David Beckham has made investments in several start-ups, properties, a production company, football teams and an Esports training academy.
Who is David Beckham?
Full name: David Robert Joseph Beckham
Date of Birth: 2 May 1975
Net Worth: Together with his famous wife Victoria, David Beckham is thought to have a net worth of £450m. Reports indicate that around £370 million of this total is attributed to David Beckham's personal net worth. This reflects their financial success as a celebrity couple, with David Beckham's career in sports and Victoria's in music and fashion contributing significantly to their wealth.
Beckham enjoyed success as a midfielder and set piece specialist for Manchester United, Real Madrid and the England national team.
Trophies won include the Premier League title, La Liga, Champions League, FA Cup, Spanish Super Cup and MLS Cup.
He was twice voted FIFA Player of the Year.
Beckham became the highest-paid footballer in 2004.
He was captain of the England national team for 58 games between 2000 and 2006.
He was the first Englishman to play 100 matches in the UEFA Champions League.
After the 2006 FIFA World Cup, he continued to be selected for the national team until March 26, 2008.
He retired from soccer in 2013.
David Beckham has become exponentially wealthier since he retired from football. Yet, the game continues to influence his investments and brand collaborations. He also aligns himself with companies and ideas close to his heart.
How does David Beckham make money?
Since retiring from professional soccer, Beckham has made money through various sources. Soccer team ownership, automobiles, cannabis, Esports, Forex, Fashion and Property. These show he’s a diversified risk-taker involved in many money-spinning interests.
How Much Did David Beckham invest in Inter Miami?
David Beckham is the current president and co-owner of Major League Soccer Club Inter Miami CF. He's also a minority shareholder in Salford City Football Club in England.
When Beckham joined Los Angeles Galaxy as a player in 2007, he was awarded the right to a discounted MLS franchise as part of his sign-on package. His involvement undoubtedly brought prestige to the brand and riches to his net worth.
In 2014, he exercised this right with the announcement of Inter Miami in 2014, for which he reportedly paid $25 million.
He has since made several investments in the club. Exact figures are hard to come by. However, in February 2021, Beckham invested a further $15.3m in the club.
In September 2021, Beckham increased his ownership stake in Inter Miami when he and the Mas brothers finalized the buyout of Marcelo Claure and Masayoshi Son. It’s not clear exactly how much Beckham invested at this time. But in connection with the buyout announcement Ares Management was also added to the ownership group with an investment of $150m.
With sporting icon Lionel Messi having joined the club in 2023, Inter Miami has seen its value skyrocket. Optus Sport says the club is expected to soon be worth more than $1.5bn. This means a huge return on investment for Beckham.
Which Companies has David Beckham Invested In?
Guild Esports (LON: GILD)
Guild Esports (LON: GILD) is co-owned by David Beckham and led by an experienced management team of Esports veterans. The up-and-coming company is a globally fan-focused team organization.
It runs a training academy for youth talent in the sector and a lifestyle brand that fields professional players in gaming competitions under the Guild banner. It generates several income streams through sponsorship, media rights, merchandising, etc. Its ultimate goal is to be the number one Esports brand in the world.
Cellular Goods (LON: CBX)
Cannabinoid company Cellular Goods (LON: CBX) sells health and beauty consumer products based on biosynthetic cannabinoids. The company was founded in August 2018 and went public via IPO in February 2021.
As of the end of 2021, David Beckham was Cellular Goods' third-biggest shareholder, owning a 4.95% stake in the company. In March 2022 Authentic Brands took a majority stake in David Beckham's DB Ventures, to co-own and manage his global brand. As of August 2023, Authentic Brands had a 2.5% stake in Cellular Goods.
At IPO, Cellular Goods raised gross proceeds of £13m from a conditional placing and an intermediary offer 13 times oversubscribed. It was the first pure-play biosynthetic cannabinoids consumer products company to list on the London Stock Exchange.
Lunaz Design
David Beckham has reportedly taken a 10% stake in Lunaz, a classic car restoration and electrification company. Beckham is a long-time car enthusiast, and this investment makes perfect sense.
Lunaz recently upgraded a range of the world’s most lucrative sports cars to run on zero-emissions electric powertrains. This included classic Rolls Royce, Range Rover, Bentley and Jaguar models. Next, the company plans on upgrading HGV vehicles such as refuse trucks in the UK, EU and USA.
How Does David Beckham Make his Investments?
