All the celebrities you never knew owned sporting teams
What is a celebrity to do with all that money once they've earned it putting out blockbuster movies and platinum records?
Buy a sporting team, of course.
From actors like Natalie Portman and Michael B. Jordan, to singers like Usher and Nelly, and sports stars like David Beckham and Michael Jordan, these are all the celebrities you never knew owned sporting team.
Natalie Portman: Angel City Football Club
Star Wars' Natalie Portman spearheaded celebrity investment into Angel City Football Club, which started playing in 2022 as the Los Angeles area's first women's professional soccer team in more than a decade.
"[We want to] expand those sports heroes – and those sports modeling behaviors – to have women in those positions, too," Portman told People.
"To celebrate women at the same level as the way we celebrate male athletes is culture-shifting."
And Portman's not the only famous face who co-owns the women's team, which is valued at $250 million (approx. $A373 million).
Eva Longoria: Angel City Football Club
Eva Longoria is another wealthy celebrity owner backing the team, regularly promoting it on her own social media accounts.
"Excited to watch ACFC this year," she wrote on Instagram in Febuary 2024, "See you at the Home Opener on Sunday, March 17!!"
The Desperate Housewives actress also posed in photos and videos wearing the team's iconic pink kit and another black kit to show off her dedication.
America Ferrera: Angel City Football Club
Barbie star America Ferrera is also part of the celebrity cohort behind Angel City Football Club, as is actress Jennifer Garner.
Other famous founding members include: pro tennis star Serena Williams, actors Uzo Aduba and Jessica Chastain, late night talk show host and YouTuber Lilly Singh, YouTuber Casey Neistat, and several former members of the United States national team.
Ryan Reynolds: Wrexham AFC
In 2020, Deadpool & Wolverine star Ryan Reynolds decided to buy a struggling English National League team with a mate and document their efforts to revive it.
That turned into a hugely successful docuseries called Welcome to Wrexham, which helped get fans behind the team which had been at the bottom of the National League.
Now Wrexham's well-known even outside of the UK and Reynolds continues to promote the club as co-owner.
Rob McElhenney: Wrexham AFC
The 'mate' Reynolds purchased the team with was none other than It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia actor Rob McElhenney.
As well as no owning a popular football club, McElhenney snagged Emmy Award for his work as one of the executive producers on Welcome to Wrexham.
Talk about a smart investment.
Russel Crowe: Rabbitohs
Any NRL fan worth their salt knows Gladiator legend Russell Crowe has been co-owner of the South Sydney Rabbitohs since 2006 and loves the team to bits.
He's often spotted at NRL games cheering the Bunnies on and has been credited with supporting the team on its road to many wins over the past two decades.
Crowe has also brought a few of his famous friends to games over the years, including Tom Cruise, Taika Waititi and Chris Hemsworth.
Serena Williams Venus Williams: Miami Dolphins
It should come as no surprise that pro tennis players Venus and Serena Williams decided to invest in a sports team of their own in 2009, when they bought into the Miami Dolphins.
The move made them the first African-American women to become minority owners of an NFL team in history, but it's far from the first time these women have broken records.
Serena is also a part owner of the Angel City Football Club.
Marc Anthony: Miami Dolphins
Speaking of the Miami Dolphins, singer Marc Anthony has also been a majority owner of the NFL team since 2009.
"These opportunities don't come around too often. It's quite an honor and a privilege to be able to sit here today saying that I'm a part-owner of an NFL team," he told People when he bought in.
He and the Williams sisters aren't the only ones backing the team either; singer Fergie, and Gloria and Emilio Estefan have also invested in the club.
Justin Timberlake: Memphis Grizzlies
In 2012, What Goes Around singer Justin Timberlake bought into the Memphis Grizzlies NBA team as a minority owner and has been ever since.
Given he was born and raised in Memphis, it made sense for the star to invest in a team close to his heart – and home.
According to reports at the time, he paid a whopping $US5 million (approx. $7.4 million) through his investment group Tennman Sports to buy just a 2.84 per cent stake in the team.
