30 Celebrities You Never Knew Owned Sports Teams

With millions of dollars laying around, these celebrities decided to invest in sports teams.

30 Celebrities You Never Knew Owned Sports Teams

Many boys and girls grow up dreaming about competing in pro sports one day. But as that NCAA commercial tells us, nearly 99 percent of athletes don’t end up turning pro. However, perhaps a step above making the team is owning the team, and many celebrities who grew up wanting to be pro athletes have bought ownership stakes in their favorite teams.

Some of them have even bought stakes in random teams that they have no ties to, just to be a part of the owners club. These celebrities range from entertainers to politicians to authors to former athletes. The ownership stakes of the celebs on this list also range from microscopic percentages to being majority owners.

There’s just one caveat to making this list for former athletes: You can’t own a team in your sport. Thus, Derek Jeter (Marlins), Shaquille O’Neal (Kings) and Michael Jordan (Hornets) are out, although a few of those owners did find a way to show up on this list through other means. Without further ado, here are the 30 best celebrity sports owners.

30. Usher

Occupation: Musician

Team owned: Cleveland Cavaliers

Percentage owned: 1 percent

Bottom Line: Usher

Born in Dallas but raised in Atlanta, Usher Raymond doesn’t have any real ties to Cleveland, Ohio. But in 2005, he noticed an up-and-coming team led by a 20-year-old named LeBron James and saw the Cavs as a stock on the rise. Thus, he became a part of an ownership group that spent $375 million in order to become minority owners.

LeBron may no longer be with the team, but the value of the franchise has increased exponentially thanks to his two stints with the team. The Cavs are valued at over $1.5 billion (2021), and Usher even collected an NBA Championship ring thanks to Cleveland winning the 2016 NBA Finals.

29. Giannis Antetokounmpo

Occupation: Athlete

Team owned: Milwaukee Brewers

Percentage owned: Unknown

Bottom Line: Giannis Antetokounmpo

The newest addition to this list, Antetokounmpo cashed in after leading the Bucks to the 2021 NBA Championship. The Greek Freak joined the ownership group of Milwaukee’s MLB team just weeks after becoming an NBA champion, but he reportedly agreed to become a minority owner in May 2021 while the Bucks’ playoff run was still in progress.

However, it wasn’t announced until August 2021 as to not distract from the Bucks’ title pursuit. Antetokounmpo became the second Milwaukee-area MVP to become a minority owner of a local pro team after Aaron Rodgers previously became an owner of Giannis’ Bucks.

28. Mark Ingram

Occupation: Athlete

Team owned: D.C. United

Percentage owned: 1 percent

Bottom Line: Mark Ingram

New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram leads stadium chant

Ingram spent just two years playing with the Baltimore Ravens, but he enjoyed his time enough in the DMV that he bought into one of their pro sports teams. Just months after being waived by the Ravens — and subsequently signing with the Texans — Ingram joined D.C. United’s ownership group as an investor.

Ingram said he attended several D.C. United matches as a fan and got to know the co-chairmen, Jason Levien and Steve Kaplan, which made the decision all the easier. He also said he plans on being actively involved with ownership, which is a nice side hustle to have in addition to being an NFL running back.

27. David Letterman

David Letterman speaks at Love Rocks NYC!,

Occupation: TV host/comedian

Team owned: Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing

Percentage owned: Unknown

Bottom Line: David Letterman

As a native of Indiana, Letterman grew up in a sports-crazed state that loves basketball and auto racing. He decided to get involved with the latter by purchasing a small share of Team Rahal, which competes in the IMSA SportsCar Championship and the IndyCar Series.

The talk show’s host role within the racing team would only grow from there as his stake grew, and the team name eventually took his name by becoming Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. The team has experienced its most success in the IndyCar Series, including winning the Indianapolis 500 in both 2004 and 2020.

