Celebrities in esports hail from a wide variety of backgrounds from musicians to actors, but none so prevalent as those from the world of traditional sports —especially footballers.
Famous athletes and sports team owners that have or continue to invest in or become involved in esports recognise the link between fandoms and competition, whether live or in video games.
To help keep track of all the celebrities in esports, we have compiled a growing list of traditional sports athletes and team owners who have entered the space.
Celebrities in esports from the world of traditional sports
Note: celebrity investors, owners, partners, and ambassadors are listed in alphabetical order by surname. This list will be updated periodically. (Last updated: 30 September 2021)
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A | B |C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
A
Sergio Aguero
Organisation(s): KRÜ Esports
Role(s): Founder and CEO
Details: Manchester City star striker Sergio ‘Kun’ Aguero founded KRÜ Esports in October 2020. The company is based out of Argentina and Barcelona.
Dele Alli
Organisation(s): EXCEL ESPORTS
Role(s): Global ambassador
Details: Tottenham Hotspur footballer Dele Alli was named as EXCEL ESPORTS’ first global ambassador in December 2020, after signing a long-term partnership with the esports organisation. Footballers have become one of the many celebrity investors in esports within the last few years.
César Azpilicueta
Organisation(s): Falcons
Role(s): Founder
Details: Chelsea’s Cesar Azpilicueta announced that he was forming his own esports team, Falcons, in early 2020. The team competes in FIFA.
B
Gareth Bale
Organisation(s): Ellevens Esports
Role(s): Founder
Details: In February 2020, professional footballer Gareth Bale launched Ellevens Esports in partnership with 38 Entertainment Group, an organisation co-founded by former football star Larry Cohen. Ellevens fields teams in FIFA and Rocket League, along with a team of streamers.
David Beckham
Organisation(s): Guild Esports
Role(s): Co-owner
Details: Esports talent development agency Guild Esports launched in 2020 with David Beckham as co-owner. The organisation launched Guild Academy, an online esports training subscription service, in 2021.
Odell Beckham, Jr.
Organisation(s): Vision Esports (Echo Fox)
Role(s): Investor
Details: Cleveland Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham, Jr. was one of several celebrities that invested in Rick Fox’s esports organisation, Echo Fox, in 2018.
C
Dominic Calvert-Lewin
Organisation(s): Semper Fortis Esports PLC
Role(s): Brand ambassador
Details: English professional footballer for Everton FC Dominic Calvert-Lewin became a brand ambassador of esports startup Semper Fortis Esports PLC in May 2021. Calvert-Lewin will promote Semper Fortis assets, including the European Rocket League squad Top Blokes.
Casemiro
Organisation(s): CaseEsports
Role(s): Founder
Details: Real Madrid defensive midfielder Carlos Henrique Casimiro, known as Casemiro, launched his own esports organisation, ‘CaseEsports,’ in October of 2020. Right out of the gate, the Brazilian footballer assembled a professional CS:GO team that will operate out of Spain.
Jordan Clarkson
Organisation(s): Esports Technologies
Role(s): Marketing ambassador
Details: In 2019, Clarkson partnered with esports wagering company Esports Technologies as an ambassador on marketing campaigns to raise awareness of the brand.
Larry Cohen
Organisation(s): 38 Entertainment, Ellevens Esports
Role(s): Co-founder, CBO
Details: Former pro footballer Larry Cohen co-founded 38 Entertainment, a venture that co-owns Gareth Bale’s Elleven Esports. His company also runs Combat Gaming, a celebrity tournament platform that leverages Cohen’s sports network.
Thibaut Courtois
Organisation(s): DUX Gaming
Role(s): Investor
Details: LaLiga player Thibaut Courtois became an investor in DUX Gaming in 2020.
Mark Cuban
Organisation(s): Mavs Gaming, Unikrn
Role(s): Owner (Mavs Gaming), Investor (Unikrn)
Details: Billionaire Mark Cuban, known for his appearances on the TV show Shark Tank, is the owner of NBA team Dallas Mavericks. By extension, he also owns its esports affiliate team, Mavs Gaming, which launched in 2018 and recruited the first female NBA2K League player in 2021.
In 2018, Cuban invested in blockchain-based esports betting platform, Unikrn.
Steph Curry
Organisation(s): Team SoloMid (TSM)
Role(s): Investor
Details: Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry aka Steph Curry, became an investor in Team SoloMid via its parent company, Swift in 2018. He appeared on a number of TSM videos following the announcement.
