The growing trend of sports stars, musicians, and actors investing in teams throughout the football pyramid has been popularised by Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds thanks to their huge success both on and off the pitch at Wrexham.
However, they were far from the first celebrities to take an interest in the beautiful game. Basketball legend LeBron James was somewhat of a pioneer in this regard after he bought a minority stake in Liverpool back in 2011 before Gary Neville and the rest of the class of 92 bought Salford City.
Celebrities in the Game: Who’s Investing in UK Football?
And now it’s reported that rapper A$AP Rocky, who has two children with iconic singer Rihanna, is set to invest in League Two side Tranmere Rovers.
It’s Stormzy, though, who has been proven by the team at Swoop Funding to be the most popular investor in British football. The grime artist, alongside former Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha, injected some money into non-league side Croyden AFC last year.
Meanwhile, Neville and McElhenney appear to be the fans favourite at their respective clubs Salford and Wrexham, with ex-Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes the least popular investor in The Ammies.
Leeds United fans are the most disgruntled with their celebrity investors, according to our research. Actor Russell Crowe has received some positive discourse surrounding his involvement in the west Yorkshire giants, but the likes of Will Ferrell, Justin Thomas, and Jordan Speith have struggled to win over the Elland Road faithful just yet.
Smartest Football Investments into UK Football:
|
Celebrity Name |
Football Club |
Year of Investment Date |
Football Club Profit 22/23 |
Football Club Loss 22/23 |
Online Positive Sentiment % |
Online Negative Sentiment % |
Smartest Investment Score |
|
Michael B. Jordan |
AFC Bournemouth |
2022 |
£44M |
£0 |
4% |
1% |
76.24 |
|
Stormzy |
Croydon AFC |
2023 |
£0 |
£14.3K |
67% |
0% |
74.99 |
|
Gary Neville |
Salford City |
2014 |
£0 |
£3.2M |
53% |
2% |
67.05 |
|
Brian McFadden |
Chorley FC |
2024 |
£0 |
£235K |
25% |
0% |
59.17 |
|
Rob McElhenney |
Wrexham AFC |
2020 |
£0 |
£5.11M |
27% |
5% |
55.28 |
|
Keith Duffy |
Chorley FC |
2024 |
£0 |
£235K |
13% |
0% |
54.69 |
|
Wilfried Zaha |
Croydon AFC |
2023 |
£0 |
£14.3K |
0% |
0% |
49.99 |
|
Shane Lynch |
Chorley FC |
2024 |
£0 |
£235K |
0% |
0% |
49.84 |
|
Paul Carrick Brunson |
Sutton United |
2024 |
£0 |
£270K |
0% |
0% |
49.81 |
|
Ryan Reynolds |
Wrexham AFC |
2020 |
£0 |
£5.11M |
10% |
8% |
48.18 |
|
David Beckham |
Salford City |
2019 |
£0 |
£3.2M |
0% |
0% |
47.78 |
|
Phil Neville |
Salford City |
2014 |
£0 |
£3.2M |
0% |
0% |
47.78 |
|
LeBron James |
Liverpool |
2011 |
£0 |
£9M |
11% |
4% |
46.85 |
|
Ryan Giggs |
Salford City |
2014 |
£0 |
£3.2M |
0% |
6% |
46.28 |
|
Nicky Butt |
Salford City |
2014 |
£0 |
£3.2M |
0% |
11% |
45.03 |
|
Paul Scholes |
Salford City |
2014 |
£0 |
£3.2M |
0% |
25% |
41.53 |
|
Tom Brady |
Birmingham City |
2023 |
£0 |
£25.3M |
26% |
8% |
40.13 |
|
Ed Sheeran |
Ipswich Town |
2024 |
£0 |
£18.2M |
7% |
2% |
39.47 |
|
Mindy Kaling |
Swansea City |
2017 |
£0 |
£17.9M |
0% |
0% |
37.57 |
|
JJ Watt |
Burnley |
2023 |
£0 |
£36M |
18% |
12% |
28.72 |
|
Russell Crowe |
Leeds United |
2018 |
£0 |
£34M |
9% |
9% |
27.50 |
|
Michael Phelps |
Leeds United |
2023 |
£0 |
£34M |
0% |
0% |
26.39 |
|
Will Ferrell |
Leeds United |
2024 |
£0 |
£34M |
3% |
5% |
26.26 |
|
Justin Thomas |
Leeds United |
2018 |
£0 |
£34M |
0% |
25% |
20.14 |
|
Jordan Spieth |
Leeds United |
2018 |
£0 |
£34M |
0% |
50% |
13.89 |
|
Dude Perfect |
Burnley |
2023 |
£0 |
£36M |
0% |
100% |
0.00 |
Benefits of Celebrity Investment
As more celebrities are set to enter the investment space in 2025, their influence can extend beyond financial backing.
Celebrity investors are reshaping the entrepreneurial landscape by:
-
Providing mentorship: Many celebrities are not only funding startups but also offering mentorship and guidance. Their experience and networks can help open doors for new entrepreneurs, helping them navigate startup challenges and gain strategic advantages.
-
Enhancing visibility: By aligning their brand with emerging businesses, celebrity investors can significantly boost these companies’ visibility, attracting media attention and consumer interest that might otherwise be difficult to achieve.
-
Driving trends: Celebrity endorsements can help set new trends within industries, encouraging other investors and consumers to engage with innovative ideas and products. This can lead to the rapid evolution of sectors like tech, fashion, and health, where new ideas can take off with the right backing.
Ready to secure funding for your business? Explore your options today at https://swoopfunding.com/
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