Tom Brady is earning a reported $375 million to work Sundays. But the ‘life-altering’ rare rookie card he bought may never earn him a cent

He recently bought a rare rookie card for Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza, and according to his business partner Chris Costa, it cost him a “life-altering amount of money.” Brady didn’t say exactly what he paid, but the card has the only Mendoza autograph ever produced with the inscription “My 1st NFL Auto.”

The appeal is obvious. Brady is a part-owner of the Raiders, and Mendoza was the team’s first-round pick in this year’s draft.

But a keepsake isn’t the same thing as an investment. Collectible cards can turn a profit, and sometimes a spectacular one — they can also sit in a safe for years earning nothing while you pay to insure them.

Anyone buying rare cards, whether it’s a 1-of-1 autograph or a graded Pokémon card, is betting on finding someone who wants it as badly as they did, with a bigger wallet.

Tough negotiations

You might think a card collector who was contacted by the player many consider the greatest of all time might get a little starstruck and be easier to sway when asked to sell their collection’s crown jewel. Nuh-uh.

First, Brady had to find the owner, which he admits wasn’t easy. Then, he went back and forth with that collector for the better part of a month before capitulating to the owner’s demands — a big pile of cash as well as an autographed jersey. The two are also set to meet in person down the road.

“I figured you’ve got to invest in it and it’s going to hopefully bring some good luck to Las Vegas,” Brady said when showing off the card at Fanatics Fest in July.

The Mendoza mystery

While Brady is obviously bullish on Mendoza, he isn’t the Raiders’ starting quarterback.

Kirk Cousins was signed as a free agent in April and promptly named the team’s starter. Mendoza, though, has had a strong preseason, which has led to some calls to reconsider that decision.

But the Raiders still haven’t said when he’ll play. That leaves Brady holding a card for a quarterback who has yet to make a meaningful impact — and no way to value it until he does.

“It’s baptism by fire every day at all positions — especially rookie quarterbacks,” said head coach Klint Kubiak during training camp. “I see an improving player that we’ve just got to keep being hard on to get better.”