The Famous Faces Who Own Some of Your Favorite Sports Teams

F1 driver and seven time world champion Lewis Hamilton announced in August 2022 that he will be an investor in the Denver Broncos. The investment group, the Walton-Penner group, is led by Walmart heir Rob Walton and also features former United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Following the news, Hamilton took to Twitter to say, "Excited to join an incredible group of owners and become a part of the @Broncos

 story!! Honoured to work with a world class team and serve as an example of the value of more diverse leadership across all sports."

NBA superstar Kevin Durant became a minority owner of National Women's Soccer League club Gotham FC in May 2022. Durant joins an ownership group led by New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and his wife, Tammy, according to ESPN.

In early 2022, former NBA star Dwyane Wade became part of MLS side Real Salt Lake's new ownership group.

In 2021, Wade also took an ownership stake in NBA team Utah Jazz.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback and Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes has clearly taken to the city he plays in because in the summer of 2021, the NFL star became part owner of MLS franchise Sporting K.C.

Gloria Estefan, Fergie, Serena Williams, Venus Williams and Marc Anthony all invested together to own a piece of the NFL's storied Miami Dolphins in 2009. Each of the stars owns 1% of the team.

In the fall of 2021, multi platinum rapper Yo Gotti purchased a minority stake in MLS franchise D.C. United with friend former NFL running back Mark Ingram II.

Brooklyn Nets and former NBA champion Kevin Durant purchased a 5% stake in MLS' Philadelphia Union in 2020.

NBA great Carmelo Anthony took the love he has for his heritage a step further and in 2015 announced the purchase of minor league soccer team Puerto Rico F.C. While Anthony and the fans had high hopes for the team in their league, the NASL, the league collapsed in 2017 and so did the club.

While the name Giorgio Armani is synonymous with high fashion, the Italian designer is also a rabid sports fan. Armani has not only designed soccer jersey's for teams like Napoli, he also owns the Italian basketball team Olimpia Milano.

Former NBA champ Tony Parker will always be remembered for his time at the San Antonio Spurs. After his retirement, the French basketball player returned home and became majority owner of basketball team ASVEL.

Prior to his blockbuster trade to the Brooklyn Nets last year, James Harden was a member of the Houston Rockets and a fixture on the city. He fell in love with the city so much, he invested and became part owner of their male and female soccer clubs, Houston Dynamo and Houston Dash, respectively. He sold his stake in early 2021 alongside Oscar De La Hoya.

David Beckham was a legendary soccer star and played for some of the world's biggest teams in Manchester United, Real Madrid, A.C. Milan, and Paris St. Germain, as well as becoming the face of the L.A. Galaxy when he joined the MLS side in 2007. In 2020, after years of trying to get the project off the ground, the team he owns, Inter Miami, became one of the league's latest additions. The soccer great's son, Romeo, even plays for the club.

Larry Fitzgerald is known for his ability to dominate a football field. It turns out the NFL great had his sights also set on something more. In 2020, Fitzgerald became part owner of the Phoenix Suns basketball team and his investments are paying off, as the club reached the NBA finals in the 2020-2021 season.

NBA icon and North Carolina native Michael Jordan changed the game of basketball during his tenure with the Chicago Bulls. After he retired from the league in the early 2000s, he purchased the then-Charlotte Bobcats NBA franchise. Jordan is still the owner of the team, now called the Hornets. 

Steve Nash will go down in the history books for his time in the NBA and his coaching skills, which currently puts to use with the Brooklyn Nets. But Nash's first sport he loved was soccer. Nash, who was born in South Africa and raised in Canada, owns a piece of the MLS side Vancouver Whitecaps.

Magic Johnson was one of the greatest basketball players to ever live but after he retired from the game he loved so much, he took his love of Los Angeles and sports to a whole new level. Johnson is partial owner of several teams teams, including Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team, LAFC soccer team and L.A. Sparks WNBA team.

Tennis ace Naomi Osaka owns a percentage of the women's soccer team North Carolina Courage.

Comedian Bill Maher has always talked about his love of baseball and the New York Mets so it's no surprise he jumped at the chance to purchase a percentage of the team. Maher purchased a stake in the baseball team in 2008 and had it until 2020, when the team was bought by investor Steve Cohen.

In 2005, Usher joined a group who purchased the Cleveland Cavaliers basketball team. In 2016, the Cavs, who then had superstar LeBron James on the squad, won the NBA Championship.

Australian actor Russell Crowe is never one to shy away from his love of rugby. After becoming a successful Hollywood star, the "Cinderella Man" actor bought a stake in South Sydney Rabbitohs rugby club.

Tech titan and entrepreneur Mark Cuban is also a diehard basketball fan. In 2000, he bought the Dallas Mavericks for $285 million from H. Ross Perot, Jr., the son of former presidential candidate and tycoon. In 2011, the Mavericks won their first NBA championship under Cuban, their first in franchise history.

Derek Jeter was the face of the New York Yankees when he was a player. In retirement, he found a way to be the face of a whole new baseball team after he bought the Miami Marlins in 2017.

Boxer Oscar De La Hoya has invested his money wisely in various projects following retirement from his storied career, including in MLS franchise Houston Dynamo. The boxer owned the team until earlier this year, when he sold it to New York businessman Ted Segal.

