From the Hollywood Walk of Fame to the Sidelines of a Football Pitch

Over the years, Hollywood celebrities were often thought of as just glamorous and lucky, but now many of them have ventured into business. From skincare lines to makeup brands to owning a Welsh football team, stars like Ryan Reynolds, Natalie Portman, and Eva Longoria have proven that they're more than just pretty faces. Recently, celebrities have been seen branching out further than just putting their name on a product, showing their entrepreneurial side.

Ryan Reynolds, most known for his role as Deadpool in the Marvel universe, has recently shocked fans as he has made the transition from Hollywood star to Welsh football club owner. In February 2021, Ryan Reynolds, and Rob McElhenney, together bought Wrexham Association Football Club with no down payment, but an agreement to put £2 million into the club. The pair also released a documentary detailing their journey called Welcome to Wrexham in August 2022. Their celebrity connections have also helped them in their venture, with their friend David Beckham helping them out with any gaps in their football knowledge. Reynolds described David Beckham as the “nicest man in the world,” who gave them both “a lot of tips that have been incredibly helpful.” The takeover of Wrexham has moved the club directly into Hollywood’s spotlight and led to a substantial increase in the club's social media following. Since February 2021, the club’s social media followers has grown by 1,300%, from 100,000 across five major platforms to 1.3 million followers.

Many have compared the business move to the popular TV show Ted Lasso, where an American football coach moves to the UK to coach a football team, even though he knows very little about the sport. The popularity of Ted Lasso could explain some of the fascination by people around the world. According to recent reports, Ted Lasso has seen significant success in terms of viewership. The show's Season 2 premiere episode hauled in the biggest audience of any original film or TV show on Apple TV Plus. In May 2023, "Ted Lasso" was also ranked at the top of the streaming charts, beating out other popular streaming shows, according to viewership trends collected from Samba TV’s panel of more than three million households drawn from over 25 million connected TVs, balanced to the U.S. Census.

So where has the investment into Wrexham gone? Since buying Wrexham FC, Reynolds and McElhenney have invested in the club’s playing staff, as well as the facilities. For example, a new 5,000 seat stand is being built at the end of the Racecourse Ground, which is one of the oldest international football venue’s still in use today. However, many have seen that money is not necessarily the biggest factor of investment. Having two high-profile celebrities fully invested in the success of Wrexham FC, the media attention and public exposure alone has boosted the club. Since then, Wrexham has been promoted to League Two and will reportedly earn around £1 million for this move.

Reynolds and McElhenney are not the first celebrities to use their money and fame to invest in a football club, others include Elton John, Robert Plant, Will Ferrell, Kate Upton, Eva Longoria, Matthew McConaughey, and Natalie Portman. However, with the high levels of media and public interest in the Wrexham football club, the move from Hollywood fame to sports investment could be a move we see more often going forward. For example, Natalie Portman has a portfolio of other investments, including recent participation in a $12 million dollar investment into La Vie, a company using patented technology to develop vegan meat products.

Another huge example of celebrities branching out into business is the empire that has been built by the Kardashian family, who have built and invested in various business entities to make their millions. Of them, the richest being Kylie Jenner, who is the youngest self-made billionaire, according to Forbes, for her make-up brand Lip Kits. Jenner also has around $40 million invested in properties, and earns huge amounts from her social media via advertising etc.

So, what can we learn from these celebrities? Celebrities' investment strategies offer key takeaways for wealth growth and diversification. First, investing wisely across diverse sectors can bring substantial returns and reduce risk. Second, keeping abreast of global trends and economic conditions helps identify promising opportunities. Passion is essential for navigating challenges in any venture. Lastly, a relentless work ethic and continuous innovation are crucial for sustained success. By adopting these principles, we can guide our financial decisions, manage resources efficiently, and chart our own path to prosperity.