When Hollywood heavyweights Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney purchased Wrexham Football Club in 2020 for $2.6 million, people thought they were nuts.
Five years later, and they’re proving their naysayers wrong. The club’s reputation for nurturing talent from its home ground has seen it achieve three successive promotions to reach the Championship.
Today, Wrexham is valued at approximately $196 million, according to BBC Sport. Imagine if Reynolds and McElhenney hadn’t taken a leap of faith and chosen to play it safe?
They aren’t the only celebrities to bet on an unsure thing and reap the rewards.
David and Victoria Beckham
Dubai has earned its moniker as the playground for the ultra-rich and famous. It was only a matter of time till some saw the real estate investment potential.
Power couple David and Victoria Beckham boast an impressive real estate portfolio. With homes in Miami and the Cotswolds, the Beckhams’ next conquest was to invest in Dubai real estate.
AD Middle East reports that the pair first bought a luxury villa on Palm Jumeirah in 2002 and again in 2009. They gave the property to Victoria’s parents, and it was worth $9.9 million at the time. Now it’s worth double that amount.
RD Dubai says the Dubai real estate market is booming as an international hub for global investors. There’s no income tax on rental income, and the region has world-class infrastructure and global connectivity.
Ashton Kutcher
Angel investor Ashton Kutcher always puts his money where his mouth is. Business Insider reports that he is one of the most active celebrity investors, making early bets on Uber and Airbnb.
The actor-turned-business mogul’s big investments in Silicon Valley have paid off substantially. Kutcher co-founded A-Grade Investments. The firm backs startups before they go public. He also has shares in OpenAI, Anthropic, and Stability AI.
24/7 Wall St. quotes him as saying, “[investing] is like planting seeds; nurture them, and they will grow into something remarkable.” Kutcher made smart early bets on Skype and Airbnb. Yet, he had to ride out the ups and downs of startup life before those investments finally paid off.
Megan Thee Stallion
Megan Thee Stallion makes money as fast as she sells records. The rapper is the epitome of “standing on business.”
Following the Tory Lanez shooting drama, for Megan, the best revenge is a ROI. Staying true to her brand, she owns two Popeyes restaurants and created her own “Hottie Sauce.” An outspoken advocate for mental health awareness, The Trevor Project honored the artist with the Mental Health Champion of the Year Award.
She is also actively involved in promoting financial literacy with her “Investing for Hotties” and “Bitcoin for Hotties” series via Cash App.
Travis Kelce
Mr.Taylor Swift reportedly took a role in Jana Partners’ 9% stake in Six Flags. While the particulars haven’t been made public, the Motley Fool podcast assumed Jana Partners is fronting most of the money.
Besides the Six Flags activist investment fund, the football player has a diverse portfolio. According to Investopedia, he was one of several professional athletes who invested in the hot sauce brand Cholula. Kelce possibly made a fortune when it was sold to McCormick for $800 million in 2020.
His most recent business venture was a $100 million three-year deal with Amazon’s Wondery for the New Heights podcast, which he hosts with his brother, Jason Kelce.
Snoop Dogg
Rapper Snoop Dogg is a multi-tasker extraordinaire. Besides Rollin’ down the street, smokin’ indo. Sippin’ on gin and juice, he’s created a business empire that’s exceeded even his expectations.
As an angel investor, Snoop has amassed a portfolio of six companies, focusing primarily on fintech. And let’s not forget his penchant for lighting up. Through Casa Verde Capital, Snoop invested early in cannabis companies, long before most traditional venture capital firms were willing to get involved.
And because of his willingness to bet on the odds, the hip-hop legend’s net worth is estimated at $160 million. During a New York Times interview, Snoop explained his investment strategy: “I want some equity. Give me a piece of the pie”. In other words, the Big Dogg wants ownership, not brand ambassador roles.
Playing it Safe
Of course, you could be conservative and invest in sound ventures and deals. Then again, look at Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. They chose to go all in with Wrexham Football Club. Today, it’s worth more than triple what the duo bought it for.
If you have some cash to spare, take a chance on something worth the investment. Buy into Dubai property investment or stake your claim in AI or fintech or stake your claim in AI or fintech. Learn from these celebrities because they’re winning at life.