D
Kevin Durant
Organisation(s): Andbox, Vision Esports (Echo Fox)
Role(s): Investor
Details: Power forward for the Brooklyn Nets Kevin Durant joined fellow athletes Odell Beckham, Jr. and Rick Fox by investing in Vision Esports in 2018. The team, Echo Fox, has since disbanded.
In March 2021, Durant and his agent Rich Kleiman invested in New York esports organisation Andbox through their investment vehicle, Thirty Five Ventures.
E
Chris Evert
Organisation(s): Misfits Gaming
Role(s): Speaker, Women of Misfits
Details: Pro tennis legend Chris Evert participated in the Women of Misfits platform, a speaker series designed to inspire and mentor women and girls in the sports and gaming sector.
F
Rick Fox
Organisation(s): Vision Esports aka Echo Fox
Role(s): Owner (former)
Details: Retired basketball player Rick Fox founded Echo Fox in 2015 by purchasing the North American LCS spot of Gravity Gaming. Other celebrity investors included Kevin Durant and Odell Beckham Jr. The team later expanded into more titles, but ultimately folded in 2019 following a series of controversies and internal lawsuits. The LCS spot was ultimately acquired by Evil Geniuses.
Christian Fuchs
Organisation(s): No Fuchs Given (NFG)
Role(s): Founder
Details: NFG was founded in 2018 by Leicester City footballer Christian Fuchs and fields a team in FIFA. The following year, Fuchs announced plans to open a 1,000-seat esports arena in New York.
G
Antoine Griezmann
Organisation(s): Grizi Esport
Role(s): Co-founder
Details: World-class footballer Antoine Griezmann and his brother Théo Griezmann launched Grizi Esports in early 2020 with plans to field teams in Fortnite, League of Legends, Rainbow Six: Siege, CS: GO, and naturally, FIFA.
Romain Grosjean
Organisation(s): R8G eSports
Role(s): Owner, founder
Details: Haas Formula 1 driver Romain Grosjean launched his own sim racing esports team, R8G, in April 2020.
Ole Gunnar Solskjær
Organisation(s): ULTI Agency
Role(s): Co-owner
Details: Ole Gunnar Solskjær, the manager of Premier League football club Manchester United, and sports agent Jim Solbakken signed an agreement to become owners of Norwegian esports company ULTI Agency. Per the April 2021 announcement, both Solskjær and Solbakken will acquire 12.5 percent stakes in the company each through their respective companies, Grip Management AS and Sir Solution AS.
H
Tony Hawk
Organisation(s): GameSquare
Role(s): Special advisor
Details: In March 2021, famed skateboarder Tony Hawk joined GameSquare as a special advisor to CEO Justin Kenna and GameSquare’s group of companies. The goal is to help them ‘bridge the gap between global brands and the large gaming and esports communities’.
Gordon Hayward
Organisation(s): HyperX
Role(s): Ambassador
Details: Charlotte Hornets basketball star Gordan Hayward is a gaming ambassador known as a ‘HyperX Hero’. As part of his partnership, Hayward appears in marketing for the peripherals brand.
Keisuke Honda
Organisation(s): Gen.G
Role(s): Investor, advisor
Details: Japanese soccer star Keisuke Honda became an investor and advisor to esports organisation Gen.G in 2019 through his Dreamers Fund — a venture capital fund co-founded with actor Will Smith.
Nyjah Huston
Organisation(s): FaZe Clan
Role(s): Investor
Details: Pro skater Nyjah Huston was among a slew of athletes and celebrities that invested in FaZe Clan’s Series A funding round in April 2020.
I
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Organisation(s): Challengermode
Role(s): Investor
Details: Swedish footballer Zlatan Ibrahimovic invested in esports platform Challengermode back in 2017 and again in 2020.
Borja Iglesias
Organisation(s): DUX Gaming
Role(s): Investor
Details: LaLiga player Borja Iglesias became an investor in DUX Gaming in 2020.
J
Magic Johnson
Organisation(s): aXiomatic Gaming (Team Liquid)
Role(s): Co-owner
Details: Team Liquid entered a strategic partnership with ownership group aXiomatic in 2016. In addition to Johnson, aXiomatic includes Magic Johnson, Golden State Warriors co-owner Peter Guber, and Washington Wizards co-owner Ted Leonsis, who all became co-owners.
The co-ownership group also includes Dodgers executives Lon Rosen and Tucker Kain, Warriors executives Rick Welts and Kirk Lacob, the Washington Nationals owners at Lerner Enterprises, Chicago Cubs president of business operations Crane Kenney and former NFL player Dhani Jones.
