Terence “Bud” Crawford’s rise from North Omaha to an undefeated boxing legend is the kind of American story conservatives love: grit, hard work, and discipline rewarded. Forbes reports that after toppling Canelo Álvarez in September Crawford has pushed lifetime boxing earnings north of $100 million and earned an estimated $50 million from that fight alone — not a flashy handout but the payoff for decades of sacrifice and patience.
What grabbed headlines this week was Crawford’s watch collection, which Forbes values at between $500,000 and $1 million, featuring blue-chip pieces like a Patek Philippe Aquanaut Travel Time, an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph and several Rolexes. That’s not ostentatious showboating; as Crawford himself says, these are assets that tend to hold or grow in value — the exact opposite of the reckless splurging too many athletes fall into.
Even better, Crawford’s collection is matched by a mindset that should be held up as an example: he’s invested in real estate, owns nearly 80 properties worth more than $20 million, and lives by the principle that “money in the shoebox ain’t really saving money.” Conservatives should applaud this stewardship — private ownership, reinvestment, and entrepreneurship are how working Americans build lasting security, not dependency or habitually cashing in on short-term fame.
Contrast Crawford with the modern celebrity image of compulsive consumption: reports surfaced that Canelo shelled out millions on timepieces ahead of the fight, spending an estimated $3.8 million at a single boutique. That kind of conspicuous consumption plays well in celebrity fluff pieces, but it’s a poor guide for most Americans trying to build a life; Crawford’s restraint and focus on durable assets are far more relatable and responsible.
It’s also refreshing to see figures like Warren Buffett publicly admire Crawford’s approach — Buffett praises his prudence and common-sense financial decisions, which dovetails perfectly with conservative values around thrift, investment, and long-term planning. In an era when media often glamorizes debt and instant gratification, Crawford’s example is a rebuttal: you can win big and still behave like a steward of your wealth.
Hardworking Americans should celebrate Crawford not for the size of his wrist candy but for what it signals: discipline in the ring, prudence in business, and loyalty to community. He turned scarcity into stability through smarts and sweat, and that’s the real story — one conservatives ought to uplift as the blueprint for success in this country.
