Former LSU star and Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson has turned his passion for collecting cars into a business.
Peterson has a portfolio of 14 cars worth well over $2 million, ESPN reports. His portfolio—a tribute to American muscle cars—includes almost all Chevrolets, most from the late 1960s and early 1970s, with a bit of luxury mixed in.
To Peterson, who has been selected to play in the Pro Bowl six times, the cars are an investment. His passion for cars was sparked 20 years ago, after he watched his father’s best friend rebuild a 1972 Nova. He now buys, sells, rebuilds, consults and ships. And Peterson has the money to buy most any car he wants.
His car portfolio has come a long way from where it started with just three cars bought during Peterson’s rookie contract, which began when he was drafted fifth overall in 2011. His cars have cost him anywhere from $12,000 to in excess of $300,000.
When he signed a five-year extension in 2014 that could be worth as much as $70 million with $48 million guaranteed, Peterson expanded his collection to where it is today—14 cars housed in an unmarked 2,700-square-foot garage in Mesa, Arizona. He has already seen a return on investment. His collection has already appreciated from $1.7 million a couple years ago.
But the 27-year-old is smart about his collecting.
“My thought process of buying these cars is totally different from other car buyers—other young car buyers,” Peterson says. “I look at my cars as an investment. [A lot of] these cars I have in here are Chevys and all cars that are going to appreciate their values.”
