Before he became one of the NFL’s most decorated quarterbacks, Tom Brady was just a kid investing every penny of his paper route income into trading cards.
Collecting wasn’t just a pastime-it was his world. Even as he entered college and put his hobby on hold, Brady had already amassed a jaw-dropping collection of more than 10,000 cards. Now, at 47, he’s merging that childhood love with business savvy to build something far bigger than a personal collection.
Brady’s trading card obsession has grown into a business empire, most recently with the launch of CardVault by Tom Brady, a premium memorabilia store located at the American Dream Mall in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The new location joins other CardVault stores near iconic sports landmarks like Gillette Stadium and TD Garden, further expanding Brady’s footprint in the collector’s market.
On a recent walkthrough of the New Jersey store, Brady was taken by surprise when he came across a rare Patrick Mahomes 2017 Donruss Optic Rookie Autograph Holo card, graded 8.5.
For someone who’s seen thousands of cards over the years, this one stood out.
“I haven’t seen this one,” Brady said with genuine awe.
Without hesitation, he told co-founder Chris Costa to reserve it for him.
“I want that in my collection. Make sure you don’t sell that one.”
The card, priced at $7,500, was a no-brainer for Brady-especially considering he’s believed to have spent well over a million dollars on his collection over the years.
More than a hobby: CardVault’s expansion and vision
The excitement of collecting cards hasn’t faded for Brady-it’s evolved. Today, CardVault is more than just a storefront; it’s a reflection of Brady’s lifelong passion turned professional venture. Costa, his partner in the business, credits Brady’s involvement as transformational, noting that since the former quarterback joined as a partner, business has jumped 50% month-over-month. “Tom’s vision, his team, and his love for the hobby have been instrumental in the changes we’ve made,” Costa said.
Brady’s influence is visible in every aspect of the store-from the premium curation of cards to the customer experience. But more importantly, he’s created a space that welcomes collectors of all levels. The goal? To make the joy of collecting as accessible and memorable for others as it was for him.
For Brady, collecting cards wasn’t just fun-it was formative. In a past newsletter, he shared how trading cards taught him critical life skills.
“Math, economics, business, friendship, time management, integrity, asset management, financial discipline, investment strategy… I learned all of these things through my love for trading cards.”
Now, with CardVault expanding and his own collection still growing, Brady’s passion continues to burn bright. While he may no longer be under center on the field, he’s certainly calling plays in the trading card world-and winning big again.
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