In late 2022, Los Angeles FC topped the Philadelphia Union in a shootout to win the franchise’s first Major League Soccer title. The title set off an epic on-field celebration that included Will Ferrell chugging beer from the MLS Cup. Ferrell was celebrating as more than a fan; he is also an LAFC owner.
Celebrities and entertainment moguls have long been associated with sports teams as fans or investors. Clubs owned by producers Steve Tisch (New York Giants) and Peter Guber (LAFC, Los Angeles Dodgers, Golden State Warriors) have won a combined 11 championships in the NFL, NBA, MLB and MLS. Jay-Z purchased a stake in the Brooklyn Nets two decades ago, which not only enhanced the NBA team’s cachet as it relocated from New Jersey but also bolstered the rapper’s reputation as a shrewd businessman.
Even so, the Hollywood-sports connection has ramped up in recent years as new sports leagues have sprung up in soccer, pickleball, sailing and more. These offer a lower price of entry than major North American sports leagues, where the average team is worth $4.6 billion in the NBA and $7.1 billion in the NFL, per sports business platform Sportico.
Another factor: Ryan Reynolds. With his Wrexham AFC co-owner Rob Mac (aka Rob McElhenney), the Deadpool actor has achieved unprecedented success on and off the field in English soccer, bringing fans along for the ride through the FX docuseries Welcome to Wrexham and making it look fun. Wrexham is the first English soccer club to be promoted three straight years. The purchase price of Wrexham in 2021 was $0, though Reynolds and McElhenney agreed to invest $2.5 million in the club. They are now exploring raising money at a $475 million valuation.
“There’s a mutual benefit for the team and the celebrity,” says Marc Ganis, a consultant to team owners across North America. “What they’re trying to do is leverage the attention and visibility they get from their different industries, entertainment and sports.” Sounds baller.
Will Ferrell
Image Credit: Presley Ann/Getty Images He’s part of a loaded ownership group for LAFC, MLS’ most valuable team at $1.3 billion, which includes finance titans and Magic Johnson. Last year, Ferrell added a stake in Premier League soccer club Leeds United to his portfolio.
Vince Vaughn
Image Credit: Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images Dozens of athletes and entertainers have made minority investments in pickleball teams. Vaughn is the majority shareholder of the Scorpions of the National Pickleball League, which launched in 2023 and is for players 50 and over.
Matthew McConaughey
Image Credit: Travis P. Ball/Sxsw Conference & Festivals/Getty Images The Oscar winner is a regular at his alma mater’s (University of Texas at Austin) football games. He invested in the city’s MLS expansion franchise ahead of its 2021 launch and serves as the team’s minister of culture. The Austin owners just sold a stake at a valuation north of $900M.
Issa Rae
Image Credit: Julia Beverly/Getty Images The actress, who co-created and starred on the HBO comedy series Insecure, was part of an investor group that bought SailGP’s U.S. squad in late 2023. Marc Lasry’s Avenue Sports Fund led the investor group, and others included boxer Deontay Wilder, the DJ Gryffin and NFL star DeAndre Hopkins.
Larry Ellison
Image Credit: Jay Hirano/Sopa Images/Lightrocket/Getty Images The world’s second-richest man famously lost the bidding war for the Golden State Warriors in 2010. No worries: He’s owned the Indian Wells tennis events since 2009 and lately is backing the global catamaran race series SailGP, whose only U.S. race is in NYC. His Oracle Team USA captured the America’s Cup in 2010 and 2013.
Reese Witherspoon
Image Credit: Stephanie Augello/Variety/Getty Images In 2022, the actress and Hello Sunshine founder invested in her hometown MLS team. Owners also include NFL running back Derrick Henry and two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Dwayne Johnson
Image Credit: Mike Kirschbaum/Zuffa LLC/Getty Images The XFL relaunched in 2023 with backing from former University of Miami football player Johnson, ex-wife Dany Garcia and RedBird. The XFL and USFL merged in 2023 to create the UFL, headquartered in Texas. Johnson also sits on the TKO Holdings board, owner of the UFC and WWE.
Elizabeth Banks
Image Credit: Jamie Mccarthy/Getty Images After passing on investing in Angel City in 2022, the Massachusetts native jumped at the chance to be a minority owner in NWSL expansion team Boston Legacy, which starts play in 2026.
Jeff Skoll
Image Credit: Jonathan Leibson/Getty Images In late 2022, the founder of the now-shuttered Oscar-winning factory Participant bought roughly 10 percent of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, which owns the NHL, NBA and WNBA teams.
Will Smith
Image Credit: Giorgio Viera/AFP/Getty Images He owns a limited stake in his hometown 76ers and is the principal owner of Team Westbrook of E1, the electric boat racing league, now in its second season. Other investors in E1 teams include Tom Brady, Rafael Nadal, Didier Drogba and Marc Anthony.
Michael B. Jordan
Image Credit: Karwai Tang/Wireimage The star invested in Bournemouth in late 2022, when Vegas Golden Knights owner Bill Foley bought the team. The next season, Jordan designed two special-edition jerseys that the club marketed. In 2023, he invested alongside Reynolds and Rob Mac in F1 team Alpine.
Ed Sheeran
Image Credit: Karwai Tang/Wireimage Sheeran’s +−=÷× Tour was the main jersey sponsor for his hometown team starting in 2021. Last year, he bought a 1.4 percent stake after its promotion to the Premier League. Ipswich was relegated to the EFL after winning only four of 38 games in the 2024-25 season.
Snoop Dogg
Image Credit: Paras Griffin/Getty Images The rap star is one of the latest celebrities to buy into European soccer with a deal in July to invest in Welsh club Swansea City, which plays in The Championship, a step below the Premier League. Snoop helped launch Swansea’s 2025-26 home jersey and promoted it to his 155 million social media followers on Facebook, Instagram and X.
Anne Hathaway
Image Credit: Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images She was in the consortium that acquired the team in May. Muse Capital’s Assia Grazioli-Venier is the lead investor, marking the first female-led ownership in SailGP. Jessica Chastain’s husband, Gian Luca Passi de Preposulo, is also an investor.
Drake
Image Credit: Mark Blinch/Getty Images Fans know the “Drake Curse” deems whatever team the rapper is rooting for will lose. He made a permanent bet in 2022 on AC Milan, investing in RedBird’s $1.2 billion takeover of the team in a deal that also included LeBron James.
Russell Crowe
Image Credit: Pool Insabato Rovaris/Mondadori Portfolio/Getty Images Even as he co-owns the Australian rugby league club, he invested alongside 49ers Enterprises in its 2023 takeover of the English soccer club he rooted for as a kid, Leeds. Years ago, he considered buying a controlling stake in the club.
Hugh Jackman
Image Credit: Noam Galai/Getty Images Jackman recently joined his Marvel co-star Reynolds to buy control of the SailGP team in his native Australia. Australian underwear brand Bonds came on as the team’s title sponsor in part of the deal.
Eva Longoria
Image Credit: Daniel Perez/Getty Images Owning stakes in teams in three countries, she helped bring Reynolds and Rob Mac into Necaxa ownership in 2024. The trio are behind the FX Necaxa docuseries that premiered in August.
This story appeared in the Aug. 20 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Click here to subscribe.
