Pop superstar Taylor Swift is celebrated for her success in the music industry with an estimated net worth of $1 billion. However, it appears that her wealth is not exclusive to her. In particular, Swift’s pet cat, Olivia Benson, has reportedly amassed an impressive fortune. In fact, it’s estimated that the cat’s net worth surpasses that of Swift’s partner, football player Travis Kelce. That’s true even as Kelce heads to the Super Bowl.
Taylor Swift’s cat reportedly worth $97 million, edging out Travis Kelce’s net worth
According to data released by Cats.com, Olivia Benson — named after Mariska Hargitay’s character from “Law and Order: SVU” — is worth an estimated $97 million. This speculated value tops the reported $40 million net worth of Kansas City Chiefs player Travis Kelce. Benson’s value comes from appearances in television commercials. Her worth is also thanks to appearing in Swift’s own music videos, such as “Blank Space” and “Me!.” The estimated earnings of Swift’s other cats — Meredith Grey and Benjamin Button — however, remain undisclosed.
That said, Benson is not the wealthiest celebrity pet. She trails behind Gunther VI, a German Shepherd reportedly worth $500 million. Benson’s wealth also ranks below that of Nala Cat, an Instagram sensation with 4.5 million followers.
While these figures may seem baffling, there is doubt surrounding the accuracy of these online calculators that generate pet net worth. Cats.com reported they utilize Instagram data to calculate celebrity pets’ worth — a methodology finance experts find questionable.
Financial advisor Travis Brown tells BBC such calculations should be straightforward, based on a simple deduction of liabilities from assets. However, this becomes problematic with celebrities as such information is often private, turning the task into speculation. Similarly, Jen Reid of BASE Financial Management argues these calculators could misrepresent actual wealth due to undisclosed expenditures and investments from celebrities.
The credibility of online net worth calculators remains shaky, but this doesn’t discredit the financial power held by celebrity pets. From publishing books and owning pet food brands to starring in Netflix documentaries, these animal stars earn a decent income for their contributions. Jackie Hornung, owner of Instagram-famous dog Lumi, confirms this trend, stating that Lumi makes enough money to cover his basic needs.