26. Will Ferrell

Will Ferrell hosts LAFC Youth Academy and girls' development club

Occupation: Actor/comedian

Team owned: LAFC

Percentage owned: Unknown

Bottom Line: Will Ferrell

Starring in "Semi-Pro," "Blades of Glory" and "Talladega Nights" didn’t launch Ferrell’s athletic career, so he just decided to buy a sports team instead. In 2016, Ferrell — who was born and raised in Los Angeles — became a part-owner of LAFC of Major League Soccer.

The team wasn’t even a team at that point, as it had no head coach nor any players; it had only been announced as the league’s newest expansion team. But Ferrell came aboard in 2016, the roster was filled out in 2017, and LAFC made its MLS debut in 2018, with Ferrell in attendance.

25. Bing Crosby

Occupation: Musician/actor

Team owned: Pittsburgh Pirates

Percentage owned: 25 percent

Bottom Line: Bing Crosby

The multimedia star was raised in the Pacific Northwest, got his start in California and achieved his fame in New York. But when you get an offer to become a sports owner in a city you have no ties to, it’s hard to pass up.

Crosby originally owned 15 percent of the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1946, which then grew to 25 percent in 1950. The team won two World Series championships during his tenure in 1960 and 1971. Crosby would remain a part-owner of the team until his death in 1977, and the Pirates would win their most recent World Series two years later.

24. Michelle Williams

Occupation: Musician

Team owned: Chicago Sky

Percentage owned: Unknown

Bottom Line: Michelle Williams

Still riding the Destiny’s Child high, Michelle Williams became a minority owner of the WNBA’s Chicago Sky team from her hometown in 2006.

Few expected her to own a pro sports team before bandmate Beyonce did, but there was another Knowles who joined Williams as a Sky minority owner. Mathew Knowles, Beyonce's father and manager of Destiny's Child, was announced as a part-owner the same day Williams was.

23. Marc Anthony

Occupation: Musician

Team owned: Miami Dolphins

Percentage owned: Unknown

Bottom Line: Marc Anthony

Prior to 2014, Jennifer Lopez’s name would have been listed here, as both she and then-husband, Marc Anthony, joined the Dolphins’ ownership group in 2009. However, once the couple got divorced in 2014, the share — which was in Anthony’s name — reverted back to his sole possession with Lopez’s name removed from the ownership listing.

Anthony (and Lopez) were just two of a number of celebrities added to the Dolphins ownership group at this time, as the franchise attempted to broaden its appeal. Others included Fergie, Gloria Estefan and the Williams Sisters.

22. Shaquille O’Neal

Occupation: Athlete

Team owned: NRG Esports

Percentage owned: 2 percent

Bottom Line: Shaquille O’Neal

Because of the rule stated in the intro that athletes with ownership stakes in their former sports are excluded, Shaq’s piece of the Sacramento Kings isn’t listed. But his share of an Esports team does make the cut.

O’Neal can thank his association with the Kings for getting involved with NRG Esports, as the team was founded by Kings co-owners Mark Mastrov and Andy Miller in 2015. Six months later they recruited O’Neal into the fold as an investor, and a few other MVPs have also joined the ownership group, including Alex Rodriguez and Jimmy Rollins.

21. Bobby Flay

Occupation: Chef

Horse owned: Creator

Percentage owned: 25 percent

Bottom Line: Bobby Flay

Bobby Flay turned "head counselor" demonstrates how to make delicious summer dishes

A world-renowned chef and TV host, Bobby Flay loves thoroughbreds just as much as he loves cooking. He has owned multiple graded stakes race winners, including More Than Real who won the 2010 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, which was a $1 million race.

Flay also has great timing as a thoroughbred owner. In 2016, he purchased a minority interest in the horse, Creator. Just days later, the 3-year-old horse won the Belmont Stakes, one of the three Triple Crown races. With that, Flay got to cash in on part of the $800,000 winner’s share that went to the winning horse’s owners, trainers and jockey.

