Back to the Future Part II was really onto something when the villainous Biff Tannen used a sports almanac to travel back in time and place bets on major events to get rich. Sadly, our DeLoreans can't take us through time and space.
We're sure many people are kicking themselves that they didn't invest in the likes of Bitcoin or major companies back when they had a chance, and just imagine what you'd be worth if you'd made a punt on Apple back when it was starting from Steve Jobs' garage.
Just like we've seen 50 Cent’s forgotten Bitcoin investment come good, and as Lily Allen called herself an 'idiot' for turning down the chance to invest, there are plenty of celebrity stories about household names who've struck it rich or just missed out thanks to the stock market.
One of the most infamous is Rob Gronkowski, with the NFL legend managing to level up his net worth thanks to a shrewd Apple investment.
When did Rob Gronkowski invest in Apple?
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Starting out as the son of a college football guard at Syracuse University, it seems 'Gronk' was destined to play professional football. Signing a four-year deal with the New England Patriots in 2010, Gronkowski secured a lucrative $4.4 million (with a $1.76 million signing bonus), although that was nothing compared to what his bank balance would eventually be thanks to a little help from Apple.
Speaking to Fortune in 2024, Gronkowski explained how a contractor persuaded him to invest $69,000 in Apple back in 2014.
While Apple was already something of a tech giant by this point, and we were already well into the iPhone cycle as people were selling models for ridiculous sums, Gronkowski's contractor told him to throw money at the company.
The sporting icon told the outlet: "Every time I saw him, when we were building the house, he kept saying, ‘Get Apple. Get Apple'."
Even though we know not everyone can afford to take a $69,000 gamble, Gronkowski listened to his contractor and continued: "So after the 50th time, I got it. And let me tell you, it’s the best investment I’ve ever had in my life."
Although Gronkowski was already making millions in contracts and endorsement deals, it's important to remember he was just four years into his playing career and was something of a novice when it came to monetary matters: "I [had] never been involved in stocks. I really didn’t know how stocks work. So I was like, ‘All right, let me do this, man.'"
As for when he bit the bullet back in 2014, Gronk concluded: "Obviously this just fits along the lines of just me being myself; I’m going to put $69,000 into Apple stock.
"So I call up my financial advisor. I’m like, ‘Put $69,000 in Apple.’ My own money, with no advice like this, is just from the guy who built my house here in the New England area.”
How much is Rob Gronkowski’s $69,000 Apple investment worth?
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Gronkowski is worth an impressive $45 million in 2026, and while Apple's contribution is a relatively minor drop in the ocean, it undoubtedly changed his bank balance when you crunch the numbers.
The irony is that Gronkowski seemingly forgot he'd put $69,000 into Apple. It was only two years later that he remembered he had a stake in the booming tech company. In 2016, that $69,000 had more than tripled to $250,000. While he sold off a portion of stock, he kept the rest, which apparently keeps ticking along nicely. The NFL player cheered: "Now to this day, I have over $600,000 in Apple stock, all because of the investment I made in 2014 having no idea what I was doing, but just listening to the guy that built my house here in New England."
We just hope Gronk tracked down the contractor and gave him more than a handshake.