Think championships were the endgame? For stars like Magic Johnson and LeBron James, that was just the beginning. These NBA legends are stacking trophies off the court too — investing in teams from the MLB to the WNBA and even stepping into soccer and e-sports.
Magic Johnson
Magic Johnson is not limited to the NBA, he has strategically expanded his portfolio, owning multiple sports franchises from various sports. This expansion began in 2012 when he was a part of an effort to purchase the Los Angeles Dodgers from MLB for $2 billion.
In 2014, he became a part-owner of two teams: the Los Angeles Sparks from the WNBA and Los Angeles FC from MLS.
He also acquired minority ownership of the Washington Commanders of the NFL by investing $240 million in a $6.05 billion bid in 2023.
He has invested in the WNFL’s Washington Spirit and became a co-owner with Michele Kang. Additionally, he has also invested in e-sports as well, acquiring Team Liquid.
​LeBron James
​LeBron James isn’t someone who will sit and stay still in any sort of way. He, too, has acquired many sports teams and expanded his investment portfolio.
His journey began even before Johnson’s; he made a huge investment in Liverpool FC and acquired 2% of it for $6.5 million in 2011. But now, he does not own this 2%.
In 2021, he converted his Liverpool FC stake into a partnership with Fenway Sports Group (FSG) and became a co-owner of the Boston Red Sox (MLB), Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL), and Roush Fenway Racing (NASCAR).
Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan is the first former NBA player ever to own a majority of shares in an NBA team. This began in 2006, when he invested and became a minority owner of the then-named Charlotte Bobcats (now called the Hornets); by 2010, he had acquired the majority of shares for $275 million.
He was their major shareholder for around 13 years, and in 2023, he sold his part of the shares to a group led by Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnall for around $3 billion. However, he still has a minority ownership over the Hornets to support the organization.
If we look beyond the NBA, he co-owns 23XI Racing with Denny Hamlin in NASCAR.
Dwyane Wade
Three-time NBA champion and Miami Heat legend Dwyane Wade acquired a minority stake in the Utah Jazz in 2021. He co-owns the Jazz with a group led by Qualtrics founder Ryan Smith. After Wade’s investment, their valuation has gone more than double, rising from $1.7 billion to $3.75 billion.
During that same year, Wade invested in Real Salt Lake of the MLS and became a part-owner. In 2023, he invested in WNBA’s Chicago Sky at a team valuation of $85 million.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
​Giannis Antetokounmpo invested in the Milwaukee Brewers of the MLB in 2021 and became a minority owner. But he didn’t stop there; he became a part of the ownership group of Nashville SC of the MLS. With him were his brothers Thanasis, Kostas, and Alex, and many notable figures like NHL player Filip Forsberg and actress/producer Reese Witherspoon. He has diversified his portfolio even more by investing in the Los Angeles Golf Club.
Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant bought 5% ownership of the Philadelphia Union (MLS).
In 2023, he became a part of the ownership group for Paris Saint-Germain F.C., commonly known as PSG. His investment, facilitated through Boardroom Sports Holdings and Arctos Partners, positions him alongside other celebrity investors and is expected to help PSG expand its influence in the American market.
