Brady is part of Aces, Serena supports women’s soccer: The sports stars who’ve invested in teams

Tom Brady was announced as a minority owner of the Las Vegas Aces last week, jumping from an iconic career in the NFL to the WNBA.

Just like the seven-time Super Bowl winner Brady, the Aces have some championship pedigree as well, having won their first WNBA title last season.

It wasn’t disclosed what percentage of the team the Patriots and Bucs legend owns, but he seemed excited to make the move into ownership.

 ‘I have always been a huge fan of women’s sports, and I admire the work that the Aces’ players, staff, and the WNBA continue to do to grow the sport and empower future generations of athletes,’ he said.

‘To be able to contribute in any way to that mission as a member of the Aces organization is an incredible honor.’

Tom Brady recently joined the ownership group of the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces

Brady talks with Kelsey Plum (2nd L) and Chelsea Gray of the Las Vegas Aces last year

Brady talks with Kelsey Plum (2nd L) and Chelsea Gray of the Las Vegas Aces last year

But while Brady was a one-of-a-kind talent on the gridiron, he’s far from the first athlete to get involved on the ownership side.

Here, DailyMail.com lists some other big names to head upstairs…

Serena Williams

After an illustrious tennis career with 23 Grand Slam singles titles, Serena Williams is still chasing greatness off the court.

Along with her husband, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian and daughter Olympia, Williams became a lead investor in NWSL side Angel City FC which debuted last year.

But it wasn’t the tennis star’s first foray into ownership.

Serena Williams is a lead investor in NWSL side Angel City FC, which debuted last year

Serena Williams is a lead investor in NWSL side Angel City FC, which debuted last year

In 2009, her and sister Venus became minority female owners in the Miami Dolphins – making them the first black female minority owners in the NFL.

Angel City finished eighth out of 12 teams in its first season, and welcomed Matthew Stafford and family as investors last week.

USWNT legends Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy and Abby Wambach are also among the star-studded list of investors.

Lewis Hamilton

As of August 2022, the NFL has Formula One royalty in its ranks.

The Denver Broncos were purchased for $4.65billion by the Walton-Penner group, and they added Lewis Hamilton as an investor before the deal was closed.

The group is led by Walmart billionaire heir Rob Walton.

While Hamilton doesn’t seem to have made a public trip to Denver yet, he did acknowledge the news on Twitter at the time.

Lewis Hamilton is a seven-time F1 champion

Hamilton's dog Roscoe is seen in Broncos gear

Lewis Hamilton shared a picture of his dog, Roscoe, as he announced his partnership with the Broncos

‘Excited to join an incredible group of owners and become a part of the @Broncos story!!,’ he wrote.

‘Honoured to work with a world class team and serve as an example of the value of more diverse leadership across all sports. Roscoe already thinks he made the team,’ he said.’

After a disastrous 5-12 season last year, the Broncos surely won’t be harmed by having the seven-time F1 champ in the organization. 

Patrick Mahomes

Coming off of his second Super Bowl win in February, Patrick Mahomes is still firmly at the top of his game – and the NFL’s best quarterback.

Nonetheless, that hasn’t stopped him from putting more on his plate outside of football, as he’s an investor in baseball and soccer.

He first dipped his toe into the ownership pool in 2021, purchasing a minority stake in his Chiefs’ Kansas City sibling the Royals.

Patrick Mahomes is seen throwing out a first pitch for the Royals in 2018 at Kauffman Stadium

Patrick Mahomes is seen throwing out a first pitch for the Royals in 2018 at Kauffman Stadium

Mahomes reportedly put $10million into the baseball team.

But the football star wasn’t done there, as he later invested in both of KC’s pro soccer teams – Sporting KC of MLS and the Kansas City Current of the NWSL.

Mahomes’ wife Brittany is also a part owner of the Current.

Michael Jordan

Arguably the biggest name on this list, and the only one who’s the primary owner of their team, Michael Jordan purchased the Charlotte Hornets (then the Bobcats) in 2010 from Bob Johnson.

Jordan paid ‘only’ $180million for the team after a legendary NBA career and lucrative (still-active) Nike partnership.

And Jordan is now reportedly in ‘serious talks’ to sell his majority stake in the franchise, whose valued has ballooned to $1.7billion according to Forbes.

