20 Athletes Who Became Successful Businesspeople, Ranked

Venus Williams launched V Starr Interiors in 2002, building a premier commercial design firm that executed multi-million-dollar hospitality projects. She also created the activewear brand EleVen and co-owns the Miami Dolphins.

After landing the first 900 in 1999, Tony Hawk co-founded Birdhouse Skateboards and partnered with Activision to launch the Pro Skater video game franchise, generating over 1.4 billion dollars in worldwide retail sales.

Maria Sharapova invested 500,000 dollars of her own capital in 2012 to launch premium candy brand Sugarpova. She later became an active angel investor with early equity stakes in Supergoop, Therabody, and Bala Bangles.

Hockey legend Wayne Gretzky established Wayne Gretzky Estates in Ontario, producing acclaimed wines, spirits, and craft beers. His business footprint includes the No. 99 restaurant chain and sports franchise investments.

Peyton Manning owned 31 Papa Johns franchises across Denver before selling them at peak valuation in 2018. He founded Omaha Productions, turning the ManningCast into an Emmy-winning live broadcast phenomenon.

George Foreman signed an endorsement deal with Salton Inc. in 1994 for a lean-mean fat-reducing grill. The appliance sold over 100 million units, earning Foreman more than 200 million dollars in royalties and buyout cash.

Alex Rodriguez founded A-Rod Corp in 2003, deploying capital across commercial real estate, fitness clubs, and private equity. In 2021, he partnered with Marc Lore to purchase the NBA Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx.

Serena Williams founded Serena Ventures in 2014, raising over 100 million dollars to invest in more than 60 early-stage companies. She also co-owns Angel City FC and launched the recovery brand Will Perform.

Australian golfer Greg Norman established Great White Shark Enterprises in 1993, developing over 100 championship golf courses worldwide. His business empire expanded into Australian wines, apparel, and commercial development.

Seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady created the TB12 wellness company and co-founded Autograph, an athlete NFT and media platform. He also acquired minority ownership stakes in the Las Vegas Raiders and Birmingham City.

When David Beckham joined MLS in 2007, his contract included a clause allowing him to purchase an expansion franchise for 25 million dollars. He launched Inter Miami CF, which grew into a billion-dollar club with Lionel Messi.

Shaquille O'Neal invested in Google before its 1998 IPO and later owned 155 Five Guys restaurants and dozens of car washes. He serves on the board of Papa Johns, owns franchise stores, and founded the Big Chicken restaurant chain.

In 2019, Roger Federer acquired an estimated 3 percent equity stake in Swiss sportswear brand On Running. When the company went public in 2021, his holding surpassed 300 million dollars alongside his agency Team8.

Cristiano Ronaldo turned his personal CR7 brand into a global business powerhouse encompassing fashion, fragrances, and eyewear. Partnering with Pestana Group, he launched the Pestana CR7 hotel chain across Madrid and New York.

Lionel Messi negotiated landmark Apple TV and Adidas revenue-share deals upon signing with Inter Miami CF. His business portfolio includes the MiM Hotels boutique chain, Play Time sports-tech venture fund, and Mas+ hydration.

Arnold Palmer created modern sports marketing with agent Mark McCormack in 1960. He licensed his name to AriZona Beverage Co. for the Arnold Palmer iced tea and lemonade drink, generating hundreds of millions in retail revenue.

Tiger Woods built TGR Design to build world-class golf courses and invested in PopStroke, an upscale golf entertainment chain. He also co-founded TMRW Sports, launching the tech-forward golf league TGL alongside Sun Day Red.

Magic Johnson built Magic Johnson Enterprises into a billion-dollar juggernaut by opening movie theaters and 105 Starbucks stores in underserved urban areas. He holds ownership stakes in the Dodgers, Sparks, and Commanders.

LeBron James achieved billionaire status while still playing, driven by his SpringHill Company entertainment studio and an early equity bet on Blaze Pizza. He also holds an ownership stake in Fenway Sports Group and RFK Racing.

Michael Jordan transformed athlete endorsements by partnering with Nike to create Jordan Brand, which generates over 6.6 billion dollars annually. His sale of the Charlotte Hornets cemented his fortune at over 3 billion dollars.