Famous Afro-American Athletes Turned Successful Businessmen
Success stories of Afro-American athletes are not uncommon.
Jesse Owens, for example, rose from a mere factory worker to become the “greatest and most famous athlete in track and field” of his generation after the 1936 World Olympics in Berlin, Germany.
By winning four Olympic gold medals in Berlin, the Afro-American member of the United States Olympic team in track and field effectively rebutted a Nazi superiority propaganda.
Athletes have long ago disproved the myth that the only thing athletes can do is sport and have established a strong reputation for their athleticism and business acumen. They know the importance of discipline and teamwork and use them as base to start and run a business.
After all, isn’t teamwork an individual commitment to a group effort – and a vital ingredient in running a business? This is why sports betting sites like Betway place a big premium on player discipline and teamwork in determining odds or a team’s chances of winning.
Michael Jordan
Who doesn’t know Michael Jordan? He is one of the most successful and familiar athletes of all time. The iconic silhouette of a man about to score a slam-dunk belongs to him. He’s the first NBA player to become a billionaire.
How? He is currently the chairman and majority owner of the Charlotte Hornets, an NBA team based in Jordan’s home state of North Carolina.
He also made his fortune through collaboration with major sports brands, including Nike, Gatorade, Hanes, and Coca-Cola. The bulk of his wealth reportedly comes from Nike’s Jordan Brand, which made use of his signature silhouette as its passport to becoming one of the most popular sports brands in the world.
Wasn’t it Michael Jordan who said “talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.” Jordan walks the talk on and off the basketball court. Talents, like Jordan, spell a difference for Betway.
Venus and Serena Williams
Why are Venus and Serena Williams, two of the greatest tennis star sisters and champions of all time, always dressed in fancy, sexy outfits that highlight their toned body and legs?
They are dress designers par excellence and owners of the clothing brand EleVen. Both design some of their company’s clothing lines and are proud to flaunt their creations by actually wearing their signature products.
Venus said it’s difficult for black women to enter the clothing line business, so she and her sister Serena thought of using their celebrity status and global recognition to promote their products.
The sisters also own an interior design company called V Starr Interiors, and are part owners of Miami Dolphins, a professional football team competing in the American Football Conference East Division of the National Football League (NFL). While at it, they’re also into endorsement deals with a number of consumer products like Wilson Sporting Goods and Kraft.
Both sisters are staunch advocates of women empowerment, with their advocacy particularly focused on female athletes. The United Nations’ Cultural Organization (UNESCO) named Venus as its first “Promoter of Gender Equality.” It’s their way of paying it forward.
George Foreman
Who would have thought that former brawler and heavyweight champion George Foreman, one of Mohammad Ali’s fiercest rivals, would turn into a successful entrepreneur by selling a product bearing his name.
Yes, that’s his name behind the product called George Foreman Grills, a smokeless low-fat griller that sold over 100 million sets globally in 1994. Five years later, he sold his product’s marketing rights for $137 million, making him more money than he ever had as a prizefighter.
And he isn’t about to stop. He also created a clothing line of his own called Casual Male and a line of cleaning detergents named Knockout. As an entrepreneur, Foreman has employed more than 200 people through his various business holdings, including a restaurant, training facility, and an office complex.
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