Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Inside Tom Brady’s all-star watch collection: the ex-NFL quarterback splurges his millions on Rolex, Patek Philippe, Richard Mille and IWC – even the most expensive watch ever auctioned in the UK

Former NFL quarterback wearing IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph in Top Gun colours. Photo: @thetimeplace/Instagram

Tom Brady’s watch collection is fast gaining traction in the world of haute horology.

The former quarterback and one of the NFL’s highest-earning players has been steadily adding to his already impressive collection, showing off everything from striking, trendy pieces to very rare watches typically sported by the ultra-elite – so exclusive they’re rarely seen in public.
Tom Brady became a global IWC brand ambassador in 2019. Photo: @iwcwatches_aus_nz/Instagram

This shouldn’t be surprising, given Brady’s substantial wealth. Forbes reports that during his 23-year NFL career, Brady accumulated a staggering US$530 million, with US$333 million coming from playing contracts and over US$200 million from off-field endeavours, including endorsements and business ventures.

Inside Grammy Award winner John Mayer’s US$10 million haute horlogerie hobby

Now retired and embracing a newly single life without Gisele Bündchen, Brady has more time to dedicate to his burgeoning interest in timepieces – and he’s got half a billion dollars to play with.

Here’s a look at some of the most remarkable pieces in Tom Brady’s opulent watch collection.

A seven-figure, skull-themed Richard Mille

 

For the eagerly awaited Rose Bowl game between Alabama and Michigan on New Year’s Day, Brady proudly showcased his Richard Mille skull-themed watch on his Instagram Story.

Tom Brady wearing one of his luxury timepieces, pictured with French basketball player Victor “Wemby” Wembanyama. Photo: @tombrady/Instagram
Valued by some at around US$2 million, a price tag consistent with Richard Mille’s typically steep pricing, this isn’t Brady’s only piece from the luxury Swiss watchmaker. He’s also been seen wearing a platinum RM 012 from 2006 and an RM 72-01, per GQ and his Instagram account respectively.

Brad Pitt’s impressive luxury watch collection as he turns 60

Rolex Daytona “John Player Special”

 

Nicknamed the “John Player Special”, this ultra-rare timepiece boasts a distinctive black and gold dial designed to reflect the colour scheme of the 1970s Lotus F1 racing team. Sponsored by John Player & Sons, a cigarette company, the watch’s theme is complemented by three subdials with square lollipop markers, capturing the essence of that era’s racing heritage.

Brady’s version, which he wore to a New England Patriots halftime event honouring him, per Yahoo! Sports, is as inimitable as the star quarterback himself. With only about 3,000 units produced in the 1960s, it fetches a correspondingly high price. In fact, one of these watches was sold at auction for US$1.5 million, ranking it among the most expensive watches ever auctioned in the UK, per Hypebeast.

Rolex Day-Date Platinum with olive green face and Arabic numerals

 
At the French Open final in June, the NFL star turned heads by wearing an exceptionally rare edition of this luxury watch featuring a debonair olive green dial. The particular model Brady wore is exclusively available through select dealers in the Middle East, per GQ. Historically, the watch was crafted by request only for the very affluent elite of the Gulf region – including kings, sultans and oil magnates. This was a serious watch flex – and Brady must definitely know it.

7 of the richest NHL hockey players – net worths, ranked

IWC Portugieser Tourbillon Hand Wound Squelette

Retired NFL quarterback Tom Brady is fond of luxury watches, and is seen here wearing the IWC Portuguese Tourbillon. Photo: Getty Images

As a former ambassador for IWC, Brady boasts several high-end timepieces from the Swiss watchmaker, including the Pilot’s Watch Timezoner “The Longest Flight” and Big Pilot’s Watch Top Gun Edition “Mojave Desert”.

However, his most stand-out piece is his IWC Portuguese Hand-Wound Tourbillon Squelette, worn last February, per Hodinkee. This watch features a 43mm case in 18-karat red gold, a fully skeletonised dial and movement, and a prominently displayed tourbillon at 9 o’clock. Limited to just 25 pieces, it’s yet another remarkably rare watch in his collection.

Rolex Day-Date 36 “Puzzle Dial”

 

Brady was one of the first to snag this special version of this beloved Rolex, per GQ, featuring a jigsaw puzzle motif on its dial, hour markers made of baguette-cut sapphires in six colours, and an aperture at 12 o’clock showcasing various inspirational words, like “hope” and “love”. Additionally, 31 different emojis rotate in the window at 3 o’clock.

This whimsical watch shows Brady’s eclectic, diverse taste as a collector, and proves that he has his finger on the pulse of what’s trending.

How to Style like … Simu Liu on Tay Tay’s Hollywood red carpet

Patek Philippe ref. 2499J

 

The iconic quarterback showcased an exceptionally rare Patek Philippe on Instagram in September, per Robb Report. This ref. 2499 is revered as a “holy grail” among watch enthusiasts – and deservedly so. With only about 349 pieces produced over its 35-year production span, this vintage gem regularly commands multimillion-dollar prices at auctions, reflecting Brady’s significant investment in his growing collection.

He was also spotted wearing a stainless steel Patek Philippe Nautilus ref. 5711, which usually sells for around US100,000, at billionaire Michael Rubin’s White Party last summer.
Timepieces
  • Now retired and embracing a newly single life without Gisele Bündchen, Tom Brady has even more time to indulge in his watch hobby with his staggering US$530 million wealth
  • Formerly an IWC ambassador, Brady owns the Pilot’s Watch Timezoner ‘The Longest Flight’, Big Pilot’s Watch Top Gun Edition ‘Mojave Desert’ and the IWC Portuguese Tourbillon