It’s a great time to be a professional athlete.
As sports revenue boomed, players used their earnings to reinvest in other leagues by becoming minority owners of different teams.
Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett is the latest star to join an ownership group, purchasing a stake in the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday.
In addition to Garrett, the following 20 current and former athletes with professional teams are:
Patrick Mahomes: Kansas City Royals (MLB), Sporting Kansas City (MLS), Kansas City Current Team (NWSL), Alpine F1 Team (F1)
The reigning NFL MVP and Super Bowl MVP has had an extensive career. He planted his flag in Kansas City, joining the ownership groups of the city’s MLB, MLS and NWSL teams. The Chiefs quarterback recently joined the Alpine F1 team as an investor, along with Travis Kelce, Rory McIlroy and Ryan Reynolds.
LeBron James: Boston Red Sox (MLB), Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL), Liverpool FC (EPL), RFK Racing (NASCAR)
The 38-year-old James is ready for his post-retirement career. The 19-time NBA All-Star joined Fenway Sports Group as a partner in 2021, which in turn makes him a shareholder in FSG’s baseball, hockey, football and racing businesses.
Michael Jordan: Charlotte Hornets (NBA), 23XI Racing (NASCAR)
In 2006, Jordan became a minority shareholder of the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets (then Bobcats). He became the majority owner of the Hornets in 2010, then sold his majority stake in 2023 while retaining a minority stake. Elsewhere, his Airness became a NASCAR team owner for the first time in 2021 and has since become a mainstay on the track, supporting both of his cars.
Magic Johnson: Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB), Washington Commanders (NFL), Los Angeles Sparks (WNBA), Los Angeles Football Club (MLS)
Johnson became one of the faces of Los Angeles sports after playing for the Lakers. He now co-owns the MLB’s Dodgers, the WNBA’s Sparks and MLS’s LAFC. In 2023, the five-time NBA champion invested $240 million in a group led by Josh Harris to acquire the Washington Commanders.
Tom Brady: Las Vegas Aces (WNBA), Birmingham City FC (EFL Championship)
Since retiring after the 2022 NFL season, Brady has quickly built his portfolio. He teamed up with Mark Davis to become a minority owner of the Las Vegas Aces, which went on to win its second consecutive WNBA championship. He also became a minority shareholder and chairman of Birmingham City Football Club, which is currently one level below the Premier League. Brady will also purchase a stake in the Las Vegas Raiders once other NFL owners approve the deal.
Serena Williams: Miami Dolphins (NFL), Angel City Soccer Club (NWSL)
Williams, who recently retired, has owned a minority stake in the Miami Dolphins since 2009 along with her sister Venus. In 2020, she was announced as part of a large investment group for new NWSL team Angel City FC. Other athletes involved with the women’s soccer club include Candace Parker, Mia Hamm, Abby Wambach, Julie Foudy and Billie Jean King, among others.
Kevin Durant: Philadelphia Union (MLS), New Jersey/New York Gotham FC (NWSL)
KD is fully committed to American soccer. He purchased 5% of the shares of the Philadelphia Union in 2020 and joined Gotham FC as an investor in 2022. The NWSL team, like Angel City FC, has many big-name investors: Durant, Sue Bird, Carli Lloyd and Eli Manning, among others.
Alex Rodriguez: Minnesota Timberwolves (NBA), Minnesota Lynx (WNBA)
Rodriguez and Marc Lore are becoming majority owners of a Minneapolis professional basketball team. They currently own 40% of the club. Prior to this, there had been an unsuccessful attempt to acquire the New York Mets of Major League Baseball.
Aaron Rodgers: Milwaukee Bucks (NBA)
Although Rodgers no longer plays at Wisconsin, he still has ties to the state. In 2018, he purchased a minority stake in the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks.
Giannis Antetokounmpo: Milwaukee Brewers (MLB)
Rodgers owns a piece of the Bucks, and the Bucks’ biggest star owns a piece of the Brewers. Antetokounmpo joins the Brewers ownership group in 2021.
David Beckham: Inter Miami (MLS)
The retired British soccer star has been committed to growing the game in the United States since signing with the LA Galaxy in 2007. Beckham founded Inter Miami in 2018 with Jorge and Jose Mas and made headlines for signing Lionel Messi in 2023.
Dwayne Wade: Utah Jazz (NBA)
Wade purchased ownership of the Utah Jazz in 2021, joining new owner Ryan Smith. The Hall of Famer has appeared in multiple games in Salt Lake City since his purchase.
James Harden and Oscar De La Hoya: Houston Dynamo (MLS), Houston Dash (NWSL)
Now it seems that this is an unlikely pairing. NBA MVP Harden and world champion boxer De La Hoya joined these ownership groups at different times. Harden joined in 2019, while De La Hoya has been a member since 2007.
Marshawn Lynch: Seattle Kraken (NHL)
The newest NHL team has two iconic minority owners in Seattle. Former Seattle Seahawks running back Lynch and musician Macklemore were announced as minority owners following Kraken’s first season in 2022.
Naomi Osaka: North Carolina Courage (NWSL)
Four-time Grand Slam singles champion Naomi Osaka is another celebrity owner of the NWSL. The Japanese tennis star joins the North Carolina Courage ownership group in 2021.
JJ Watt: Burnley Football Club (Premier League)
A few months after retiring from the NFL, Watt and his wife Kealia Ohai became minority shareholders of Burnley Football Club. The club is promoted to the Premier League in the 2023-24 season.
Mario Lemieux: Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL)
Lemieux purchased the club in 1999, two years after retiring from the Penguins. He served as the club’s majority owner and returned to the ice as a player from 2000 to 2005 before selling his majority stake to Fenway Sports Group in 2021. Lemieux still retains a minority stake in the club.
Steve Nash: Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS)
In 2011, while still playing in the NBA, Nash joined a group of investors to establish a Major League Soccer (MLS) club in his native British Columbia. He remains with the club, which has advanced to the MLS Cup playoffs six times in its history.
Warrick Dunn: Atlanta Falcons (NFL)
Dunn is a 12-year veteran running back in the NFL who purchased a minority stake in the Atlanta Falcons in 2009, one year after retiring.