Michael Jordan
Organisation(s): aXiomatic Gaming (Team Liquid)
Role(s): Investor
Details: When it comes to celebrity investors in esports, this one got a lot of fans excited. Jordan participated in a $26 million (~£18.3 million) Series C funding round for Team Liquid’s parent company, aXiomatic Gaming, in 2018.
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Jerry Jones
Organisation(s): Complexity Gaming
Role(s): Majority stakeholder
Details: Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys NFL team acquired a majority stake in Complexity Gaming in 2017, alongside real-estate tycoon John Goff.
K
Robert Kraft
Organisation(s): Boston Uprising
Role(s): Owner
Details: In 2017, the Kraft family purchased the rights to bring one of the first Overwatch League teams to the city of Boston. Kraft Group also owns the New England Patriots.
Stan Kroenke
Organisation(s): Los Angeles Guerrillas, Los Angeles Gladiators, Sentinels (former)
Role(s): Owner
Details: Through Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, the Kroenke family owns teams Los Angeles Guerrillas in Call of Duty League and the Gladiators in Overwatch League. The company previously collaborated with esports organisation Sentinels but parted ways in 2019 to focus on its newly acquired Call of Duty League slot.
Kroenke also owns the Los Angeles Rams, Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche among other teams.
L
Meyers Leonard
Organisation(s): FaZe Clan
Role(s): Investor
Details: Pro basketball free agent Meyers Leonard was among a slew of athletes and celebrities that invested in FaZe Clan’s Series A funding round in April 2020.
Jesse Lingard
Organisation(s): JLINGZ esports (formerly Audacity Esports)
Role(s): Owner
Details: Manchester United’s Jesse Lingard acquired UK-based esports organisation Audacity Esports in August of 2021. As part of the deal, the Rainbow Six Siege roster — temporarily named Team JLE — will be rebranded to JLINGZ esports and compete in the next season of the UK and Ireland Nationals (UKIN).
Audacity Esports announced that it was one of the six UK-based esports organisations that will form premium esports and lifestyle brand Coalesce Esports.
M
Harry Maguire
Organisation(s): Semper Fortis Esports PLC
Role(s): Brand ambassador
Details: Manchester United and England defender Harry Maguire was appointed as a brand ambassador of UK-based organisation Semper Fortis Esports in May 2021. Maguire will interact with fans across digital platforms alongside providing his ‘experience in traditional sports’ to apply it to an esports organisation.
Mitch Marner
Organisation(s): OverActive Media (Toronto Ultra, Toronto Defiant, MAD Lions)
Role(s): Co-owner
Details: Toronto Maple Leafs star Mitch Marner joined OverActive Media’s ownership group in July of 2020. At the time, Marner expressed plans to work directly with the company to help promote the brand.
Jack McClinton
Organisation(s): Esports Technologies
Role(s): Strategic advisor
Details: Former University of Miami Basketball Star and NBA Draft Pick Jack McClinton joined Esports Technologies as a Strategic Advisor in May 2021. McClinton will ‘facilitate authentic collaborations’ between professional athletes and entertainers with Esports Technologies and its partners.
Daniil Medvedev
Organisation(s): HyperX
Role(s): Ambassador
Details: Russian tennis pro Daniil Medvedev signed on as a ‘HyperX Hero’ as of August 2021. As part of the agreement, Medvedev will participate in global marketing activations.
Mason Mount
Organisation(s): 38 Entertainment (Combat Gaming)
Role(s): Brand ambassador, TV host
Details: Chelsea Football Club and England midfielder Mason Mount was appointed an official brand ambassador of 38 Entertainment Group-owned organisation Combat Gaming in June 2021. He will host Combat Gaming’s new gaming show series, which is set to air on Sky UK broadband during summer 2021.
N
Lando Norris
Organisation(s): Team Quadrant
Role(s): Owner
Details: British Formula One driver Lando Norris launched Team Quadrant in November 2020. The new entity puts an emphasis on gaming, racing, and content creation.
O
Shaquille O’Neal
Organisation(s): NRG Esports
Role(s): Investor
Details: NBA Hall-of-Famer Shaquille O’Neal invested in ownership group NRG Esports alongside baseball player Jimmy Rollins in 2016. NRG was formed in 2015 by Mark Mastrov and Andy Miller, part owners of the Sacramento Kings.
Mesut Özil
Organisation(s): M10 Esports
Role(s): Founder
Details: Pro footballer Mesut Özil founded his own esports organisation, M10, in 2018, fielding teams in Fortnite and FIFA.
