Sur la cour, Serena WilliamsHe is a 23-time singles grand-slam champion, four-time Olympic gold-medalist, and one the best players in tennis. It has helped her to become an active businesswoman.
Williams is the founder of S by Serena Fashion, a line of clothing, and she has endorsement deals from well-known brands like Nike and Beats by Dre. Williams also sits on the boards of directors of Momentive and Poshmark, which are the parent companies of SurveyMonkey.
Williams is now looking to expand her portfolio. Lewis Hamilton, seven-time Wimbledon champion, joined Martin Broughton, ex-Livingstone chairman, on April 21st. bid to buy Chelsea. Roman Abramovich, the owner of the football club, put it up for sale earlier in this month.
The latest example of the growing trend of professional athletes becoming owners is Williams and Hamilton's purchase of Broughton’s bid for Chelsea's soccer team. These are just a few examples of recent owners who have taken control of sporting teams.
Marshawn Lynch – Seattle Kraken
Lynch spent 13 years in Seattle as a Seahawks player, but now his new sports venture is in Washington. Lynch joined the Seattle Kraken's ownership team on April 18 as a minority shareholder. Lynch, a former NFL running back, will participate in the NHL's “Hockey is for Everyone” campaign. Kraken owner Tod Leeke stated that Lynch expressed an interest in shadowing him for knowledge about hockey CEO operations.
Lynch stated, “This is something that I would never have imagined.” CNBC in a statement. “I have always longed to be a part of a professional football team, but the reality is that I am now a member. As I look back on some of my accomplishments…I'm [going to]Continue to count your blessings.”
Macklemore, a Grammy-winning artist from Seattle, joined Lynch's Kraken ownership team.
“We now have two heroes from our hometown who share our values, and we want to give back to this great place and make hockey a sport that is accessible to everyone.”
Learn more about this new product #SeaKraken investors, Macklemore & Marshawn Lynch → https://t.co/BQFmY3PayO pic.twitter.com/vHZxddqSBO
— Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) April 18, 2022
Wayne Gretzky (Steve Nash) and Dustin Johnson — Las Vegas Desert Dogs
Wayne Gretzky is a huge lacrosse fan? You read that right. While the Great One may be the most famous player on the Edmonton Oilers' ice, Gretzky was more of a lax bro.
Gretzky stated that box lacrosse is Canada's national sport. “I played lacrosse from the age of six, and I continued playing until I was 16. I love the game because box lacrosse was so important to my success in ice skating.
This is why it's not surprising that Dustin Johnson (2020 Masters champion), NBA Hall of Famer and current Brooklyn Nets coach Steve Nash, and Joe Tsai (Nets owner) are part of a star-studded group of owners for the National Lacrosse League’s newest expansion club in Las Vegas, The Desert Dogs.
Wayne Gretzky is a master at everything…
(🎥 @lasvegaslax, @NLL) pic.twitter.com/7RKvXQ7WfN
— NHL (@NHL) June 21, 2021
Dwyane & Utah Jazz
Dwyane Wade's support for any team other that the Miami Heat is jarring, I won’t lie. However, I cannot fault his business acumen. In April the three-time NBA champion purchased an ownership stake in the Utah JazzRyan Smith, majority owner and governor of the team, joined D. Wade and expressed his desire to be involved in the franchise. D. Wade kept his word. He was available to be seen on courtside during the entire season. took action when an unsettling fan incident went down during the postseasonHe was a mentor to Donovan Mitchell, a jazz star.
Renee Montgomery — Atlanta Dream
Former Atlanta Dream guard Renee Montgomery made history in FebruaryMontgomery was part of a three member investor group that was approved for the team's purchase. Montgomery is the first former player who has been both an owner of a WNBA franchise and also served as its executive. After Kelly Loeffler's opposition to the league’s racial injustice initiatives angered WNBA player, Kelly Loeffler was forced to sell her share.
Patrick Mahomes — Kansas City Royals
Patrick Mahomes has a history of winning. Although the Kansas City Royals cannot say the exact same thing, it is possible that Mahomes' winning ways could be a source of inspiration for the franchise's new ownership group. This move certainly cemented Mahomes' status in Kansas City as an icon. The Chiefs' quarterback made it logical to become a baseball owner on many levels. Mahomes played college baseball and was considered a legitimate pro prospect. His father, Pat Mahomes also spent 11 seasons playing Major League Baseball. He also needed to find a way of putting the $503million contract extension to good purpose.