20. Venus and Serena Williams

Venus Williams and Serena Williams showing gold medals in women's doubles

Occupation: Athletes

Team owned: Miami Dolphins

Percentage owned: 1 percent each

Bottom Line: Venus and Serena Williams

Venus and Serena Williams pose ahead of women's singles final

The Williams Sisters were born in Southern California but really honed their games in Miami, Florida, under tennis coach Rick Macci. After becoming professionals, both setup residences in the Miami area, and they made history in 2009.

That’s when Venus and Serena became part-owners of the Miami Dolphins, thus making them the first African American females to own part of an NFL team. They joined an eclectic group of Dolphins owners that really represented the surrounding community, as Jimmy Buffett, Gloria Estefan and Marc Anthony also bought small shares of the team.

19. Wayne Gretzky

Occupation: Athlete

Team owned: Las Vegas NLL Team

Percentage owned: Unknown

Bottom Line: Wayne Gretzky

Wayne Gretzky waves a record book listing his career goals

Las Vegas’ lacrosse team doesn’t even have a name yet and won’t start playing until 2022, but it has an All-Star group of owners. Gretzky is one, as is his son-in-law, Dustin Johnson, along with Steve Nash and Nash’s boss, Nets’ owner Joseph Tsai.

The Great One actually dabbled in lacrosse as a kid because his father thought it would help his hockey game. Now he’s an owner of a team, which would be the second pro sports team Gretzky has owned part of. Shortly after his retirement from the NHL, Gretzky bought a 10 percent ownership stake in the Phoenix Coyotes, and his presence prevented the team from relocating to Portland, Oregon.

18. Kevin Durant

Brooklyn Nets' Kevin Durant reacts during second half of NBA basketball game against Indiana Pacers

Occupation: Athlete

Team owned: Philadelphia Union

Percentage owned: 5 percent

Bottom Line: Kevin Durant

Brooklyn Nets' Kevin Durant smiles with teammates Kyrie Irving

Durant has ties to several areas across the country, including the Washington, D.C., area as well as Oklahoma City and the San Francisco Bay Area. The City of Brotherly Love isn’t on that list, but Durant bought into the Union of the MLS to expand his business profile. KD bought 5 percent of the Union with the option to purchase an additional 5 percent in the future.

The team is valued at $325 million, which means Durant’s stake was around $16.25 million. For someone who will have made roughly $500 million in NBA earnings when his current contract ends in 2026, it seems like an easy investment.

17. Steve Nash

British Columbia Premier Steve Nash and Christy Clark beat drums

Occupation: Athlete/coach

Team owned: Vancouver Whitecaps

Percentage owned: Unknown

Bottom Line: Steve Nash

Brooklyn Nets head coach Steve Nash directs players from bench

Born in South Africa but raised in British Columbia, Nash is a Vancouverite through and through. He lit the cauldron at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and is one of four owners of the Whitecaps of Major League Soccer.

Nash originally joined the ownership group in 2008 when the team was playing in a second-tier league, but then the Whitecaps joined MLS three years later. Nash’s younger brother, Martin, also spent six years playing for the Whitecaps, but there was no nepotism going on, as Martin joined the team four years before Nash became an owner.

16. Paul McCartney

Occupation: Musician/producer

Team owned: Green Bay Packers

Percentage owned: Unknown

Bottom Line: Paul McCartney

Paul McCartney flashes a smile as he rushes from New York’s Carnegie Hall

The Packers are the only community-owned franchise in North American team sports, as there’s no single or controlling owner. Green Bay Packers Inc. is the official owner of the team, and Sir Paul McCartney is one of 360,760 shareholders of the Packers. The former Beatles bassist became a shareholder in 2019 when he first visited Green Bay to perform at Lambeau Field.

In the latest offering, a single share of the franchise was worth $250, and no single person can own more than 200,000 shares. It’s believed that McCartney owns a single share, meaning he owns roughly .0000002 percent of the franchise.