P
Gerard Piqué
Organisation(s): efootball.pro
Role(s): Founder
Details: FC Barcelona centreback Gerard Piqué founded efootball.pro in 2017. The league sees representatives from pro football teams compete on the virtual pitch in what is now called eFootball.Pro IQONIQ.
Aerial Powers
Organisation(s): Team Liquid, HyperX
Role(s): Brand ambassador
Details: Former WNBA champion Aerial Powers joined Team Liquid as an ambassador and streamer as of January 2021. Powers will represent the organisation as a brand and diversity ambassador, alongside streaming under the Team Liquid banner. Shortly thereafter, she became a brand ambassador for HyperX.
R
Sergio Reguilón
Organisation(s): Team Heretics
Role(s): Partner
Details: Footballer Sergio Reguilón joined Team Heretics in 2019.
Alex Rodriguez
Organisation(s): NRG Esports
Role(s): Investor
Details: Former baseball star Alex ‘A-Rod’ Rodriguez invested in ownership group NRG Esports alongside baseball player Jimmy Rollins and NBA star Shaquille O’Neal in 2016. NRG was formed in 2015 by Mark Mastrov and Andy Miller, part owners of the Sacramento Kings.
Ronaldo
Organisation(s): CNB e-sports Club
Role(s): Co-owner
Details: Former Brazil, Real Madrid and Inter Milan striker Ronaldo invested in CNB e-sports Club in 2017. He owns 50 per cent of the organisation together with professional poker player André Akkari and Igor Trafane Federal, CEO of the Brazilian Series of Poker (BSOP).
Angela Ruggiero
Organisation(s): Misfits Gaming
Role(s): Speaker, Women of Misfits
Details: Angela Ruggiero is the CEO and Co-Founder of Sports Innovation Lad, a four-time Olympian, and a gold medalist for the USA Hockey team. She participated in the Women of Misfits platform, a speaker series designed to inspire and mentor women and girls in the sports and gaming sector.
S
Richard Sherman
Organisation(s): Enthusiast Gaming (Luminosity Gaming)
Role(s): Board of Directors
Details: NFL free agent Richard Sherman joined Enthusiast Gaming’s Board of Directors in 2021. Sherman had been working with Enthusiast Gaming’s esports organisation, Luminosity Gaming, since 2019 as a global brand ambassador.
Bianca Smith
Organisation(s): Misfits Gaming
Role(s): Speaker, Women of Misfits
Details: Bianca Smith, the first black woman to serve as a professional baseball coach, participated in the Women of Misfits platform, a speaker series designed to inspire and mentor women and girls in the sports and gaming sector.
JuJu Smith-Schuster
Organisation(s): Team Diverge
Role(s): Founder
Details: Pittsburgh Steelers Wide Receiver, JuJu Smith-Schuster launched a new gaming organisation, Team Diverge, in October 2020. According to the athlete, the organisation aims to become a hub for crossover content across sports, gaming and culture, featuring popular streamers, athletes and celebrities, including the launch of its own streetwear apparel line.
Minna Stess
Organisation(s): HyperX, XSET
Role(s): Ambassador
Details: Skateboard champion Minna Stess joined the talent roster at XSET in 2020. She has since joined HyperX as one of its ‘HyperX Heroes‘ ambassadors. Stess will exclusively wear and promote HyperX gaming headsets while participating in various marketing initiatives, including social activations and the company’s ongoing ‘We’re All Gamers’ campaign.
Nigel Sylvester
Organisation(s): XSET
Role(s): Content creator
Details: BMX rider Nigel Sylvester joined XSET in November as a content creator.
T
Mike Tyson
Organisation(s): Fade2Karma
Role(s): Investor
Details: Tyson invested in esports organisation Fade 2 Karma in 2019. As a result, Fade 2 Karma announced plans to build a new streaming facility near Los Angeles.
V
Marquez Valdes-Scantling
Organisation(s): Trench Made Gaming (TMG)
Role(s): Owner
Details: Green Bay Packers wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling announced the creation of Trench Made Gaming in May 2021 alongside Subnation Media. The organisation will field teams across multiple titles.
W
Marco Wilson
Organisation(s): XSET
Role(s): Content creator
Details: Arizona Cardinal cornerback Marco Wilson became an official content creator for lifestyle gaming organisation XSET in July 2021. The former Florida Gators star player will stream video game content, including Call of Duty: Warzone on his official Twitch channel.