the Colts’ professional staff and was named Vice President and General Manager in 1984. After his father suffered a stroke in 1995, he assumed day-to-day management with the role of Senior Executive Vice President, General Manager and Chief Operating Officer in April 1996.

Following his father’s death in 1997, Jim Irsay became the youngest NFL team owner at that time at 37. He was married to Meg Coyle, with whom he tied the knot in 1980. The pair have three daughters, Carlie, Casey and Kalen. However, the pair separated in 2003 with Meg filing for divorce on November 21, 2013.