Celebrities Who Bought Their Own Sports Team

Right here’s what these celebrities needed to say about their sports activities groups…

1. Ryan Reynolds

In 2020, Ryan Reynolds and his enterprise accomplice Rob McElhenney grew to become co-chairmen of Wrexham AFC after they bought the welsh-based soccer crew for an estimated $2.4 million. It was initially Rob’s thought to put money into the crew and he ultimately requested Ryan to come back on board — regardless of by no means having truly met him in individual. Ryan agreed to go all in with Rob and since then, he admits he’s grow to be hooked on watching the crew succeed.

“I’ve solely been the proprietor of a soccer membership for a really brief time. To date I’ve discovered it to be very time-consuming, emotionally exhausting, financially idiotic and totally addictive,” Ryan joked to The Guardian.

2. Matthew McConaughey

Matthew McConaughey is a minority proprietor in Main League Soccer growth crew, Austin FC. Not solely is Matthew a crew proprietor however he additionally serves because the membership’s minister of tradition, a place which he’s utilizing to assist the franchise’s “roots develop deeper, not simply wider.”

“I am not occupied with simply being a mascot…I’ve at all times dreamed of being on the bottom degree. There are shortcuts in every single place…We’re attempting to construct an enormous sturdy oak. It is a 100-year struggle. We’ve the lengthy view for what we’ll grow to be,” Matthew shared.

3. Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman could not have been a sports activities fan rising up however she not too long ago helped discovered Angel Metropolis FC, a ladies’s soccer crew primarily based in Los Angeles. Her foray into the world of soccer started a number of years in the past when she helped draw consideration to the pay inequality confronted by the US ladies’s crew. As she watched them play, she realized that amplifying feminine athletes “may quickly shift tradition.”

After discovering buyers Natalie teamed up with Eva Longoria, Jennifer Garner, Uzo Aduba and Jessica Chastain, who all grew to become co-owners of the crew. In reality, the crew boasts greater than 100 co-owners – two-thirds of whom are ladies.

“Our dream is to make ladies’s soccer as valued as male soccer is all through the world,” Natalie mentioned.

4. Marc Anthony

Earlier than Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez break up, they bought a small share of the Miami Dolphins. Following the previous couple’s divorce, Marc obtained their whole stake within the soccer crew as a part of their settlement. Whereas Jennifer now not has possession within the crew, Marc remains to be an proprietor alongside a number of different celebrities together with Serena and Venus Williams.

“I’m an enormous sports activities fan. These alternatives don’t come round too typically. It’s fairly an honor and a privilege to have the ability to sit right here right this moment saying that I’m a part-owner of an NFL crew,” Marc mentioned following his buy in 2009.

5. Fergie

Fergie is one other minority proprietor within the Miami Dolphins, buying her stake within the crew across the similar time as Marc. To this present day, Fergie remains to be part of the possession board and was even rumored to be in consideration to symbolize the crew whereas major proprietor Stephen Ross was suspended by the NFL.

6. Will Ferrell

In 2016, Will Ferrell grew to become a co-owner of Los Angeles FC — earlier than the crew had even performed their first match. He says all of it started when the daddy of one in every of his child’s mates approached him about beginning the franchise. Since then, Will has grow to be a staple at LAFC video games, typically seen leading fan chants from the stands and goofing off with the crew.

“Consider it or not, one of many members of the possession group is a fellow dad and our youngsters go to the identical college. And he despatched me an e mail saying ‘Hey, I don’t know if this may be fascinating to you. We’re forming this possession group and I do know you performed soccer.’ And I used to be speaking to my spouse and I mentioned ‘This could be unbelievable,'” Will defined.

7. Justin Timberlake

Justin Timberlake went again to his Tennessee roots when he bought a minority stake within the Memphis Grizzlies in 2012. Via the years, Justin has been noticed displaying his help from the sidelines and not too long ago campaigned for Grizzlies participant Ja Morant to start out within the 2022 NBA All-Star Recreation.

8. Russell Crowe

In 2006, Russell Crowe grew to become a co-owner of the South Sydney Rabbitohs, a rugby crew primarily based in his native Australia. Through the years, he helped carry the crew to prominence and sometimes attended video games along with his well-known mates. He not too long ago introduced that he can be taking a step again from his possession place and can be promoting his stake within the crew.

“It is fairly easy, I’ve to make extra time for my household. I’ve cherished the duty of bringing South Sydney again to being a aggressive power. With many participant contracts long-term and an ideal coach in place it is the suitable time. This can solely be a change on the company degree of Blackcourt, the corporate that Peter and I management. Members and followers ought to perceive that nothing will change at a membership degree. South Sydney ’til I die – one purple eye, one inexperienced eye,” Russell mentioned in an announcement.

9. Eva Longoria

Along with half possession in Angel Metropolis FC, Eva Longoria can be a partial proprietor of Mexican-based soccer crew, Membership Necaxa. Eva, together with a bunch of celebrities together with soccer star Mesut Ozil and Kate Upton, make up a consortium that personal half of the membership’s shares.

10. Invoice Murray

Invoice Murray has possession in a number of minor league baseball groups together with the Charleston RiverDogs, Brockton Rocks and Hudson Valley Renegades. In 2014, he additionally grew to become a co-owner of the St. Paul Saints. He can typically be seen at their video games and as soon as even determined to get in on the motion and helped examine tickets for followers coming into the stadium.

11. Will Smith

Will Smith and his spouse Jada Pinkett Smith grew to become half homeowners within the Philadelphia 76ers after they purchased a share of the crew in 2011. As a longtime fan of his hometown basketball crew, Will shared that there’s no feeling like proudly owning a sports activities crew.

“There’s nothing, in like all of leisure, than to stroll into the constructing when it is introduced that you are a half proprietor of your hometown basketball crew. That’s ridiculous,” Will mentioned on “Jimmy Kimmel Reside,” jokingly including, “If the crew does not win, it sucks later.”