Jesse Cole's net worth after the Savannah Bananas success
Jesse Cole’s net worth has become a global topic of discussion following the remarkable rise of the Savannah Bananas. Known for turning baseball into a unique entertainment experience, Cole’s innovative approach has attracted fans worldwide. With sold-out tours and viral moments, many are curious just how much his success has paid off.
Source: Instagram
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Jesse Cole’s net worth has quickly grown with the Savannah Bananas’ success.
- Income is generated from tickets, merchandise, books, and tours.
- Leaving traditional baseball helped him keep full control and profits.
- Viral social media moments increased his earnings.
- His fan-first approach turned baseball into a fun entertainment show.
Jesse Cole's profile summary
| Full name | Jesse Cole |
| Gender | Male |
| Date of birth | 13 March 1984 |
| Age | 41 years old (as of 2025) |
| Zodiac sign | Pisces |
| Place of birth | Massachusetts, United States |
| Current residence | Massachusetts, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Sexuality | Straight |
| Height in feet | 5'9" |
| Height in centimetres | 175 |
| Weight in pounds | 154 |
| Weight in kilograms | 70 |
| Hair colour | Dark brown |
| Eye colour | Dark brown |
| Relationship status | Married |
| Wife | Emily McDonald |
| Education | Wofford College |
| Profession | Author, entertainment provider, entrepreneur |
| Net worth | $4 million |
Jesse Cole's net worth: How much is the Savannah Bananas owner worth?
According to various sources, including The Bulletin Times and Greenville News, the net worth of Savannah Bananas' Jesse Cole is estimated at $4 million as of 2025. Jesse's income comes from various avenues, including his book sales, speaking fees, and consulting services.
Jesse Cole's endorsement and sponsors
The American author has no personal endorsement deals or sponsors. Nevertheless, he has partnered with several well-known brands and companies to make baseball fun and create fans for life. These companies include Coca-Cola, Georgia Power, Chatham Orthopaedics, and Enmarket.
These companies support the Savannah Bananas with financial contributions, marketing campaigns, and product donations, among other things.
Source: Instagram
Jesse Cole's biography
Jesse Cole is a sports entrepreneur best known as the owner of the Savannah Bananas, a baseball team famous for its fun, fan-first entertainment. Born in 1984, Jesse Cole’s age is 41 years as of 2025.
Who is Jesse Cole's wife?
He is married to Emily Cole, who plays a key role in running the Savannah Bananas alongside him. The couple works together to build the team’s unique brand and fan experience.
Emily and Jesse have three children, and they often share moments from both their family life and business journey with fans. They have a biological son called Maverick, and two adopted daughters K and Addison.
Career
Jesse developed an interest in baseball at a tender age. However, he began his career as a baseball player after being recruited to play for Wafford College. Unfortunately, his baseball career came to an end during his senior year at a South Carolina-based institution after he suffered a torn labrum.
In 2008, Jesse became the general manager of the Gastonia Grizzlies, a minor league team in Gastonia, North Carolina, United States. While at Grizzlies, he transformed the Coastal Plain League's baseball team from a club that experienced low fan attendance to set the single-game attendance record with 4,381 fans.
He achieved this by introducing new approaches, including unique promotional events and fireworks shows, such as children coming onto the field to run around and players participating in devised dances.
In 2014, the former baseball player acquired the Grizzlies from Ken Silver, his partner. After the 2016 season, Jesse and his wife, Emily McDonald, were crowned the Coastal Plain League's Executive of the Year.
Career as an author
Jesse is a well-known author and has written two books, Find Your Yellow Tux: How to Be Successful by Standing Out and Banana Ball: The New Rules for Baseball to Save the Game. The two books are best-sellers on Amazon.
Owner of Fans First Entertainment
Jesse Cole is the founder of Fans First Entertainment, which operates the Gastonia Grizzlies and the Savannah Bananas, an exhibition baseball team based in Savannah, Georgia.
In 2018, Fans First Entertainment was featured on the Inc. 5000 list as one of the fastest-growing companies in the United States.
