Forget flash supercars, lavish mansions, and swish private jets; the latest A-list celebrity must-have is a stake in a professional sports team. From American basketball franchises to English football clubs, mega-famous faces are pumping their cash into the world of sports. And some of the celebs doing it might surprise you...
Read on to discover some of the biggest names who are making their mark in sports ownership.
All dollar amounts in US dollars.
Canadian rapper and singer Drake stepped in to save Venezia FC from the brink of bankruptcy in 2023, providing crucial financial backing to help raise $46 million (£35m). This intervention ensured the Italian football club avoided relegation to Serie D and secured its spot in Serie A for the 2024/25 season. Drake's athletic apparel brand NOCTA also became the club's new kit sponsor.
Drake also has a minority stake in AC Milan, which he snapped up in 2022 alongside LeBron James.
Actor Natalie Portman co-founded the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) club Angel City FC in 2020, and she continues to serve on the board of the LA-based football team since its sale to Disney CEO Bob Iger and his wife Willow Bay in 2024. The pair paid a record-breaking $250 million (£186m) for Angel City FC, which is now considered the world's most valuable women's sports team.
Portman isn't the only A-lister involved in the club. Other world-famous investors have included Serena Williams, Eva Longoria, Christina Aguilera, America Ferrera, Jennifer Garner, and Billie Jean King.
A Memphis native and lifelong fan, Justin Timberlake became a minority partner in the Memphis Grizzlies in 2012. Heading a consortium of investors, Timberlake secured the group a 2.9% stake in the National Basketball Association (NBA) team for $5 million (£3.7m), making him an influential part of the ownership.
As a proud supporter of his hometown team, he’s maintained a regular courtside presence at FedExForum, working his celebrity status to bring attention to the basketball franchise.
Reese Witherspoon grew up in Nashville, so she jumped at the chance to invest in the city's premier football club in 2022.
Together with her now ex-husband Jim Toth, Witherspoon was part of a group that purchased an undisclosed stake in the Major League Soccer (MLS) club just before the opening of the team's Geodis Park home, which is the largest football-specific stadium in America.
When it comes to British football teams, Paul McCartney supports both Liverpool FC and Everton, which is bizarre to say the least for a Scouser. But the music legend's soccer loyalties aren't the only surprising part of his sports interests.
In 2019, the former Beatle was gifted a share of the Green Bay Packers ahead of his performance at Lambeau Field, the home stadium of the Wisconsin-based team. McCartney's unexpected connection to the National Football League (NFL) adds another unique twist to his illustrious career.
In May, Anne Hathaway became part of a women-led consortium that acquired the Red Bull Italy SailGP Team. The Oscar-winning actress, who is a friend of investor Gian Luca Passi de Preposulo, was drawn to SailGP’s unique platform for mixed-gender competition and its global appeal.
Her involvement marks a significant milestone in the sport, as the acquisition by the Muse Sport consortium represents the first women-led ownership in SailGP.
David Letterman is the only celebrity in this round-up whose name is literally part of the official team moniker, which gives him some serious bragging rights.
The veteran chat show host became a co-owner of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing in 1996, when he teamed up with Indy 500 champion Bobby Rahal. Originally founded as Rahal Hogan Racing in 1992, the motorsports team rebranded again after Michael Lanigan joined in 2011. Letterman’s unique presence continues to add a special flair to the team's legacy, which boasts 30 wins, 37 poles, and a 1992 championship.
Matthew McConaughey became a minority owner of Austin FC in 2019, just as the MLS team was getting ready to launch.
While the Oscar-winner's exact stake in the football team hasn't been disclosed, he joined a group of minority owners led by majority partner Anthony Precourt. McConaughey isn't just a financial backer: he holds the unique role of 'Minister of Culture' for the team, where he actively connects the club with the local community and leverages his Hollywood fame to boost its profile.
Snoop Dogg became a minority co-owner of Swansea City AFC in July, joining a group led by American businessmen Brett Cravatt and Jason Cohen. AC Milan's Luka Modrić also joined the ownership group. The rapper and world-class football player's global fanbases are expected to enhance the English Football League (EFL) Championship club’s international visibility.
Bolstering its celebrity cachet, actress Mindy Kaling has been a part-owner of the Welsh football team since 2016 after investing as part of a consortium.
A diehard Ipswich Town fan, Ed Sheeran bought a 1.4% minority stake in the EFL Championship football club in 2023, with the deal valued north of $2.7 million (£2m). The chart-topping singer, who has been the club’s shirt sponsor since 2021, snagged long-term use of an executive box at Portman Road as part of the purchase but won’t join the board since his investment is purely passive.
