The worlds of sports and business might seem like separate universes, but many successful athletes have parlayed their talents and fame into business empires. By leveraging their brand and drive, these athletes have built successful ventures that extend their legacy beyond their playing days and, for some, even concurrently with their athletic careers. Here are 10 sports stars who transitioned into successful entrepreneurs.
Michael Jordan
Cherished for his basketball excellence, Michael Jordan’s business acumen is equally impressive. He’s the majority owner of the Charlotte Hornets and has a highly successful partnership with Nike for the Air Jordan brand. The Jordan brand was the strongest performer among Nike’s divisions, with a 29% sales gain to $6.6 billion in 2022.
David Beckham
The former soccer star has transcended the sport to become a global brand. Beckham co-owns Inter Miami CF and has lucrative deals with Adidas, H&M, and other major companies. In 2022, he sold 55% of his company DB Ventures to Authentic Brands Group (ABG) for around £200 million to pay off debt, restructure partnerships, and free up capital.
Shaquille O’Neal
Shaquille O’Neal is a business powerhouse. Shaq invests in everything from restaurants and car washes to video game development and movie production companies. He also owns several Papa John’s franchises. Additionally, he owns a stake in the Sacramento Kings, serving as a member of the team’s ownership group since 2013.
Venus and Serena Williams
These tennis champions are also fashion moguls. Venus has her own clothing line, EleVen, and an interior design firm, V Starr Interiors. Serena also has her own fashion line, S by Serena, and is the CEO of Serena Ventures, an investment firm that focuses on female-founded companies.
LeBron James
LeBron James is a forward-thinking entrepreneur. He’s part owner of the SpringHill Company, a production outfit that has produced movies and TV shows like “Space Jam: A New Legacy.” James also invested in Blaze Pizza and owned a tequila company called Lobos 1707.
Magic Johnson
Earvin “Magic” Johnson is a basketball legend and a shrewd businessman. He co-founded the immensely successful entertainment company Magic Johnson Enterprises, which owns movie theaters, gyms, and burger franchises. Johnson previously owned a small stake in the Los Angeles Lakers but traded his share in 2010.
Tony Hawk
Hawk has his own video game franchise, a clothing line, and a skateboard company, Birdhouse. He founded the Tony Hawk Foundation in 2002, which has helped to build over 600 skateparks in low-income communities across the United States. The skateboarding hero has turned his passion into a business empire.
Tom Brady
Many consider this quarterback the greatest of all time. After retiring, Brady has ventured into entrepreneurship. He co-founded an apparel brand called TB12 Sports alongside his trainer, Alex Guerrero. He’s also involved in other ventures, including NFT (non-fungible token) companies and production companies.
Roger Federer
Not only known for their dominance on the court, this tennis legend has also become a savvy entrepreneur. Federer invests in various companies through his investment firm, Team8. He also has his own clothing line, RF, and has endorsement deals with brands like Rolex and Credit Suisse.
Michael Schumacher
The legendary Formula One driver, with his record-breaking seven World Drivers’ Championships, has also achieved success in the business world. Schumacher owns a chain of fitness centers in Germany called Schumacher Fitness and has various endorsements with companies like Deutsche Post.
