MLS is a growing league in the US and has since attracted many investors. Some owners are billionaires with pocket changes to spare, but many of these investors are celebrities too. Who are these MLS celebrity owners?
Some of the MLS celebrity owners include:
- Matthew McConaughey – Austin FC
- Will Ferell – Los Angeles FC
- David Beckham – Inter Miami
- Reese Witherspoon – Nashville SC
- Kevin Durant – Philadelphia Union
- Patrick Mahomes – Sporting KC
- Steve Nash – Vancouver Whitecaps
- James Harden – Houston Dynamo
- Dwayne Wade – Real Salt Lake
- Mark Ingram III – DC United
In this article, we explore who are the popular celebrities that own MLS teams. We also examine their holdings and what made them invest money into these teams.
Who Are The Celebrity Owners of the MLS?
| Name | Team | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Matthew
McConaughey | Austin FC | Owns Austin FC indirectly by having a share in Two Oak Ventures, the owning entity. |
| Will Ferell | Los Angeles FC | Part of a 26-person ownership group. |
| David Beckham | Inter Miami CF | Lead the consortium that founded the club. |
| Reese Witherspoon | Nashville SC | Minority owner |
| Kevin Durant | Philadelphia Union | 5% stake, with an option to purchase another 5% in the future. |
| Patrick Mahomes | Sporting KC | Minority owner |
| Steve Nash | Vancouver Whitecaps | Co-owner, with Greg Kerfoot, Steve Luczo, and Jeff Mallett. |
| James Harden | Houston Dynamo | Minority owner |
| Dwayne Wade | Real Salt Lake | Minority owner |
| Mark Ingram III | DC United | 1% stake |
Matthew McConaughey – Austin FC
Matthew McConaughey is an American actor, producer, and an Oscar and Academy Award winner. He comes from Uvalde, Texas. He is known for his laid-back Southern charm and epic performances in many movies.
McConaughey first broke into prominence in the 1990s in the film “Dazed and Confused.” He is also remembered for his acting in movies such as “A Time to Kill,” “Dallas Buyers Club,” “Wolf Of Wall Street,” and “Interstellar.”
Apart from acting, he is known for his philanthropic work and, as a speaker, giving motivational talks to his audience.
Matthew is a part owner of the MLS team Austin FC, although indirectly. He is part of the entity Two Oak Ventures, which in turn owns Austin FC. The other owners of Austin are not celebrities but corporate personalities.
Matthew likely invested in Austin FC for several reasons. First is his hometown pride. Uvalde is close to Austin and has spent time in the city as a university student. Austin FC is also the nearest MLS club to his hometown and the only professional sports team in the city.
He also mentioned that his wife was also the reason he invested in Austin FC. Matthew’s wife is Brazilian and may have convinced Matthew of the future of soccer in the US.
Will Ferell – Los Angeles FC
You may remember Will Ferrell for his comedic acts, but he is also a writer and producer. An Irvine, California native, first became popular as a cast member on the comedy sketch “Saturday Night Life.”
He then starred in many successful comedy films, including “Step Brothers,” “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy,” and “Talladega Nights.” Will also runs his podcast show, the “Big Money Players Network.”
Will first got involved with the MLS in 2016, when he was announced as a part-owner of the LAFC. He joins a 26-person ownership group that includes Magic Johnson, Mia Hamm, and Tony Robbins.
When asked why, Will said he fell in love with LAFC and thought he could invest in the club to show his support. He is also a believer in soccer’s potential since it is played around the world. He hopes that MLS will one day rival the European leagues.
His investment is certainly paying off handsomely for him. The LAFC is the most valuable MLS club, with a valuation of $1 billion.
David Beckham – Inter Miami
David Beckham is a former professional soccer athlete with celebrity status. Beckham played for top clubs such as Manchester United, Real Madrid, and LA Galaxy in his career. He also played for the English national team, with 115 appearances.
David Beckham is remembered for his exceptional crossing and free-kick ability. He also has a unique ability to deliver passes with pinpoint accuracy. Beckham’s iconic style and celebrity status transcended sports. He is also a global fashion and marketing icon.
After finishing his playing career with LA Galaxy in 2013, Beckham decided to own a MLS team. He exercised an option in his contract. The option allows him to purchase an MLS Expansion license for $25 million. He led a group of investors and launched Inter Miami in 2018.
Beckham never really publicly mentioned why he invested in MLS. Perhaps it was a very good investment idea at the time. He could also continue his career less conventionally. Rather than being a manager or coach, he could be a team owner instead.
It only cost him $20.2 million to purchase an MLS expansion license. Compare that to John Ingram, who launched Nashville SC, that year. He paid over $120 million for the license.
Reese Witherspoon – Nashville SC
Reese Witherspoon is an American actress, producer, and entrepreneur. She also has her own media company called Hello Sunshine. Reese is also known for her activism, advocating for gender equality. She is also a leader in the Time’s Up movement.
Reese became popular in the late 1990s with the film “Election.” She later starred in many other movies, such as “Legally Blonde,” “Wild,” and “Walk the Line.” With the latter movie, she won an Academy Award. Movies she produced include “Gone Girl” and “Wild.”
Reese first got involved with Nashville SC in early 2022 when she was announced as a minority owner in the club. She joins a list of minority owners, including Derrick Henry, Giannis Antetokounpo, and Jim Toth.
When asked why she decided to invest in Nashville, Reese mentioned being a Tennessee native. She thinks supporting a local professional sports team will allow her and her family to enjoy a world-class team at home.
