20 years ago, athletes were investing in car washes and restaurants.
Today, they’re investing in the world’s biggest tech start-ups and building their own respective investment firms.
Athletes and technology have become more synonymous over the past several years as technology has become integrated within every aspect of sports from training and recovery to fan engagement and media.
But athletes aren’t just looking at sports tech.
They’re also investing in all facets of technology such as fintech, cybersecurity, e-commerce, and even transportation.
Here are 10 of the best athlete tech investors and some of the deals they’ve made:
1) Kevin Durant
One of the greatest NBA players of all time might be on his way to becoming one of the greatest investors of all time. His tech investment portfolio through 35V has had very few losses so far and continues to grow year by year.
Some of his investments include:
– Acorns
– Postmates
– Robinhood
– WHOOP
2) Serena Williams
Serena founded Serena Ventures in 2017, focusing on various industries and investment stages. But she has made a few noteworthy tech investments throughout the years.
Some of her investments include:
– Tonal
– Lolli
– MasterClass
– Infinite Objects
3) Steph Curry
We’ve seen how clutch Steph Curry is on the court, but believe he gets it done in the boardroom as well. Through his investment firm Penny Jar Capital, which he co-founded with two of his Davidson college teammates, he’s made many impressive tech investments.
Some of his investments include:
– SQUIRE
– Super
– Guild Education
– Miro
4) Shaquille O’Neal
The big fella has one main philosophy when looking at companies to invest in and partner with: “Will this company or product change people’s lives.” So far, it hasn’t steered him wrong as he was an early angel investor in some of the most notable tech companies in the world.
Some of his investments include:
– Google
– Ring
– Lyft
– NRG Esports
5) Carmelo Anthony
The former NBA star has invested in tech companies for several years through his firm Melo7 Tech Partners which focuses on a wide range of seed, early, and later-stage investments.
Some of his investments include:
– Goalsetter
– Genies
– Overtime
– MakeSpace
6) Andre Iguodala
As underrated Iguodala is on the court, he might be equally underrated in the investment space as well. The recently retired, four-time NBA champion launched his fund called Mosaic in 2023 but has been investing in tech for many years. He is also credited with helping other players get into the space well.
Some of his investments include:
– Zoom
– Datadog
– PagerDuty
– Cloudflare
7) Kelvin Beachum
He’s another pro athlete who has flown under the radar but does things the right way on and off the football field. Although he’s big on “keeping the main thing, the main thing (football),” his investment portfolio might make you think he’s lighting the candle at both ends.
Some of his investments include:
– Alt
– FreightWaves
– Forethought
– Nightfall AI
8) Paul Rabil
Honestly, I don’t know how Paul Rabil gets it done. Between being a professional lacrosse player, starting and running his own league, and investing in some of the latest and greatest companies, he’s work ethic is second to none.
Some of his investments include:
– Fireside
– BrightHire
– Beehiiv
– Betterment
9) Lionel Messi
Probably the greatest soccer player to ever live, but also a forward thinker who’s heavily invested in the future of sports and fan engagement through his firm Playtime.
Some of his investments include:
– Sorare
– Matchday
– Socios.com
– Athletic Club Momento
10) Russell Okung
He made headlines in 2020 by converting half his $13 million salary into Bitcoin. Many laughed. But Okung has never been afraid of making big bets and taking chances.
Some of his investments include:
– Andela
– Omni
– 100Plus
– PlayVS
There are plenty of other athletes who could be added to this list.
But these top names are setting the bar high and inspiring other athletes to get into the space as well.
It’s amazing to watch in real-time how athletes from various sports are helping to rewrite the narrative and remove the stigma around investing and building wealth.
The future is bright for the next generation of athletes as access and opportunities become more available.