Venus and Serena Williams — Miami Dolphins. Angel City FC
The Williams sisters have made history by winning major titles and making history. Venus and Serena were the first Black female minority owners of the NFL in 2009. purchasing a part of the Miami Dolphins. Musicians Jimmy Buffett and Gloria Estefan, Fergie, Marc Anthony also bought sharesThe ownership group of the Dolphins is eclectic. Serena Williams, then, was elected to be the team's new owner last year. part of the star-studded Angel City FC ownership groupLos Angeles to host a NWSL team in 2022.
Mia Hamm (Abby Wambach) and Julie Foudy — Angel City FC
Angel City FC was a big success. The Los Angeles-based NWSL team had already been given a superstar name before we even knew its name. The most notable of these was the 14 former USWNT players who are part of the groupMia Hamm, Abby Wambach, and Julie Foudy. I would have named Lauren Holiday and Shannon Boxx, Rachel Buehler and Joy Fawcett, Tisha Valurini Hoch and Tisha Venturini Haut, Joy Fawcett and Tisha Fawcett. But, I really wanted to keep to my original intro of “I'm only going 20 athletes”. We don't have the time to name all of them.
Michael Jordan — Charlotte Hornets
As we are on the topic of owners who have not had the success we were used to seeing in their playing days we must mention the GOAT. 2010 Michael Jordan became the first ex-player to be a majority owner in the leagueThe NBA Board of Governors approved his $275 million offer to purchase the Charlotte Bobcats in North Carolina. Things are looking up for the Hornets after a decade of disappointing years. Rookie of the year LaMelo ball has provided a much-needed spark to the team. Never forget his dad's words that he could beat MJ 1-on-1…good memories.
Alex Rodriguez — Minnesota Timberwolves, Minnesota Lynx
I don't know which part of this purchase feels less right to me. Alex Rodriguez is only following his 50-50 business partner Marc Lore. acquiring the Minnesota Timberwolves and LynxTheir original plan to buy New York Mets was abandoned. However, Anthony Edwards, the Timberwolves' star, didn't know A-Rod. The $1.5 Billion deal is expected to close in July.
Inter Miami — David Beckham
David Beckham, the iconic soccer player and still-to-be-seen football owner. Beckham — who is incredibly hands on with the franchise — is part of an ownership groupOriginally called Miami Beckham United, it now operates under the name Miami Freedom Park LLC. Inter Miami and Beckham have been a source of controversy since their inception in 2018. All those issues could soon be history if Lionel Messi chooses to move to MLS. There have been some strange things.
LeBron James — Liverpool
After Fenway Sports Group purchased Liverpool in 2010, LeBron James, Maverick Carter and the manager became minority owners. In 2011, James and Carter became minority shareholders of Premier League team Liverpool. James' original stake, which was worth about $6.5 million at the time, has grown to approximately $17 million. $32 million as of 2018.Liverpool won 2019 the Premier League, their first top flight league title in 30 years.
Kevin Durant — Philadelphia Union
Brooklyn Nets will be the star of the NBA in June 2020 Kevin Durant purchased a 5% stake in MLS' Philadelphia UnionDurant has the option of purchasing an additional 5% at any time. Durant had previously been involved in talks to purchase part of D.C. United, but that discussion was never able to progress.
James Harden — Houston Dynamo, Houston Dash
James Harden is no longer in Houston, but his legacy in Houston can still be felt. The Beard purchased a 5% stakeThe group which controls MLS' Houston Dynamo in 2019 and NWSL's Houston Dash for 2019, is also part of the group. This group also includes Oscar De La Hoya, boxer. The Dash won their first NWSL title in 2013 so he is probably happy with that investment.
Russell Wilson and Ken Griffey Jr. – Seattle Sounders
What do Macklemore, Ken Griffey Jr., Russell Wilson have in common They are all part the ownership group of the Seattle Sounders. Wilson and Ciara, his wife, are musicians. purchased a stakeThey were able to add the team to the MLS Cup in 2019, just in time to win the title. Griffey Jr. and his extended family followed Griffey Jr.'s lead in November 2020.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic — Hammaraby
It seems that everything Zlatan does causes people to react strongly. This was true even when he bought a part of Swedish team HammarabyBack in 2019. Malmo, another Swedish team, where Zlatan began his professional career, was vandalized by fans who placed a seat on top of one of the arms and a toilet chair around it.
Magic Johnson — Los Angeles Dodgers
Big LA guy. Magic Johnson was the Lakers greatest player in 2012 part of a group that bought the Los Angeles DodgersFrank McCourt bought the record for $2 billion. At that time, the price broke the record for a franchise in sports. Magic was honest when explaining his role in recruiting new free agents. He said that while he couldn't talk about hitting and pitching with players but he could talk about winning. It worked, if recent history (in case you didn't see all of 2020), is any indication.
