It’s been nearly two years since Brian Kelly shocked the college football world by leading a successful Notre Dame team in South Bend, Indiana and moving to Baton Rouge—fake accent and all—to coach the LSU Tigers. Since then, the Tigers have steadily improved, and it looks like Kelly is going to be worth what they’ve paid him.
Here’s Brian Kelly’s salary, contract, net worth, and more.
Brian Kelly’s Salary and Contract in 2023
Brian Kelly has one of the most unique contracts in the country. Laden with incentives, bonuses, and allowances, Kelly’s contract could pay him even more than the nearly $100 million in base salary over the course of the 10-year agreement.
Kelly’s base contract is around $9.5 million annually, escalating slightly each season, but the real money will come from incentives. Kelly’s base salary is tied for third in the conference, but he could be even higher with the extra bonuses.
Kelly is promised one-time payments of $75,000 for each SEC Championship appearance and $150,000 for each win. Each year, on July 1, Kelly receives a $500,000 longevity bonus if he is still employed and an additional $500,000 if the team makes a bowl game.
After his first SEC Championship win, he will receive a base salary bump of $250,000 for each additional year of the contract. If he wins a National Championship, his base salary will automatically receive a $500,000 bonus.
In addition to all of this, Kelly receives $1,000 a month for two car allowances, got a $1.2 million interest-free loan for housing, and had his undisclosed buyout at Notre Dame (a private institution) paid for by LSU.
Kelly also received a relocation bonus and gets 50 hours a year worth of travel on a private jet.
If fired without cause, Kelly will receive 90% of his remaining base salary. If he is fired after winning a National Championship, he is owed the entirety of his salary and a prorated portion of his longevity bonus. This is significant as the last three LSU head coaches all won national titles, and the last two were fired later in their tenures.
Lastly, if Kelly leaves for another job, he only owes the university if athletic director Scott Woodward is still employed. If Woodward is no longer the AD, Kelly can leave without penalty.
Overall, the Tigers desperately wanted Kelly in late 2021 and pulled out all the stops to make his contract one of the most coach-friendly in the country.
Brian Kelly’s Net Worth
Since Kelly was previously employed at a private institution, it’s hard to get a read on his net worth.
According to a post in The Athletic from 2022, Kelly made upwards of $3 million while employed at Notre Dame, though his contract details are a mystery.
Some outlets put his net worth at around $5 million, but between his housing allowance and current contract, that figure may be much higher. Kelly is one of the highest-paid coaches in American sports and will continue to see his wealth grow as he coaches through the life of his contract.