You’ve probably seen the name Monfort plastered all over Denver. It’s on the Monfort School of Business, it’s on the hospital wings, and most famously, it’s the name that fans grumble about when the Colorado Rockies are ten games under .500 by Memorial Day. But usually, when people are venting, they’re thinking of Dick Monfort—the vocal, public-facing chairman who answers emails from fans at 2:00 AM.
His brother, Charlie Monfort, is a bit more of a mystery to the casual fan.
Actually, "mystery" might be putting it lightly. For the last decade or so, Charlie has been the "other" brother, the quiet partner in the background while Dick took the heat for the team's struggles. But if you look at the history of baseball in the Mountain Time Zone, Charlie isn’t just a sidekick. He was the guy who actually jumped into the deep end first.
He’s a club founder. He was there in 1992 when the Rockies were just a dream and a pile of purple jerseys. Lately, word around 20th and Blake is that Charlie is finding his voice again.
The Cattle King Roots
To understand Charlie Monfort, you have to understand beef.
The Monfort family wealth didn't come from tech or real estate—at least not initially. It came from the Greeley cattle lots. Charlie’s father, Kenneth Monfort, was a legendary figure in Colorado, a "cattle baron" who turned a family feeding operation into a global powerhouse called Monfort of Colorado.
Charlie and Dick grew up in that world. They didn’t start at the top; they were out in the yards. Charlie graduated from the University of Utah in 1982 with a marketing degree and went straight into the family business. He wasn't just a figurehead. He actually ran Monfort International Sales, moving Colorado beef to world markets until 1996.
When ConAgra bought the family business in '87, the brothers suddenly had a lot of capital and a lot of time.
How Charlie Monfort Actually Saved the Rockies
Most people forget that the Rockies almost died before they played a single game.
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In 1992, the original ownership group was falling apart. Mickey Monus, one of the primary backers, was caught in a massive fraud scandal involving his Phar-Mor drugstore chain. The franchise was in jeopardy. Charlie Monfort stepped in alongside Jerry McMorris and Oren Benton to stabilize the ship.
Dick didn’t even join the ownership group until five years later.
For years, Charlie was the CEO. He was the one steering the team through the highs of the 1995 "Blake Street Bombers" era and the lows of the early 2000s. He’s been a managing general partner since day one. But things changed in 2011. Charlie stepped down from the CEO and Chairman roles, handing the reins to Dick.
Why? It wasn’t a secret, though it was handled with more privacy than most modern sports stories. Charlie had a well-documented battle with alcohol, including a DUI in 2013 that made local headlines. He took a step back to get his life together.
Honestly, it’s a human story that gets lost in the "sell the team" hashtags.
The Shift in 2026: A New Voice in the Room?
If you’ve been following the team recently, you know the Rockies are at a crossroads. Attendance is still decent because Coors Field is basically the world's best beer garden, but the on-field product has been... let's say "challenging."
Something interesting happened in 2025 and leading into this 2026 season. Charlie Monfort started showing up more.
According to reports from the Denver Post, Charlie has been attending more partner meetings and regular strategy sessions with Dick. He’s not just a silent partner anymore. Word is he was a key voice when the team finally decided to move on from Bud Black and start looking for "a new set of eyeballs."
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Charlie reportedly told reporters that the team needs someone who has "lived and breathed baseball, and sometimes, died with baseball."
That’s a pretty intense way to put it. It suggests a level of frustration that mirrors what the fans are feeling. For a long time, the Rockies have been accused of being "insular"—too many internal hires, too many "Rockies people" who don't know how the rest of the league operates.
- Dick Monfort: The business operator, the real estate developer (McGregor Square), the guy focused on the CBA and salary caps.
- Charlie Monfort: The guy who seems increasingly interested in the "grassroots" of the game.
- Walker Monfort: Dick's son, who was recently promoted to President, representing the next generation.
It’s a family business, for better or worse.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Monforts
The biggest misconception? That they don't care about winning because the stadium is always full.
If you talk to people who know Charlie, they’ll tell you he’s incredibly competitive. You don’t run international sales for a global beef conglomerate if you’re soft. The issue hasn't been a lack of "wanting" to win; it’s been a philosophy of loyalty that often borders on a fault.
The Monforts stay with their guys. They stayed with Dan O’Dowd for ages. They stayed with Bill Schmidt.
But Charlie’s recent comments about needing "outside eyes" suggest that the loyalty has finally reached its limit. He’s seen the team worth climb to nearly $1.5 billion (according to Forbes), but he’s also seen the win-loss column. He knows that the "RockBottoms" nickname isn't just a clever pun—it's a reputation that sticks.
Charlie's Life Outside the Ballpark
When he isn’t at Coors Field, Charlie stays pretty involved in the Colorado community. He’s served on the board of trustees for Colorado Mesa University (formerly Mesa State) in Grand Junction.
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The Monfort Family Foundation is also no joke. They’ve poured millions into Children’s Hospital Colorado and the Boys & Girls Clubs. Whether you like the way they run the bullpen or not, their impact on the state's infrastructure is massive.
He’s also a big traveler. After leaving ConAgra Foods International in the late 90s, he spent a lot of time focusing on global ventures before the Rockies became his 24/7 focus.
What This Means for the Future of the Rockies
So, is Charlie Monfort the secret weapon that fixes the Rockies?
Probably not by himself. But his increased engagement is a signal. It means the "monolith" of Dick Monfort’s leadership is opening up. When you have two brothers who both own a 64% controlling interest (along with their limited partners), a shift in one brother's attitude can change the whole trajectory.
Charlie seems to be the one pushing for a more modern approach. He’s the one talking about "grassroots" and "knowing what the good teams do."
Actions You Can Take as a Fan or Observer
If you're trying to keep a pulse on where the team is going under the Monforts, watch these three things:
- The "Outside Eyes" Hires: If the Rockies actually hire a President of Baseball Operations from a winning organization (like the Dodgers or Rays), that’s Charlie’s influence at work.
- McGregor Square Growth: This is Dick’s baby. If the focus remains on the real estate around the stadium rather than the roster, the status quo remains.
- The 2026 CBA Talks: Dick is heavily involved in the labor side of MLB. Charlie’s role in "internal" baseball decisions will likely grow as Dick focuses on the league-wide business.
The Rockies aren't being sold anytime soon. The Monforts have made it clear this is a legacy asset for their children. But with Charlie Monfort re-emerging as a vocal partner, the "way things have always been done" might finally be under the microscope.
Keep an eye on the box seats. If you see Charlie down there more often, it means he’s watching—and he’s probably not happy with what he’s seeing either.