Illustration by Claire Rollet; Presley Ann/Getty Images; Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images; Travis P. Ball/Sxsw Conference & Festivals/Getty Images; Stephanie Augello/Variety/Getty Images; Jamie Mccarthy/Getty Images; Jay Hirano/Sopa Images/Lightrocket/Getty Images; Julia Beverly/Getty Images; Giorgio Viera/AFP/Getty Images; Jonathan Leibson/Getty Images; Mike Kirschbaum/Zuffa LLC/Getty Images; Karwai Tang/Wireimage (2); Paras Griffin/Getty Images; Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images; Mark Blinch/Getty Images; Pool Insabato Rovaris/Mondadori Portfolio/Getty Images; Noam Galai/Getty Images; Daniel Perez/Getty Images Share on Facebook Share on X Share to Flipboard Send an Email Show additional share options Share on Reddit Post a Comment Share on Whats App Share on Pinterest Share on LinkedIn Print the Article Share on Tumblr In late 2022, Los Angeles FC topped the Philadelphia Union in a shootout to win the franchise's first Major League Soccer title. The title set off an epic on-field celebration that included Will Ferrell chugging beer from the MLS Cup. Ferrell was celebrating as more than a fan; he is also an LAFC owner. Celebrities and entertainment moguls have long been associated with sports teams as fans or investors. Clubs owned by producers Steve Tisch (New York Giants) and Peter Guber (LAFC, Los Angeles Dodgers, Golden State Warriors) have won a combined 11 championships in the NFL, NBA, MLB and MLS. Jay-Z purchased a stake in the Brooklyn Nets two decades ago, which not only enhanced the NBA team's cachet as it relocated from New Jersey but also bolstered the rapper's reputation as a shrewd businessman. Even so, the Hollywood-sports connection has ramped up in recent years as new sports leagues have sprung up in soccer, pickleball, sailing and more. These offer a lower price of entry than major North American sports leagues, where the average team is worth $4.6 billion in the NBA and $7.1 billion in the NFL, per sports business platform Sportico. Another factor: Ryan Reynolds. With his Wrexham AFC co-owner Rob Mac (aka Rob McElhenney), the Deadpool actor has achieved unprecedented success on and off the field in English soccer, bringing fans along for the ride through the FX docuseries Welcome to Wrexham and making it look fun. Wrexham is the first English soccer club to be promoted three straight years. The purchase price of Wrexham in 2021 was $0, though Reynolds and McElhenney agreed to invest $2.5 million in the club. They are now exploring raising money at a $475 million valuation. "There's a mutual benefit for the team and the celebrity," says Marc Ganis, a consultant to team owners across North America. "What they're trying to do is leverage the attention and visibility they get from their different industries, entertainment and sports." Sounds baller. Will Ferrell Image Credit: Presley Ann/Getty Images He's part of a loaded ownership group for LAFC, MLS' most valuable team at $1.3 billion, which includes finance titans and Magic Johnson. Last year, Ferrell added a stake in Premier League soccer club Leeds United to his portfolio. Vince Vaughn Image Credit: Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images Dozens of athletes and entertainers have made minority investments in pickleball teams. Vaughn is the majority shareholder of the Scorpions of the National Pickleball League, which launched in 2023 and is for players 50 and over. Matthew McConaughey Image Credit: Travis P. Ball/Sxsw Conference & Festivals/Getty Images The Oscar winner is a regular at his alma mater's (University of Texas at Austin) football games. He invested in the city's MLS expansion franchise ahead of its 2021 launch and serves as the team's minister of culture. The Austin owners just sold a stake at a valuation north of $900M. Issa Rae Image Credit: Julia Beverly/Getty Images The actress, who co-created and starred on the HBO comedy series Insecure, was part of an investor group that bought SailGP's U.S. squad in late 2023. Marc Lasry's Avenue Sports Fund led the investor group, and others included boxer Deontay Wilder, the DJ Gryffin and NFL star DeAndre Hopkins. Larry Ellison Image Credit: Jay Hirano/Sopa Images/Lightrocket/Getty Images The world's second-richest man famously lost the bidding war for the Golden State Warriors in 2010. No worries: He's owned the Indian Wells tennis events since 2009 and lately is backing the global catamaran race series SailGP, whose only U.S. race is in NYC. His Oracle Team USA captured the America's Cup in 2010 and 2013. Reese Witherspoon Image Credit: Stephanie Augello/Variety/Getty Images In 2022, the actress and Hello Sunshine founder invested in her hometown MLS team. Owners also include NFL running back Derrick Henry and two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. Dwayne Johnson Image Credit: Mike Kirschbaum/Zuffa LLC/Getty Images The XFL relaunched in 2023 with backing from former University of Miami football player Johnson, ex-wife Dany Garcia and RedBird. The XFL and USFL merged in 2023 to create the UFL, headquart