Kevin Durant – Philadelphia Union
Kevin Durant is an American professional basketball athlete. Durant first played college basketball at Texas before being selected second overall in the 2007 NBA draft.
He first built his name with the Oklahoma City Thunder, winning four scoring titles. He was named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) 2013. He has also played for the Golden State Warriors and the Brooklyn Nets.
Kevin is known for his exceptional scoring ability and clutch moments. Many may have remembered him for his last-second shot that helped Brooklyn Nets level the score against Milwaukee Bucks in the 2021 Eastern Conference semifinals.
He first got involved with the MLS in 2020, when he acquired a 5% stake in the Philadelphia Union. He also made the community partner to help promote the club and sport to his audience. Durant also has an option to purchase another 5% of the club if he wants to.
When asked why he invested in the Philadelphia Union, he sees that the club has a similar vision. He wanted to give back to the local community and was impressed with Philadelphia Union’s plans to do the same.
Patrick Mahomes – Sporting KC
Patrick Mahones is a Super Bowl-winning American football quarterback for Kansas City Chiefs. He first played college football at Texas Tech before being drafted 10th overall in 2017.
He quickly became an NFL sensation after completing an MVP season in 2019 and winning the Super Bowl with the Chiefs in 2020. He is recognized for his exceptional ability to stay calm under pressure and make theatrical throws with deadly accuracy.
Patrick first got involved with Sporting KC in 2021 when he joined the club as a minority owner. With this investment, he joins many other club owners, such as the Patterson Family, Cliff Illig, Pat Curran, and Robb Heineman.
Patrick mentioned that he became interested in joining the club after spending time with Cliff Illig and managed to learn about Sporting KC. He later grew to appreciate the professionalism and commitment to the club. That led to the investment.
Steve Nash – Vancouver Whitecaps
Steve Nash is a retired Canadian professional basketball athlete and a head coach. During his playing days, he is regarded as one of the greatest point guards in NBA history.
He played for the Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, and Los Angeles Lakers throughout his career. He also won two NBA MVP titles in 2005 and 2006.
Nash is recognized for his basketball IQ and playmaking skills. He is also known for laser-like passing accuracy and the ability to execute three-point shots. He is currently the head coach of the Brooklyn Nets.
Unlike other celebrities here, Steve Nash has been with the MLS for a long time. He has been with the Vancouver Whitecaps since its founding in 2011 and remains a minority owner of the club today.
Steve likely invested in the Vancouver Whitecaps to support the effort to grow MLS professional soccer in Canada. Steve spent some time growing up in London, supporting the Tottenham Hotspur football club that plays in the English Premier League.
Steve was also passionate about soccer, having played competitively in his younger days. He actually contemplated a professional soccer career before ending up in basketball.
James Harden – Houston Dynamo
James Harden is an American professional basketball athlete currently playing in the NBA. He played NCAA basketball at Arizona State University before turning professional. Oklahoma City Thunder picked him 3rd overall in the 2009 NBA Draft.
He became a superstar during his playing stint with the Houston Rockets. He won multiple NBA All-Star appearances and was even awarded the NBA MVP title in 2018.
Harden is best known for his ability to dribble, draw fouls, and handle balls. His step-back 3-point shots are also deadly accurate. At the point of writing, he plays for the Brooklyn Nets with Kevin Durant.
Harden first got involved with the Dynamo while playing with the Rockets. He made his involvement official in 2019, joining as a minority shareholder.
In his official statement, Harden mentioned how Houston is ‘his home,’ and it only feels natural to invest in Houston. He also mentioned how soccer has exploded in popularity in the US, and expanding his business interests in soccer is a way to leverage it.
Dwayne Wade – Real Salt Lake
Dwyane Wade is a retired American professional basketball athlete. He retired in 2019. He played his college basketball with Marquette University in Wisconsin. He was later drafted into the NBA 5th overall by the Miami Heat in 2003.
In his 16-year career with the Heat, Wade became a three-time NBA champion (2006, 2012, 2013). He also picked up 10 NBA All-Star appearances and was the NBA Finals MVP in 2006.
Dwayne Wade has mesmerized the court with his ability to execute drives to the basket and ability to perform amazing acrobatic shots. In defense, he is also an excellent shot blocker.
Wade’s involvement with the Real Salt Lake came after his part-ownership of the NBA team Utah Jazz. In early 2022, he announced that he had invested in the Real Salt Lake, joining two other co-owners, Ryan Smith and Ryan Sweeney.
Wade never openly explained his rationale for investing in the team. However, considering he is also a co-owner with Ryan Smith with the Utah Jazz, they may have the idea of owning another club together.
Mark Ingram II – DC United
Mark Ingram II is a professional American football player who plays the running back position. He played NCAA college football at the University of Alabama. There, he won the Heisman Trophy in 2009.
He was later drafted 28th overall in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He repaid New Orleans Saints’ faith in him with amazing performances and two Pro Bowl appearances. He is remembered for his tough, no-nonsense running style and for breaking tackles.
Mark Ingram first announced his involvement with the MLS club DC United in mid-2021, becoming a minority owner with a 1% stake in the club. His investment is expected to help grow the club’s recognition in the eyes of NFL fans.
He joins a star-studded ownership group that includes award-winning rapper Yo Gotti and businessmen Joe Mamo and Jake Silverstein.
Mark likely decided to become involved with the MLS team after spending much of his time in the DMV area (District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia.), particularly during his stint as a Baltimore Raven. He is also excited at how his values align with the club.
