Celebrities may earn millions of dollars from their “day jobs,” but they also increase their net worth through smart investments, sponsorships, and entrepreneurship. And when it comes to wealth creation, financial portfolio diversification, and business expansion, franchising has emerged as a powerful asset, drawing celebrities such as athletes, actors, singers, and other celebrities into this lucrative business model. Masu.
Which celebrities are honing their business acumen out of the spotlight? Take a look at 10 business-savvy celebrity franchise owners.
patrick mahomes
The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback tasted victory on and off the field. Not only does Mahomes hold the largest contract in NFL history (a $450 million extension in 2020), he also owns a stake in the Texas-based Whataburger franchise. The franchise has an estimated average revenue of $3.2 million per store and plans to open 30 of his stores in Missouri and Kansas over the next few years. In 2020, Mahomes also purchased a minority stake in the Kansas City Royals sports franchise.
rick ross
Ross, the founder of Maybach Music Group, is no stranger to investing in franchises. The rapper owns about 30 of his Wingstop restaurants. Ross said the franchise brings him about $7 million a year. The franchise's profitability may explain why he gave one of his Wingstop stores to his son as a present for his 16th birthday.
magic johnson
Since earning over $100 million (adjusted for inflation) as an NBA superstar, Magic Johnson has grown into a shrewd investor, amassing a net worth of approximately $1.2 billion. As of 2022, the former Los Angeles Lakers star owned several TGI Fridays franchise stores and several Starbucks coffee shops. Returning to his sports roots, Johnson also holds ownership stakes in multiple sports franchises, including the Washington Commanders (NFL), Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB), Los Angeles Sparks (WNBA), and Los Angeles Football Club (MLS). are doing.
Drew Brees
The former NFL quarterback scored a touchdown after retiring due to his investments in multiple franchises. The retired New Orleans Saints star, who has a reported net worth of about $160 million, owns fitness-focused Stretch Zone, health food-focused Everbowl, Dunkin', Happy's Irish Pub and walk-on Sports.・Invested in a bistro.
mark wahlberg
Wahlberg has proven successful on and off screen, owning or investing in a variety of businesses ranging from apparel and food to car dealerships and fitness. Perhaps Mr. Wahlberg's most famous business is his Wahlburgers franchise, which he and his brothers founded in 2011. The company continues to expand around the world, with over 100 stores (at the time of writing) and plans to expand to Australia in 2022. It's no surprise that Wahlberg, a workout enthusiast, has also invested in his F45 Training, a Texas-based fitness franchise that focuses on HIIT-style workouts. In 2019, he acquired a pre-IPO stake in the business, which boasts more than 2,000 locations worldwide, worth about $450 million.
venus williams
Tennis legend Venus Williams, who owns four Jamba franchises and achieved a Grand Slam, fell in love with the health-focused brand. Known for his customizable smoothies, juices, and healthy bowls, Jamba boasts more than 750 of his stores in the U.S., each generating approximately $731,000 in revenue each year (as of 2022). Along with her sister Serena, she also owns a stake in the Miami Dolphins franchise.
drake
The Dave's Hot Chicken franchise, which launched in 2017 as a pop-up eatery in Hollywood, caught the eye of rapper Drake, who signed on as an affiliate in 2021. He has more than 700 locations in the United States and abroad, and his total sales in 2022 increased by 156% compared to his 2021. .
shack
After retiring, this great basketball player built a second career with smart investments. Shaquille O'Neal, who has a net worth of over $400 million (thanks in part to his ownership of multiple fast food franchises), owns 155 Five Guys burger joints, 17 Auntie Anne's restaurants, and Papa John's. It owns a pizzeria, Krispy Kreme, etc. Donut Shop and Big His Chicken Sandwich Restaurant.
megan thee stallion
The Grammy Award-winning rapper has signed a lucrative deal with the Miami, Florida-based Popeyes Fried Chicken franchise. Not only does Stallion own multiple stores, but she also owns branded merchandise (Megan Thee Stallion Hotty's sauces, apparel, and other products), significant philanthropic donations, and designates her as the operator of a franchise. Her unique partnership also includes a development deal. Founded in 1972, Popeyes boasts more than 2,700 restaurants in the United States and around the world, each generating up to nearly $2 million in revenue.
lebron james
The NBA icon invested less than $1 million in Blaze Pizza, a Pasadena, Calif.-based make-your-own-pie startup in 2012 that became a huge success. Since then, the franchise has rapidly grown to over 340 stores in 38 states and 6 countries. As of 2020, ownership/investment in this portion of the fast-casual pizza franchise provided approximately $35 million in equity.
Photo credit: Lev Radin/Shutterstock.com