Most importantly, it has been operating the Savannah Bananas since its launch in 2016. The exhibition team plays in a small stadium that holds about 4,000 fans. Due to its top-notch entertainment services to its clients, the number of people joining this list grows by 3k daily.
The team recorded over 500k fans in attendance on their Banana Ball World Tour 2023. The Ball World Tour had 87 games in 33 different cities across the United States.
From 2016 to 2022, the team competed in the Coastal Plain League's West division and won three Petitt Cup championships in 2016, 2021, and 2022. The team has shifted completely to exhibition games, where they face their partner touring teams, the Party Animals, the Firefighters, and other professional teams.
The Savannah Bananas are widely recognised for their videos, which include players performing choreographed dance routines, pitching from atop stilts and swinging flaming baseball bats.
Using Jesse's Fans First Experience approach to customer experience, the Savannah Bananas have sold out every game since their first season in 2016. The team has been featured on MSNBC, Access Hollywood, CBS Sunday Morning, HBO Real Sports, ESPN, and CNN.
Did Jesse Cole buy the Savannah Bananas?
Yes, Jesse and his wife Emily Cole bought and transformed the team now known as the Savannah Bananas. In 2015, they took a big financial risk by purchasing a struggling team, selling their home, and fully investing in their vision.
Today, Emily Cole and Jesse co-own and operate the team through their company, Fans First Entertainment.
How much did Jesse Cole pay for the Savannah Bananas?
Jesse Cole is the founder of the Savannah Bananas; hence, the former baseball player didn't purchase the baseball team. However, in 2022, the entrepreneur paid $1,289,200 to purchase an office and warehouse space for the Savannah Bananas. The 20,000-square-foot building is located across Bee Road from the historic ballpark.
How much is the Savannah Bananas players' salary?
The Savannah Bananas' salaries are relatively modest compared to professional baseball leagues. Most players earn a monthly stipend ranging from $500 to $3,000 during the season, with additional perks like free housing and meals.
While the salary is limited, many players join for the unique experience, fan interaction, and nationwide exposure.
How much does Jesse Cole charge for speaking?
Jesse Cole typically commands a live speaking fee between $50,000 and $125,000, depending on the event type and format. According to one booking agency, his in-person fee ranges from $100,000 to $125,000.
Virtual events fall in a similar $50,000–$100,000 range, and one source suggests a floor of $50,001+ for U.S.-based in-person keynotes.
Jesse Cole's fast facts
- Jesse Cole always wears a signature bright yellow tuxedo, which has become his brand and a symbol of the Savannah Bananas.
- Before owning the Bananas, he was a college pitcher at Wofford College, but an injury ended his playing career.
- He is a published author, with books like “Find Your Yellow Tux” and “Fans First”, sharing lessons on business and fan engagement.
- Jesse started in baseball as the GM of the Gastonia Grizzlies in North Carolina, where he first tested his entertainment-driven approach.
- He is known for promoting “fans first, entertain always” as a business philosophy, prioritising experience over traditional sports norms.
Thanks to the Savannah Bananas’ booming popularity, Jesse Cole’s net worth has grown alongside his brand’s fame. His bold ideas and fan-first attitude continue to shake up the sports world. It’s clear Jesse Cole is not just building a team, but a growing business empire.
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Lilian Wanjala (Lifestyle writer) Lilian Wanjala is a content writer who joined Tuko's team in 2022. She graduated in 2018 from the University of Nairobi with a Bachelor of Arts (Communication and Media Studies). She has worked for many periodicals on a variety of topics like biographies, fashion and lifestyle, guides, and other types of content for over five years. She worked for InformationCradle for close to two years before joining Tuko. In 2023, Lilian finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. You can reach her at wanjalalilian875@gmail.
Kevin Omuya (Lifestyle writer) Kevin Omuya is a professional content writer with over three years of experience. At Legit.ng, he has contributed to extensive research on various topics such as celebrity news, fashion, and biographies. He has also worked as an editor and content creator at SportsCulture and CottageMed. In 2019, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism & Digital Media from KCA University. You can reach him through his email: komuya89@gmail.com