15. Patrick Mahomes

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes greeted by Kansas City Royals pitcher Jason Adam

Occupation: Athlete

Team owned: Kansas City Royals, Sporting KC

Percentage owned: Unknown

Bottom Line: Patrick Mahomes

Mahomes grew up in Big League clubhouses as the son of former MLB pitcher, Pat Mahomes, and the younger Mahomes even played some baseball at Texas Tech. Thus, shortly after winning a Super Bowl, and cementing his long-term future in Kansas City by signing a record 10-year contract, Mahomes bought into the Royals.

He may already be the greatest athlete in Kansas City history, so the deal was a win for both sides. One year later, Mahomes bought into the other major pro sports franchise in the area, as he joined the ownership group of Sporting KC of Major League Soccer.

14. Justin Timberlake

Occupation: Musician

Team owned: Memphis Grizzlies

Percentage owned: 2.8 percent

Bottom Line: Justin Timberlake

During an early-season game in 2014, Memphis native Justin Timberlake simply tweeted “Grizzlies” in support of the team after its 10-1 start. A random Twitter user then responded by calling Timberlake a bandwagon fan, to which the 10-time Grammy winner replied, “Uh ... I'm from Memphis, and I'm an owner. Anyone else?”

Mic drop.

Both Timberlake and his wife, actress Jessica Biel, own small shares of the team. Peyton Manning is also involved in the ownership group, but the stake is in his wife’s name, Ashley, who is also a Memphis native, like Timberlake.

13. Macklemore

Macklemore shaking Russell Wilson's hand

Occupation: Musician

Team owned: Seattle Sounders

Percentage owned: Unknown

Bottom Line: Macklemore

Macklemore interacting with Ken Griffey Jr.

The Seattle-born rapper has always been a diehard fan of the Pacific Northwest’s sports teams and forgotten sports teams. He performed at the Seahawks’ 2014 NFC Championship Game and has often rocked SuperSonics jerseys. So, when the opportunity to join an ownership for one of the city’s sports teams was presented to him, Macklemore couldn’t say no.

In 2019, he joined the ownership group for the Seattle Sounders of MLS, and he joined a highly impressive group of celebrity owners. Other part-owners of the Sounders include Ken Griffey Jr., Russell Wilson, Ciara and the next person on this list.

12. Bill Maher

Occupation: TV host

Team owned: New York Mets

Percentage owned: 4 percent

Bottom Line: Bill Maher

If you had $20 million laying around the house like Bill Maher did back in 2012, then you could have bought into the Mets as well. The political commentator read in The New York Times that principal owner Fred Wilpon was putting shares of the team up for sale, and Maher, who was born in New York City, wasted no time in throwing his money at the team.

Wilpon listed 12 shares — each worth 4 percent, which would total 48 percent — so he could remain majority owner with 52 percent. Maher purchased one of those shares, and he then cashed in when Steve Cohen bought the Mets in 2020. That’s because the valuation of the franchise went from $719 million when Maher bought in to $2.4 billion, which was the price Cohen paid. Thus, Maher made over three times the money on his investment.

11. Drew Carey

Seattle Sounders part-owner Drew Carey leads fans

Occupation: Actor/comedian/TV host

Team owned: Seattle Sounders

Percentage owned: 7.5 percent

Bottom Line: Drew Carey

Macklemore, Ciara and Russell Wilson all own tiny, almost microscopic pieces of the Sounders. But Carey has been a part-owner of the team since its formation in 2007, and his last reported ownership percentage was 7.5 percent. While Carey had no previous known ties to Seattle — as he’s notorious for being a Cleveland sports fan — he is definitely a big soccer fan.

He traveled to Germany to take in the 2006 World Cup and then went to South Africa to watch the tournament four years later. Carey has won two MLS Cups with the Sounders, and only the LA Galaxy have won more league championships (three) since Carey came aboard in 2007.

