How rich were Bob McNair when he died, who are his wife and children?

As one of the few NFL team owners, you're part of a great company because there are only 32 teams to own. Even within this small group, Houston Texans owner Bob McNair has outdone the others. He was one of the richest NFL team owners and his team is one of the NFL's most valuable teams. Now let's see Bob McNair's net worth, how he made his fortune, and his wife and family.

How did the owner of Houston Texans, Bob McNair, die?

Bob McNair had several illnesses before dying at age 81. | Bob Levey / Getty Images

Bob McNair, 81, died on November 23, 2018. The cause of death is unclear, but ESPN notes that he has been battling skin cancer for more than 20 years. In addition to squamous cell carcinoma (a common form of skin cancer), he has also treated chronic lymphocytic leukemia in the past.

McNair is the second owner of the NFL team to die in 2018. Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, owner of the Seattle Seahawks, died in October 2018.

Texans wear helmet decals bearing the initials of McNair, RCM, to honor the owner. His initials are also painted on the ground, according to Houston's KTRK television channel.

When did he buy the Houston Texans?

Bob McNair has spent $ 700 million in expansion costs to allow Houston Texans to enter the NFL. | Scott Halleran / Getty Images

Because they are so rare, NFL franchises usually change hands when an owner dies or chooses to sell, and the price to pay is usually several billion dollars. David Tepper spent $ 2.2 billion on the Carolina Panthers in June 2018. Bob McNair paid a lot less for the Houston Texans.

McNair joined the owners group in 1999 when the NFL expanded to 32 teams. According to Sports Illustrated, he paid $ 700 million in expansion fees to bring a team back to Houston after the Oilers' departure for Tennessee. The team took the field for their first game in 2002.

The price of $ 700 million seems stiff, but the value of the team quadrupled to $ 2.8 billion at the time of McNair's death.

How did he make his money?

When the fortune of the Dallas Cowboys' owner, Jerry Jones, comes from oil and gas, McNair pulled his money from another form of energy.

McNair founded Cogen Technologies in 1983 and sold it to Enron in 1999 for $ 1.5 billion in cash and stock, according to Celebrity Net Worth. In the meantime, he has made the company one of the largest cogeneration companies in the world. Cogeneration is a complex process, but to put it simply, it is necessary to use both heat and electricity from energy production.

Even after selling Cogen, McNair remained active. He owned power plants in New York and West Virginia, was chairman and CEO of the McNair group, and owned the private investment firm Palmetto Partners.

Who are Bob McNair's wives and children?

Texas executive Cal McNair (left) is one of Bob McNair's four children. | Bob Levey / Getty Images

When he died, Bob McNair left a big family. In addition to his wife Janice, he is survived by four children: Cary McNair, Cal McNair, Ruth Smith and Melissa Reichert. McNair also had 15 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, according to the Washington Post. Cal McNair is a Texan leader and will likely take over in the future.

What was Bob McNair's net worth when he died?

Between the sale of Cogen Technologies for $ 1.5 billion and the $ 2.8 billion value of Texans, Bob McNair's net worth was incredibly high. According to Forbes, his fortune was estimated at $ 3.8 billion, making it one of the richest people in the world.

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