Jim Irsay, the billionaire owner of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts, died in May 2025 at the age of 65.
Jim lived a legendary life. He built the Colts into a Super Bowl–winning franchise, became one of the most colorful figures in professional sports, and spent decades amassing one of the world’s most valuable private memorabilia collections. Jim famously once turned down a $1 billion offer for the collection, which includes Muhammad Ali’s championship belt and Kurt Cobain’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” guitar.
Irsay was outspoken, eccentric, and deeply human. And when he needed to escape it all, you would have found him at his lake house.
That lakefront compound, which features a bowling alley, shooting range, arcade, and a 350-foot underground tunnel, just hit the market for $19.9 million. And we found a video tour of the property that offers a rare look inside the retreat that served as Irsay’s private escape for more than two decades.
A Lakefront Playground
Located on Lake Maxinkuckee in Culver, Indiana, the estate spans roughly 35,000 square feet across multiple structures. The main residence, clad in stone with a shingle roof, covers about 14,000 square feet with eight bedrooms, wood-paneled libraries, and wide-beamed living rooms.
Across the street sits the entertainment complex, designed with rustic exteriors and sleek interiors, housing a four-lane bowling alley, a shooting range, shuffleboard, arcade machines, and a bar. The buildings are connected by an underground tunnel, a detail that perfectly fits Irsay’s love of the unusual.
The property also features a pool house, a guesthouse, sand volleyball courts, fire pits, a private dock with solar-powered boat lifts, and porches overlooking the lake. According to the listing agent, the estate can comfortably host 35 or more people at once.
Jim Irsay’s Legacy
Jim Irsay was born into football, but he carved out his own place in its history. His father, Robert Irsay, engineered the infamous late-night move of the Colts from Baltimore to Indianapolis in 1984. By then, Jim had already joined the front office, and at just 24 years old, he became the NFL’s youngest general manager. After Robert suffered a stroke, a bitter legal battle ensued over control of the franchise. In 1997, Jim emerged as the sole owner, once again the youngest in league history to hold that title.
From the moment he took the reins, Irsay reshaped the Colts. He brought in Hall of Fame executive Bill Polian, drafted Peyton Manning with the first overall pick in 1998, and built a roster that dominated the AFC for more than a decade. Under his watch, the Colts made 18 playoff appearances, won 10 division titles, and captured their first championship since the move to Indianapolis with a victory in Super Bowl XLI in 2007. He also spearheaded the development of Lucas Oil Stadium, ensuring Indianapolis remained a major NFL city.
But Irsay’s life stretched well beyond football. He became one of the most eclectic figures in American sports — a touring rock musician who jammed with members of the Heartbreakers and the Allman Brothers, and a cultural curator whose private collection included everything from Ali’s “Rumble in the Jungle” belt to Jack Kerouac’s original “On the Road” manuscript. He called the collection “priceless,” once turning down a $1.15 billion offer to buy it outright, and he took it on the road for free public exhibitions across the country.
At the same time, Irsay battled demons in public. His decades-long struggles with addiction led to multiple rehab stints and a 2014 arrest. Rather than conceal his issues, he used them to fuel “Kicking the Stigma,” a mental health initiative that challenged shame and expanded treatment access. He gave millions to schools, hospitals, and local charities — often anonymously. During the COVID-19 shutdown, he pledged $1 million to feed Indianapolis students if the city raised $200,000, a challenge the community quickly met.
By the time of his death in 2025, Irsay’s net worth was $4 billion. He delivered a championship to Indianapolis, brought joy to fans through his music and his museum-like collection, and left a lasting mark as a patron, a survivor, and a voice for those struggling in silence. His lake house was just one reflection of his outsized, unpredictable, and deeply human legacy.
