21 Celebrities You Might Not Know Owned Pro Sports Teams

Celebrities with multi-million dollar paychecks have the luxury of spending their cash wherever they like. For those who are also die-hard sports fans, owning their all-time favorite sports team is too much of a temptation for many Hollywood stars. Take a look at the celebrities who own their favorite sports teams.

1. Venus And Serena Williams - Miami Dolphins

Famous sporting sisters Venus and Serena Williams are known for setting records on the tennis court. However, the dynamic duo also set records in football, becoming the first-ever African American women to own an NFL team. The Williams sisters, who have always identified themselves as "Miami girls," became part owners of the Miami Dolphins back in 2009.

2. Justin Timberlake - Memphis Grizzlies

Memphis-based singing sensation, Justin Timberlake, has worked his way up in the world to become a pop icon and a high-profile Hollywood superstar. However, Timberlake is also known to be an avid sports fan, and he purchased a minority stake in the NBA team the Memphis Grizzlies in 2012.

3. Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith - Philadelphia 76ers

Actor and hip-hop icon Will Smith together with his wife, Jada Pinkett, purchased a minority stake in the Philadelphia 76ers in 2011. The 76ers were a fine choice for Smith who is a Philly native. Billboard.com wrote at the time that some of the players were pretty excited having the Fresh Prince actor as one of their owners.

4. Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony - Miami Dolphins

Singers Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony bought a minority stake in the Miami Dolphins in 2009. During the announcement to reveal their new roles, the Dolphins gave each of them their own Dolphins jersey, with Anthony getting number 16 to mark his September 16 birthday and Lopez receiving number 24 in a nod to her July 24 birthday. The couple has since called it quits, but Anthony still maintains a stake in the team.

5. Jay-Z - Brooklyn Nets

Rap legend Jay-Z is universally considered to be one of hip-hop's elites. Like many rappers, the rap mogul has a penchant for sports too. Jay-Z invested $1 million in the New Jersey Nets in 2004 and saw a total return of $2.35 million when he sold the franchise in 2013. Forbes called his investment a "Warren Buffet-like" success.

6. David Beckham - Club Internacional de Fútbol Miami

In 2013, the same year as his retirement from his two-decade-long soccer career, David Beckham became part of a consortium to found a new professional soccer team called the Club Internacional de Fútbol Miami. The team hasn't yet begun playing in the major leagues. In 2018, the team received approval for its grand plans for a soccer stadium and park.

7. Gloria Estefan - Miami Dolphins

This Cuban-American singer shared with the world her powerful, voluptuous voice and was rewarded with three Grammys and several multi-platinum winning albums, Gloria Estefan made history too as the first person of Hispanic descent to become the co-owner of an NFL team. Back in 2009, the wildly popular singer bought a small stake in the Miami Dolphins.

8. David Letterman - Rahal Letterman Lanigan, IndyCar Racing Team

Alongside his day job of hosting late night TV shows and making fans cry with laughter, David Letterman kept pursuing his passion for cars. The comedian and TV host took this obsession a step further in 1996 when he became the co-owner of Rahal Letterman Lanigan, an auto racing team that competes full time in the Verizon IndyCar Series.

9. Burt Reynolds - Tampa Bay Bandits

Gunsmoke and Smokey and the Bandit star Burt Reynolds made his name with his brilliant performances on the big and small screen. The Academy Award winner was also a huge football fan and even became the co-owner of the Tampa Bay Bandits from 1982 to 1986.

10. Bill Maher - New York Mets

Bill Maher has a passion for opining on issues with his trademark dose of humor and lack of political correctness. However, the funny man also enjoys sports and purchased a small share in the New York Mets in 2012. As a wildly successful comedic television personality, Maher could have picked a more successful team. That said, they did improve a bit in 2018.

11. Fergie - Miami Dolphins

Like many pop superstars, Fergie Duhamel (aka Stacey Ferguson) has developed a habit of being in the right place at the right time, including in the world of sports. Back in 2009, Fergie took the chance to become one of the minority celeb owners of the Miami Dolphins.

12. Russell Crowe - South Sydney Rabbitohs

Oscar-winner Russell Crowe made a name for himself as the Roman General, Maximus Decimus Maridius, in the epic historical blockbuster Gladiator. Raised in Australia, the big-screen star has a passion for rugby. As a result, Crowe took a stake in the South Sydney Rabbitohs of the National Rugby League in 2006.

13. Usher - Cleveland Cavaliers

In 2016, the Cleveland Cavaliers won their first major sports championship since 1964. LeBron James and his teammates burst out in celebration on the court when R&B superstar Usher joined them. Fans were slightly confused as many didn't know that Usher had purchased a small stake in the team in 2005.

14. Yao Ming - The Shanghai Sharks

Rarely does an athlete decide to buy the team he used to play for. Yao Ming started out playing basketball for the Shanghai Sharks in China before he joined the NBA’s Houston Rockets in 2002. In 2009, Yao purchased his former team in its entirety and renamed it the "Shanghai Maxxis."

15. Elton John - Watford FC

Fame definitely has its perks, and one of those perks is that you can eventually own the sports team you have long adored since childhood. This is exactly what happened to Sir Elton John. The Rocket Man became the chairman and director of Watford Football Club in 1976. He subsequently sold the club off in 1987 and re-purchased it again in 1997 until 2002.

16. Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons - Los Angeles KISS

KISS, a legendary heavy metal band, is known for belting out about how they want to "rock and roll all night." From 2013 to 2016, the band's guitarist Paul Stanley and front man Gene Simmons were also founding owners of the Arena Football team, the Los Angeles KISS. Unfortunately, the dream died and the team folded in 2016.

17. Ted Turner - Atlanta Braves

Media mogul Ted Turner is known as the founder of the Cable News Network (CNN), the first 24-hour cable news channel. What is less well known is that Turner was also the owner of the Atlanta Braves and helped turn the team into a household name. Having changed Braves history forever, Turner eventually sold the team to Time Warner in 1996.

18. Jimmy Buffett - Miami Dolphins

"Island escapism" musician Jimmy Buffett took his fanaticism for football to the next level when his company Landshark Lager cooperated with the Miami Dolphins to rename the stadium "Landshark Stadium." He also wrote new lyrics for the team to his song Fins, which was played during the team's home games.

19. Tim McGraw - Nashville Kats

Top country music superstar Tim McGraw has always been interested in sports, particularly football. In 2005, McGraw bought a small stake in the Arena Football League (AFL) team, the Nashville Kats, to become a minority owner. Unfortunately, the team disbanded two years later.

20. Magic Johnson - Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Sparks

While Magic Johnson gained fame as a star for the Los Angeles Lakers, he also got involved in a number of sporting business ventures. Johnson was a part-owner of the Lakers for a few years. In 2012, he also purchased the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team, and two years later, Johnson bought the Los Angeles Sparks basketball team.

21. Michael Jordan - Charlotte Hornets

Former professional basketball player Michael Jordan is best known for his ferocious slam dunk. Jordan is now the principal owner and chairman of NBA team the Charlotte Hornets. He had a minority stake in the team for many years. In 2010, Jordan purchased a majority stake in the team, making him the first former NBA player to own a majority stake in any team.