Brad M. Kelley Biography

Brad Maurice Kelley (born 1956). Current business interests include Vaon Technologies, NC2 Media, and the Kelley Conservation Foundation. He founded Commonwealth Brands, a cigarette company, in 1991. He sold 12 years ago to Houchens Industries for $1 billion. As of 2012, his estimated net worth is $1.9 billion and he is the 4th largest landowner in the U.S.

Biography

Brad Maurice Kelley was born and raised in Bowling Green, Kentucky and went to high school in Franklin, Kentucky where he was a secretary for the Future Farmers of America and named Kentucky high school conservationist of the year. He bought his first piece of land, a farm near his childhood home, at age 17, and his first warehouse at age 20. He attended Western Kentucky University a short time and left to pursue business interests.

Growing up on a farm that included tobacco, Kelley's early business ventures were a response to changes in the tobacco industry. Because of declining production in the 1980s, many old warehouses in Kentucky stood vacant. He started buying these warehouses, converting them to other uses, and then leasing them out. This interest evolved into manufacturing. In 1991, he founded Commonwealth Brands, a tobacco company that manufactured cigarettes, headquartered in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Twelve years ago, he sold it to Houchens Industries for $1 billion. Kelley has never smoked, and he said in 2012, "I've never defended [smoking]. Hopefully it will be phased out of society."

He owns 1.7 million acres of ranching land in Texas, Florida and New Mexico. He is very active in the conservation movement. He supports many environmental and wildlife conservation interests including The Center for The Conservation of Tropical Ungulates. The center supports many species including rhino, tapir, wild cattle and antelope. As of 2012, he is the 4th largest private land owner in the United States.

In May 2012, Kelley became the operator of the historic Calumet Farm in Lexington. Kelley was already involved in Thoroughbred breeding and racing operations. Kelley was formerly the largest shareholder and a board member of Churchill Downs. In May 2013, his colt Oxbow won the Preakness Stakes.

In March 2013, the commercial arm of the BBC, BBCW, announced the sale of Lonely Planet to Kelly's NC2 Media. Lonely Planet is the world's most successful guidebook publisher having printed over 100 million guidebooks, in addition to magazines, digital content and other travel services.

He lives in Wyoming and in Franklin, Tennessee, a suburb of Nashville. He is married with three children. He rarely gives interviews and does not use e-mail.