10. Bill Murray

Occupation: Actor/comedian

Team owned: St. Paul Saints

Percentage owned: Unknown

Bottom Line: Bill Murray

The revered actor has owned parts of too many minor league teams to name, with most of them being Single-A or independent teams. However, the St. Paul Saints is his highest-profile team, as the Minnesota Twins affiliate competes in Triple-A, the highest minor league level.

Murray was born and raised in Chicago and has owned homes up and down both coasts, but he has no known ties to Minneapolis, St. Paul or Minnesota. But he clearly loves his St. Paul Saints, and avid "Space Jam" fans have noticed that Murray’s character wears a St. Paul Saints hat in one of the scenes alongside Michael Jordan.

9. Will Smith

Occupation: Actor/musician

Team owned: Philadelphia 76ers

Percentage owned: Unknown

Bottom Line: Will Smith

Jada Pinkett Smith, Will Smith, Jaden Smith watching 76ers

“In West Philadelphia born and raised” … Will Smith gave back to his hometown team by becoming part of the team. In 2011, Smith and wife, actress Jada Pinkett Smith, bought into the 76ers as minority owners and as parts of majority owner, Joshua Harris’, investment group.

Smith has always been a diehard fan of the Sixers and was frequently seen sitting courtside before joining the ownership group. Now with the ability to be more hands-on, he has even given the team motivational speeches before big playoff games.

8. George W. Bush

Former Presidents George Bush and his son George W. Bush arrive to throw ceremonial first pitch

Occupation: Politician

Team owned: Texas Rangers

Percentage owned: 11.8 percent

Bottom Line: George W. Bush

Former President George W. Bush makes comments during pregame ceremony

Before he ever became the 43rd U.S. President, Bush was a businessman in Texas. In 1989, he spent $500,000 to get a piece of the Texas Rangers along with a group of investors for an overall purchase price of $89 million.

He was then named Managing General Partner of the Rangers and put in another $600,000 in investments the following year. He remained in that role until becoming the governor of Texas in 1994; however, his ownership stake remained until he sold it in 1998. His initial investment proved to be a good one, as Dubya netted over $15 million upon selling his stake.

7. Tom Clancy

Occupation: Author

Team owned: Baltimore Orioles

Percentage owned: 24 percent

Bottom Line: Tom Clancy

Tom Clancy and Peter Angelos share a laugh

Younger fans may recognize Clancy’s name attached to various video games, but he was a world-renowned novelist who sold over 100 million copies of his books. He obviously accumulated a substantial amount of wealth, and he used some of that money to buy into the Baltimore Orioles in 1993.

Clancy was a Baltimore native and originally had 24 percent of the franchise. However, thanks to a divorce settlement a couple of years later, his ex-wife got half, so Clancy had 12 percent of the Orioles up until his death in 2013.

6. Aaron Rodgers

Occupation: Athlete

Team owned: Milwaukee Bucks

Percentage owned: 1 percent

Bottom Line: Aaron Rodgers

Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers watches during first half of Game 5

When the Bucks won the 2021 NBA Finals, that gave part-owner Aaron Rodgers as many championship rings with Milwaukee as he does with the Green Bay Packers. And with Rodgers’ “Last Dance” with Green Bay taking place, he probably has a better shot at adding a second NBA championship ring before he wins a second with the Packers.

But, nevertheless, the record-setting quarterback broke a barrier in 2018 by joining the Bucks’ ownership. He was announced as a limited partner and became the first active NFL player with an ownership stake in an NBA franchise.

5. LeBron James

Occupation: Athlete

Teams Owned: Boston Red Sox, Liverpool FC

Percentage owned: 2 percent (Liverpool), Unknown percentage (Red Sox)

Bottom Line: LeBron James

With the wealth he’s accumulated, there’s a good chance James will own an NBA team one day. But he’s taken baby steps toward that goal by becoming part-owner of two of the biggest sports brands in the world. In 2011, James spent $6.5 million to purchase a 2 percent stake in Liverpool, which plays in the English Premier League and is one of the most successful soccer clubs of all time.