DB Ventures
Many of David Beckham’s investments and deals are made through his investment company DB Ventures. This is run by Beckham and his best friend, former football agent David Gardner.
DB Ventures incorporates Beckham’s Haig Club whisky brand, and his endorsement deals with Tudor watches, campaigns with Pepsi, Samsung and Adidas, an agreement with fitness franchisor F45 Training, his investment in Cellular Goods and Lunaz, and his deal to be the face of the Qatar World Cup, 2022.
According to media reports, Authentic Brands Group acquired a 55% majority stake in DB Ventures Ltd from Beckham Brand Holdings Ltd for £200m ($270.9m). In January 2021, sources close to David Beckham told the Mail on Sunday that he's selling the stake to pay off debt, allow some partners to exit, and free up capital, and said that the valuation for the company is "unexpectedly high."
Authentic Brands represents Shaquille O’Neal and owns the license rights to international icons like Marilyn Monroe and Muhammad Ali.
Rumors of an Authentic Brands IPO have circulated for some time, but the company has withdrawn plans in the past. Instead, it agreed to sell a stake in the business to private equity firms CVC Capital Partners and HPS Investment Partners. This valued Authentic Brands at $12.7bn, including debt.
Authentic Brands founder and CEO Jamie Salter says an IPO could still be coming in the next couple of years.
Beckham Brand Holdings Ltd.
Beckham Brand Holdings Ltd. operates as a holding company whose subsidiaries wholesales women's clothes, glasses and shoes. The company was founded on August 14, 2014, and is headquartered in London. This covers the Beckham image rights and also owns Victoria Beckham’s fashion label.
Beckham Brand Holdings is co-owned by David and Victoria Beckham and former Spice girl manager Simon Fuller.
Footwork Productions
Footwork Production is co-owned by David and Victoria. It is an events management and production company dedicated to live dance and music performances. Footwork consists of special events and video production, multimedia development, and merchandising. The company's mission is to elevate B-boy dance culture and make Las Vegas a battleground for major dance competition events.
Who are David Beckham’s investment partners?
DB Ventures CEO David Scott Gardner is also on the board of Guild Esports, Studio 99 and Cellular Goods.
David's wife, Victoria, is the founder of Victoria Beckham Ltd. She is on the board of Beckham Brand Holdings Ltd., Victoria Beckham Ltd. and Victoria Beckham Holdings Ltd.
Nicola Jayne Howson is on the board of The National Youth Theatre of Great Britain and DB Ventures Ltd.
David Beckham’s other investments
Aside from these investments, David Beckham’s ‘brand’ is also valuable. He became the brand ambassador of GemForex in Asia in December 2021, under a three-year contract. GemForex offers FX and CFD trading to over 400k clients.
Beckham is also a global brand ambassador to the Sands Resorts Macao. He even designed Suites by David Beckham at The Londoner Hotel in Macao. This recently won the 'Best Hotel Suite in Asia Pacific' Title at The International Hotel & Property Awards.
David Beckham also has an extensive property portfolio. The Beckhams own a $39m townhouse in Holland Park, West London, a $24m home in Miami and various other luxury properties.
Along with his business partner and friend David Gardner, Beckham launched a television production company called Studio 99 in 2019. Managing Director Nicola Howson is another co-owner. It produces a wide range of editorial and marketing content for global brand clients.
Beckham is also a high-profile philanthropist. The 7 Fund is a partnership between himself and Unicef to help the world's most vulnerable children reach their full potential.
This list of David Beckham’s investments and money-spinning endeavors is in no way exhaustive. The monetary figures mentioned will fluctuate and may not be accurate at the time of reading.
BECKHAM Netflix Documentary
David Beckham, a globally recognized athlete, transitioned from modest roots in East London to Manchester United in the '90s, showcasing a potent mix of ambition and skill. Despite early mixed public perceptions due to his celebrity relationship with Victoria Adams and occasional performance hiccups, Beckham's 11-year journey with United significantly contributed to it establishing itself as a premier football team, albeit facing substantial challenges along the way.
Netflix released a new documentary on David Beckham’s incredible journey in October 2023. The four-part documentary series, BECKHAM, directed by the acclaimed Fisher Stevens and produced by award-winning John Battsek, unveils fresh perspectives on Beckham's life, delving into his close circles and even his personal habits. Despite his long-standing public persona, the series promises to reveal surprising facets of this iconic figure, enriching the audience's understanding of the individual behind the fame.