Michael Jordan, seen with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, has owned the Hornets since 2010 but may soon sell the team

Michael Jordan, seen with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, has owned the Hornets since 2010 but may soon sell the team

For now, Jordan is still part of the NBA ownership community, and his Hornets have been wholly unsuccessful during his time there.

Since Jordan’s first season in Charlotte – 2010-11 – the Hornets have the NBA’s fifth-worst record (421-596) and haven’t won a playoff series. 

Jordan previously had a 10-percent stake in the Washington Wizards, but had to sell it to comply with NBA rules against player-owners as he made a forgettable comeback in the nation’s capital.

LeBron James 

The Lakers star will follow Jordan into the basketball Hall of Fame, became the NBA’s all-time leading scorer this season and could eventually purchase a team like Mike.

For now, however, James is a part-owner of both Liverpool and the Boston Red Sox through Fenway Sports Group.

James first got involved in Liverpool in 2011, with his initial $6.5million stake turning into $32million as of 2018. PSG initially purchased the historic Merseyside club for $400million, meaning James bought a roughly one percent stake in the club.

LeBron James is seen during a visit to Liverpool's Anfield stadium in October 2011

LeBron James is seen during a visit to Liverpool’s Anfield stadium in October 2011

In 2021, James, increased his stake in FSG and became a minority owner of the Red Sox, who are valued at $4.5billion according to Forbes.

That move was viewed as a step towards majority ownership later in life, which James is interested in according to agent Rich Paul.  

‘Hell yeah,’ Paul told CNBC in 2021. ‘He’s extremely serious about sports ownership.’

David Beckham

As part of the deal he signed to play with the LA Galaxy in 2007, David Beckham had the right to a discounted MLS franchise.

The former Manchester United and Real Madrid star exercised that option in 2014, with Inter Miami officially launched four years later before debuting in 2020.

Today, the club is valued at $585million by Sportico, and Beckham is a co-owner alongside brothers Jose and Jorge Mas, who is the managing owner.

David Beckham is a co-owner of MLS side Inter Miami alongside brothers Jose and Jorge Mas

David Beckham is a co-owner of MLS side Inter Miami alongside brothers Jose and Jorge Mas

Beckham also serves as the president of the club.

In 2021, Beckham and the Mas brothers increased their stake in the club and bought out former co-owners Marcelo Claure and Masayoshi Son, who joined the project in 2014 and 2017 respectively.

And Beckham’s stake in the club could become even more valuable if Miami manage to convince Lionel Messi to join.

Russell Wilson

Russell Wilson was traded from the Seahawks to the Broncos last year, he’s still tied to Seattle via his ownership in MLS’ Sounders.

He and wife Ciara purchased a stake in the team in 2019 – the same year he’d go on to post a career-low interception rate and 31 touchdowns – and it was easy to imagine the quarterback finishing his career with the Seahawks.

‘Seattle, when I got here in 2012, it was a place that I felt like I could call home forever,’ he said in a video for the Sounders’ YouTube account.

Russell Wilson and his wife Ciara purchased a stake in the Seattle Sounders in 2019

Russell Wilson and his wife Ciara purchased a stake in the Seattle Sounders in 2019

‘And we’re really excited about just building a winning culture. This city’s a special place.’

Aside from soccer, Wilson announced in 2018 that he and Ciara were part of an initiative to bring an MLB team to Portland, Oregon.

No such team has materialized yet, though MLB commissioner has spoken openly about expanding MLB to 32 teams. 

Tap-ins

There are plenty of other athletes who hold stakes in sports franchises.

Kevin Durant and Giants legend Eli Manning both have ownership in NWSL side Gotham FC, while Durant owns a minority share of the Philadelphia Union in MLS.

His former Nets and Thunder teammate James Harden is also involved in the league through his ownership of the Houston Dynamo – as well as sister club the Houston Dash – while boxer Oscar De La Hoya owns a reported 25 percent of the Dynamo too.

Two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash also owns a piece of the Vancouver Whitecaps, while Lakers legend Shaquille O’Neal has a minority stake in the Sacramento Kings.

And speaking of Lakers legends, Magic Johnson is part of ownership groups for LA’s Dodgers, the WNBA’s Sparks and LAFC. 

Magic Johnson, seen here last year, became an owner of the Dodgers in 2012

Magic Johnson, seen here last year, became an owner of the Dodgers in 2012

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