Jim Harbaugh’s private jet usage worth more than $10,000 a day

Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh’s use of a private jet cost more than $10,000 a day for 12 days in 2015.

Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh is known for his bizarre (and controversial) recruiting tactics. As it turns out, all his tree-climbing and sleepovers comes with a cost. 

According to documents acquired by USA Today, Harbaugh’s contract gives him access to a private jet for recruiting purposes, and those trips are expensive. During Harbaugh’s first month as coach of the Wolverines, his private jet usage was valued at over $10,000 a day over a 12-day stretch. That’s at least $120,000 worth of flying.

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To put that into context, here are some other things you could do with $120,000:

• Rent half of a studio apartment in New York City (private bathroom)
• Pay college athletes
• Rent a whole studio apartment in New York City (shared bathroom)
• Buy a house in a sleepy suburb
• Pay college athletes
• Buy a really nice horse (submitted by Erin Flynn)
• Buy about 100,000 bagels (submitted by Dan Gartland)
• Pay for someone to go to college
• Donate $120,000 to the people of Flint, Mich.
• Pay college athletes

USA Today reports Harbaugh’s total travel expenses from the 12-day period approached $136,000. Harbaugh signed a seven-year contract with Michigan in 2015, worth $5 million annually. The coach received a $2 million bonus upon signing and is eligible for 10% raises after three and five years. 

– Rohan Nadkarni