Bill Kennedy Biography - Net Worth, Partner, Children

Birth DateNovember 10, 1966
Birth Name William Gene Kennedy
Age 58
Also Known As Bill Kennedy
Birth Place Phoenix, Arizona, USA
Birth Sign Scorpio
Nationality American
Profession NBA Referee
Relationship Status Not Confirmed
Hair Color Black
Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Kennedy_(referee)

Bill Kennedy is a professional referee for the National Basketball Association League. He has been part of the NBA officiating staff for more than two decades. Furthermore, Bill is a successful and renowned referee who identifies as a gay man.

Kennedy’s professional journey has been in the open since the beginning of his NBA career. Many of his fans and supporters might be eager to know more about his personal affairs as well. So, let’s learn more about the referee’s net worth, career, relationship, and children in today’s biography.

Raised By A Single Mother

On November 10, 1996, the NBA official was born William Gene Kennedy in Phoenix, Arizona, USA. Bill Kennedy’s father was often absent from his life. He lived with his mother in the central city, who worked multiple jobs to earn money to send him to high school. Sadly, his mom passed away in 2011. In addition, NBA referee, Tommy Nunez, was a strong presence and a father figure in Kennedy’s youth.

The NBA official was an avid sports fan, especially basketball. However, unlike his other classmates at Grandview Elementary School, he was not looking for a major league career. Instead, he wanted to become an NBA referee. So, Bill started officiating the Boys & Girls Club of Phoenix at twelve.

Kennedy attended Saint Mary’s Catholic High School and later graduated from Arizona State University. He was named Knight of the Year for his athletic achievement in high school. Moreover, the talented young boy was preparing to be an NBA official and was looking forward to working with big stars, traveling across the country, and making good money.

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Bill Kennedy Net Worth And Career

The Phoenix native’s professional career began with Continental Basketball Association. Then, he refereed the 1996 and 1997 CBA Finals. And, now he is a veteran NBA referee with more than twenty years of experience. So, Bill Kennedy’s net worth must be grand, considering his successful career.

Moreover, the outstanding NBA referee has fifteen years of high school officiating experience in Arizona. After that, he worked in the CBA for five years. He also officiated two games in the WNBA Finals in 1998. Having worked for all these years as a referee must have added generously to Kennedy’s wealth.

The former CBA referee started as an NBA official during the 1995-96 season. Furthermore, Kennedy has now officiated 1,400 regular-season games over 23 seasons as an NBA referee. He has also worked 126 playoff games, including five NBA Finals. Aside from that, Bill has officiated the 2010 FIBA World Championships and the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Bill Kennedy Net Worth — Bill Kennedy is one of the most successful referees in the NBA League. Image Source: Social Media.

NBA referees earn an estimated salary between $180,000 and $550,000 each year. So, Bill must be earning a significant amount, considering his years of experience. Therefore, Bill Kennedy’s net worth must be a considerable amount.

Second Openly Gay NBA Referee

The sports personality revealed being a proud gay man in an interview with Yahoo Sports in 2015. It came after Rajon Rondo reportedly made disrespectful and offensive statements using homophobic slurs toward Kennedy following his ejection in a game in 2015. As a result, the Kings’ guard faced a one-game suspension, losing $86,300 in-game salary of that season.

Bill is the second active NBA referee to announce being gay publicly. Before him, referee Violet Palmer revealed she was gay upon marrying her longtime partner, Tanya Stine, in 2014. However, the longtime NBA referee is not married and does not have any children yet.

About Kennedy’s love life and relationships, he dated Marc Davis for two years after they met in 1999. Even after their breakup, the former pair have continued to remain friends. Another Bill Kenndey’s boyfriend was Craig Glover, whom he met in 2002, and dated for four years. Moreover, in 2016, he was in an on-and-off relationship with Scott Fordham.

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However, Bill Kennedy’s current partner hasn’t been revealed yet. He doesn’t appear to be active on social media, making it hard to learn about his love life.

Overall, Bill Kennedy continues excelling in his profession in the NBA. His passion, dedication, and courage make him one of the best referees in the league. These qualities have positively influenced many others as well.