Then 10 years later, James joined the Fenway Sports Group, which owns the Boston Red Sox, Fenway Park, New England Sports Network, Roush Racing and a host of other subsidiaries. This happened even in spite of James being vocal about his love for the Red Sox’s biggest rival in the New York Yankees.

4. Jami Gertz

Occupation: Actress

Team owned: Atlanta Hawks

Percentage owned: 50 percent

Bottom Line: Jami Gertz

The actress best known for appearing in 1980s movies "Sixteen Candles" and "The Lost Boys" is also married to one of the richest people in the world. Her husband, investor Tony Ressler, is worth $5.9 billion, and he used part of that money to buy the Atlanta Hawks in 2015.

Gertz was also part of that ownership group, and she hasn’t been shy about her support for the team. Gertz represented the Hawks as a good luck charm at the NBA Draft Lottery in 2018, 2019 and 2020. The first of those years, the Hawks would go on to draft Luka Doncic only to then trade him on draft day for Trae Young.

3. Michael Jordan

Occupation: Athlete

Team owned: 23 XI Racing

Percentage owned: Unknown

Bottom Line: Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan celebrates Bulls win over Portland Trail Blazers

Because of the rule stated in the intro, Jordan’s controlling interest in the Hornets doesn’t merit him a spot on this list. But the six-time NBA champion has another venture called 23XI Racing alongside Denny Hamlin. The 23 refers to Jordan’s number, while the XI refers to the No. 11 car that Hamlin has driven his entire Cup Series career.

The racing team made its debut in 2021 with Bubba Wallace driving the No. 23 car, and Kurt Busch will join the team in 2022. He will drive the No. 45 car, with No. 45 being Jordan’s number during his baseball stint and also for a brief time in the NBA.

2. Alex Rodriguez

Alex Rodriguez held Minnesota Timberwolves jersey

Occupation: Athlete

Team owned: Minnesota Timberwolves

Percentage owned: 20 percent

Bottom Line: Alex Rodriguez

Alex Rodriguez posing with Karl-Anthony Towns

Since retiring, Rodriguez has established himself as one of the most aggressive investors among former athletes. He’s invested in Snapchat, Wheels Up and Mexican gym chains, but his most notable investment is in the Minnesota Timberwolves.

After losing out on a bid to buy the New York Mets, A-Rod shifted his focus to the hardwood and became a 20 percent owner of the T-Wolves in 2021. As a part of the deal, he has the right to purchase an additional 20 percent in both 2022 and 2023, the latter of which would then make him the controlling owner.

1. Magic Johnson

Los Angeles Dodgers' owner Magic Johnson arrives for game

Occupation: Athlete

Team owned: Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Sparks, LAFC

Percentage owned: 2.3 percent

Bottom Line: Magic Johnson

Los Angeles Lakers Hall of Famer, Magic Johnson greets Major League Soccer fans

In 1994, Johnson briefly coached the Los Angeles Lakers before realizing that coaching wasn’t for him. So, he instead bought 5 percent of the franchise that he led to five NBA championships, and he held onto that ownership stake for 16 years.

Johnson sold his Lakers stake for $27 million in 2010, and many wondered if that meant there was something else on the horizon for the Hall of Famer. It turns out there was, as just over a year later he joined a group that made a bid for ownership of the neighboring Los Angeles Dodgers. It was a successful bid, and Johnson became a Dodgers owner in 2012, then added to his ring collection by winning a World Series in 2020.

Johnson has since gone on to acquire stakes in both the Sparks of the WNBA and LAFC of MLS. Thus, the legendary Johnson has, at one point, owned four of the 11 major pro sports teams in the City of Angels.