Robert James Gronkowski, better known as Rob Gronkowski, is a retired American football tight end who spent his entire professional football career in the National Football League (NFL).
Gronkowski was drafted to the NFL in 2010. He played his first nine seasons for the NFL’s New England Patriots and then spent his final two seasons at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Like most NFL superstars, Rob Gronkowski enjoyed a successful college football career before turning professional. Gronk, as he’s affectionately nicknamed by his fans, played college football for the University of Arizona.
Rob Gronkowski Quick Facts
| Full Name: | Robert James Gronkowski |
| Popular Name: | Rob Gronkowski |
| Nicknames: | The Gronk |
| Birth Date: | May 14, 1989 |
| Age: | 33 years |
| Parents: | Gordon Gronkowski and Diane Walters |
| Siblings: | Daniel “Dan” Gronkowski, Christopher “Chris” Gronkowski, Glenn Gronkowski, and Gordon “Gordie” Gronkowski Jr. |
| Birth Place: | Amherst, New York, United States |
| Nationality: | American |
| Ethnicity: | Mixed (Polish and Caucasian) |
| Religion: | Non-religious |
| Education: | Williamsville North High School (WNHS), Woodland Hills High School, and the University of Arizona |
| Marital Status: | In a relationship with model Camille Kostek (since 2015) |
| Sexual Orientation: | Straight |
| Children: | None |
| Net Worth: | USD 50 million |
| Source of Wealth: | NFL Salary, Endorsement Deals, and Other Ventures |
| Height: | 6′ 6″ (1.98 m) |
| Weight: | In kilograms: 120 kg; In pounds: 265 lbs. |
Early Life and Career Information
Early Life and High School Career
Robert James Gronkowski was born on May 14, 1989, in Amherst, New York, United States, to Gordon Gronkowski and Diane Walters.
Gronkowski attended Williamsville North High School (WNHS), where he played tight end, defensive end, and kickoff specialist. He also played basketball and baseball around the same period.
In 2006, Gronk relocated to suburban Pittsburg and attended Woodland Hills High School for his senior year. He continued honing his football ambitions, inspiring his high school team to numerous historic wins.
College Career
After graduating from Woodlands Hills High School, Rob Gronkowski proceeded to the University of Arizona. He played college football for the Arizona Wildcats and was on the team from 2007 to 2009.
Some of his college achievements include being named The Sporting News freshman All-American, The Sporting News freshman Pac-10, and Rivals.com freshman All-American. He was also named the John Mackey National Tight End of the Week twice and Associated Press third-team All-American.
Professional Career
Rob Gronkowski turned professional in 2010. He was drafted by the New England Patriots as the 42nd overall pick.
Gronk spent his first nine seasons playing for the Patriots. He then moved to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers where he played for two seasons before hanging his boots.
Below are some of his most noteworthy career achievements and awards;
• 4 Super Bowl Championships (XLIX, LI, LIII, and LV)
• 4 First-team All-Pro – 2011, 2014, 2015, and 2017
• 5 Pro Bowl Championships – 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, and 2017
• NFL Comeback Player of the Year in 2014
• First-team All-Pac-10 in 2008
• Third-team All-American in 2008
• NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team
• NFL 2010s All-Decade Team
• PFWA All-Rookie Team in 2010
Other Ventures
Outside the NFL, Rob Gronkowski has also made numerous film and television appearances. He made a cameo appearance as himself in the 2015 film Entourage. The same year, he appeared as Brad in the movie American Violence.
Other notable films and television shows that Gronk has graced over the years include;
Films
• You Can’t Have It (2017)
• The Clapper (2017)
• Deported (2018)
• Boss Level (2021)
Television Shows
• Crashletes (2016 – 2017)
• Family Guy (2017)
• NFL on Fox (2019)
• The Masked Singer (2019)
• WrestleMania 36 (2020)
• Game On! (2020)
• Nickelodeon’s Unfiltered (2021)
Rob Gronkowski’s Net Worth
Rob Gronkowski may have since retired from professional football. But the NFL legend still swims in millions. As of June 1, 2022, Gronkowski had a net worth of $50 million.
Gronk earned his million-dollar net worth from his successful football career. He credits a huge chunk of his fortune to NFL salary, endorsement deals, and appearance fees.
On July 25, 2010, Rob Gronkowski signed a four-year deal with the New England Patriots worth $4.4 million. The contract came with a $1.76 million signing bonus. But it was his extension deal with the Patriots that left tongues wagging. The contract was valued at a jaw-dropping $54 million and became the largest agreement ever to have been signed between an NFL team and a tight end.
By the end of his NFL career, Gronk had made around $60 million in football salary alone.
But while Gronkowski earned huge paychecks from his direct endeavors on the pitch, endorsement deals also played a big role in transforming his fortunes. Gronk earned millions in endorsements with renowned companies like Tide, Nike, Visa, Cheerios, and Lyft. Other notable brands that the retired NFL tight end partnered with include Dunkin’ Donuts, T-Mobile, and Monster Energy.
Gronkowski has also dabbled in real estate. In 2016, Gronk purchased a 2,100 square foot condo in Boston for $1.9 million. He sold the property in 2019 for around $2.3 million.
Gronkowski’s earnings also come from her various involvements in the film, television, and music industries.
Lessons from Rob Gronkowski
1. It’s okay to switch careers
Rob Gronkowski played hockey until the age of 14. He then began playing basketball and baseball before eventually shifting to football.
2. Your health comes first
Pain and incessant injuries are the main reasons behind Gronkowski’s retirement. Although he was still in the prime of his career, Gronk prioritized his health over the paychecks and chose to hang his boots.
3. Part of wealth creation consists in spending frugally
Gronkowski owes his huge net worth partly to his frugal lifestyle. In 2015, the former NFL superstar claimed that he had not spent any money made from his NFL contracts and strictly lived off the earnings from endorsement deals, appearance fees, and business ventures.
Famous Quotes by Rob Gronkowski
• I don’t feel like anybody can be in top-notch football shape when you first get out there, and that’s what training camp is for, and that’s why it’s a long process.
• Just follow the rules. Always have a designated driver. Don’t be doing anything to make someone mad. And just walk away from the trouble.
• No matter what the circumstances are, I’ve never seen Tom Brady come out and not give it all in practice. There’s never any change in him. Whenever he’s out on the field, he’s giving it all, and he’s just such a competitor.
• The more you’re playing, the more weeks you’re going, the more you’re into it, the more everything is flowing together.
• When you’re growing up, you need to stay around people who are headed in the right direction and stay away from people who will take you in the wrong direction.
Summary
Rob Gronkowski is a former NFL tight end considered by many as one of the greatest football players of all time. Although now retired, Gronk still boasts a humongous net worth amounting to $50 million.