Born and raised in Memphis and a lover of basketball, singer Justin Timberlake could not pass up the opportunity to join a group that purchased 3% of the Memphis Grizzlies in 2012.

Ryan Reynolds along with friend and funnyman Rob McElhenney purchased lower tier Welsh soccer club Wrexham F.C. in 2020.

Comedian and actor Bill Murray is often seen at Chicago Cubs games and has declared his love of that team throughout his career. However, Murray's love of baseball knows no bounds as he owns an undisclosed portion of the independent minor league baseball team the St. Paul Saints in Minnesota.

Former Spanish World Cup winner David Villa must have fallen in love with New York City during his five seasons in MLS playing for NYCFC, as in 2020, he started Queensboro FC based in Queens, New York. The team will play in lower leagues but is the borough's first professional soccer team.

In 2011, one of Philly's favorite sons, Will Smith, took his fandom to a whole new level when he and his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, invested in his favorite basketball team, the Philadelphia 76ers.

The price must have been right when Drew Carey took his love of soccer one step further and became the minority owner of MLS franchise Seattle Sounders.

In 2014, Steve Ballmer, a former Microsoft founder and billionaire, took his love of basketball to new levels when he purchased the Los Angeles Clippers in the wake of the Donald Sterling scandal. Ballmer is often seen at Clippers home games cheering the team on from court side and getting the crowd hyped up with his infectious energy.

Austin, Texas' most famous son, Matthew McConaughey, displayed his love of his city in 2020 when he purchased a percentage of new Major League Soccer franchise Austin FC ahead of their inaugural season the following year. The "Dallas Buyers Club" actor is known for donning a green suit and playing his bongos ahead of some home matches.

Elton John opted to buy his boyhood club and favorite soccer team Watford in 1976. He sold the team in 1987, however, stayed on as chairman and repurchased the club in 1997. In 2002, the "Rocket Man" sold his shares of the team. He told the Mirror years later that “Watford might have saved my life. I’m incredibly proud of what we achieved together, but I owe Watford far more than Watford owe me.”

Mario Lemieux is arguably one of the Pittsburgh Penguins' most famous players ever, so it was natural that after he retired, he purchased a stake in the organization that he called home for his career.

Indiana native David Letterman never hid the fact that he loved his home state. One of Indiana's most famous events is the Indy 500, so Letterman bought a share in a friend's racing team and named it after himself. They have so far won the Indy 400 twice, in 2004 and in 2020. 

Will Ferrell, Magic Johnson, Mia Hamm and Nomar Garciaparra teamed up to purchase a piece of one of MLS' newest teams, LAFC, in 2018.

Before he had his sights set on the highest office in the land, George W. Bush purchased a stake in his favorite team, the Texas Rangers, in 1989. However, his ownership didn't last very long as Bush sold his stake in the team in 1998. He went on to be elected President of the United States in 2000 and would make appearances at games when back home in Texas.

Media mogul and disgraced former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi purchased second division Italian soccer team Monza in 2019. Berlusconi is no stranger to the game, as he owned Italian and European soccer giants A.C. Milan for over 20 years.

Between 1976 and 2007, billionaire and media mogul Ted Turner owned his boyhood club, Major League Baseball’s Atlanta Braves.

Perhaps best known for what he can do on the basketball court, LeBron James in 2011 invested in English Premier League side Liverpool with Fenway Sports Group. The NBA superstar owns more than 2% of the team.

When the Brooklyn Nets kicked off their first season in 2021, rapper Jay Z had much to smile about. Not only did he open their home stadium, the Barclays Center, with a series of concerts, but he was part owner of the team. Jay Z left the organization in 2013, but still has close ties to the team and often appears at home games.

In 2016, just two years after the minor league soccer team Phoenix Rising was activated, superstar DJ and Grammy winner Diplo purchased a minority stake in the team with Fall Out Boy bassist Pete Wentz.

Powerhouse New York attorney Joe Tacopina, whose past clients include Meek Mill, Jay Z, and Sean Hannity, purchased Italian second division soccer team SPAL in 2021. His goal is to bring the club to the top flight, where they would play alongside big teams like A.C. Milan, Roma, Inter Milan and Juventus.

Between 1985 and 2014, Senator Herb Kohl of Minnesota was the owner of NBA team Milwaukee Bucks.

Two-time Super Bowl MVP and New York Giants legend Eli Manning became the minority owner of NJ/NY Gotham FC, a professional women's soccer club .

"I have lived and worked in this community for almost two decades," said Manning. "It's home to me, and Gotham FC is my family's favorite soccer club. Combine that with the organization's strong leadership, talented roster, and sustained growth, and it became clear that joining this great group was a fantastic opportunity."

Italian soccer giant AC Milan has been taken over by Redbird Capitol, who along with partners the New York Yankees as well as NBA supster star LeBron James and hip-hop hero Drake, have all invested into the seven-time European champions and reigning Serie A victors.

James and Drake will be passive investors in soccer team through their fund Main Street Advisors and have not taken direct stakes, according to The Financial Times.

This marks James' second foray into soccer as he is a minority owner of Liverpool in the English Premier League.