Sheeran couldn't contain his excitement after the deal was clinched, saying it was "any football fan’s dream" to own part of the club they love. He also designed the Tractor Boys' Suffolk-inspired third kit for the 2024/25 season.
Former Destiny’s Child member Michelle Williams became a minority owner of the Chicago Sky in 2006. Her involvement in the Windy City women's basketball team was key in motivating her manager (and Beyoncé's father) Mathew Knowles to invest.
Williams' input in the trailblazing franchise highlights her dedication to women’s empowerment, and she has remained a passionate supporter of the Sky ever since.
In 2016, Anchorman star Will Ferrell became a co-owner of Los Angeles (LA) FC, joining a group that includes Magic Johnson and Mia Hamm. The football club made its debut in the MLS in 2018. Ferrell's involvement reflects his love of the beautiful game and his desire to support local teams.
The Hollywood actor and comedian's passion for football took a further turn in 2024 when he joined a group of investors to buy a 'significant' minority stake in English Premier League side Leeds United.
From Hunger Games to soccer games, Elizabeth Banks is investing in Boston Legacy FC, the newest NWSL expansion team, which is set to debut in the 2026/27 season.
A Massachusetts native, Banks turned down an earlier opportunity to invest in LA's Angel City FC, feeling a deeper connection to the Bay State's biggest city. With a focus on creating a lasting impact, she hopes to boost women's sports while giving back to the Beantown community.
Usher became a minority owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2005, investing around $9 million (£6.7m) in the NBA team. Since then, the Cavs' value has skyrocketed from $375 million (£297m) to $4.35 billion (£3.2bn), meaning Usher's noughties investment has undoubtedly soared.
Though less publicly involved in recent years, his ownership has added credibility to the team. As the Cavs continue to thrive, Usher’s stake remains a strong example of the financial benefits of celebrity sports investments.
Heidi Klum has owned a slice of the Chicago Slice pro pickleball team since its formation in 2023. The German-born supermodel is part of a star-studded ownership group that includes tennis icon Chris Evert and Tom Ricketts, the owner of the Chicago Cubs.
The team has swiftly ascended to the top Major League Pickleball (MLP) division since its inception two years ago and now ranks among America's leading pickleball franchises.
Heidi Klum is just one of several major names backing pro pickleball teams. Cue Vince Vaughn. Last year, the Wedding Crashers and Dodgeball star purchased a majority stake in the Coachella Valley Scorpions, a Champions Pro (50+) franchise in the National Pickleball League (NPL).
The Scorpions launched only two months prior to Vaughn's purchase, with co-owner and player Kim Jagd staying on as a minority stakeholder after the deal.
A lifelong Rabbitohs fan, Crowe and business partner Peter Holmes à Court purchased a 75% controlling stake in the struggling National Rugby League (NRL) club for a combined $2 million (£1.5m) in 2006. His sheer passion brought stability and massive visibility, famously helping the rugby league team secure a drought-breaking Premiership Trophy in 2014.
Crowe’s individual stake now stands at 25%. The value of this quarter-share has surged over the years. The Hollywood star reportedly turned down a $6.6 million (£4.9m) buyout offer this year and is reportedly holding out for $13 million (£9.7m) before he even considers selling his stake.
Eva Longoria has established herself as one of Hollywood's most diverse sports investors, holding stakes in numerous teams across different leagues and continents.
She's a co-owner of NWSL side Angel City FC, Mexican football club Club Necaxa, and Colombian football team La Equidad, and has an indirect interest in Welsh side Wrexham AFC. Longoria’s interests also extend into emerging US sports, with stakes in padel team Eleven Eleven, as well as two pro pickleball teams.
Ryan Reynolds’ 2020 takeover of Wrexham AFC with Rob McElhenney turned a fifth-tier Welsh club into a global sensation, thanks largely to the hit docuseries Welcome to Wrexham.
Building on that success, Reynolds has since expanded into Latin America, leading an investment group that Eva Longoria joined to take stakes in Mexico’s Club Necaxa and Colombia’s La Equidad. And earlier this year, he and Hugh Jackman acquired Australia’s SailGP team, the Bonds Flying Roos. He also holds a minority share in Alpine F1. Given these investments, it's understandable that Reynolds has arguably become Hollywood’s most ambitious and visible sports mogul in recent years.
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