25 Athletes Who Secretly Own Record Labels, Restaurants & Nightclubs
Shaquille O’Neal
Founded Big Chicken fast‑casual chain in 2018. Also owns dozens of Five Guys, Auntie Anne’s & Papa John’s. Often stars at openings, naming menu items after pals. His food empire fuels massive post‑NBA revenue.
Magic Johnson
Launched Magic Johnson Music label in 2000 under MCA. Built restaurant franchises: Burger King, Starbucks, TGI Fridays. Owns fitness clubs and urban cinemas in Magic Enterprises. A billionaire athlete‑turned‑media mogul.
LeBron James
Invested ~$1M in Blaze Pizza in 2012; now hundreds of locations. No own label or nightclub—but major franchise player. Named in pop culture and business crossovers. A crossover of sports, food and entertainment investment.
Drew Brees
Co‑owns Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux in New Orleans. Owns Dunkin’, Jimmy John’s, Everbowl franchises. Sports bar vibe tied to Louisiana Saints heritage. From NFL icon to local restaurant impresario.
Venus Williams
Owns several Jamba Juice franchise locations in DC/MD. Focuses on health-focused smoothies and lifestyle branding. Brings athlete wellness into business. A smooth pivot from tennis to nutrition retail.
Peyton Manning
Owns 21 Papa John’s franchises in Colorado. Used local fame and appeal to drive sales. Involvement includes promotional commercials. NFL legend turned pizza franchise baron.
Chris Brown (athlete-adjacent performer)
Founded record label CBE under Interscope in 2007. Also previously owned 14 Burger King franchises. Blends music entrepreneurship with fast‑food ownership. Brings dual‑world visibility to both records and restaurants.
Michael Johnson Enterprises
Earvin “Magic” Johnson again, but specifically his music label. Launched Magic Johnson Music with dated deal in 2000. Signed R&B acts like Avant. Sports legend expanding into music business.
Junior Bridgeman
NBA veteran turned franchise mogul after retirement. Owned hundreds of Wendy’s and Chili’s outlets. Now owns a Coca-Cola bottling company and media assets. Example of athlete turned fast‑food titan.
Joe Fournier
British‑Monégasque boxer who built a nightclub empire. Founded fitness biz before moving into upscale clubs. Known as “The Badass Billionaire” in nightlife circles. Athlete‑turned‑promoter with exclusive club ventures.
Wayne Gretzky
Operates Wayne Gretzky’s 99 sports bar in Toronto. Menu features his favourite Canadian comfort dishes. A shrine to hockey legacy with commercial
Mike Ditka
Opened Ditka’s upscale restaurants in Chicago & Pittsburgh. Menu highlights ribs, steak and seafood with coach flair. Often seen hosting fans in person. NFL legend blending sports and fine dining.
Mariano Rivera
Co‑owns Mo’s New York Grill near New Rochelle, NY. Yankees icon serves Panamanian‑inspired steaks and empanadas. Loyal fan‑based spot tied to his heritage. Baseball star turned local restaurant figure.
Jerome Bettis
Runs Grille 36 in Pittsburgh named after his jersey number. Menu spans international flavors but focuses on burgers. Often supports community events through his venue. Football legend with hometown dining legacy.
John Elway
Co‑owns Elway’s Downtown restaurants in Denver. High‑end seafood and steakhouse with wine pairings. Authentic Broncos branding and fan loyalty. Quarterback turned restaurateur in Colorado.
Channing Tatum
Opened Saints and Sinners bar‑restaurant in New Orleans. Burlesque decor, Creole‑Cajun menu and nightlife vibe. Part owner draws on film and local culture ties. Actor-athlete hybrid building hospitality brand.
Jay-Z (non‑athlete but sports‑entertainment adjacent)
Co‑owns the upscale 40/40 Club sports lounge in NYC. Combines live music, sports bar and champagne tower centerpiece. Built around celebrity entertainment and top service. Often included in crossover athlete-celebrity lists.
Drake (musician but sports bar owner)
Owns Pick 6ix Sports restaurant-bar in Toronto. Sports-themed lounge with sushi and bar menu. Merges pop-star status with sports culture dining. Appeals to athlete-fan crossover crowd.
Eddie George
Operates Grille 27 in Columbus, OH with steakhouse menu. Named for his jersey number, offers bison burgers and steak. College and NFL fame flow into dining branding. A homegrown athlete‑led local hotspot.
Mike Alstott
Opened waterfront Island Way Grill in Clearwater, FL. Seafood-heavy menu linked to his Bucs hometown roots. Known for catching fish served that night. From gridiron to fine‑dining seaside.
Hank Aaron
Southeast franchisee of Popeye’s Chicken across Atlanta. Built his empire from modest multiple locations. Also added Krispy Kreme outlets to portfolio. Baseball royalty turned fast‑food franchise operator.
Rick Ross (rapper/athlete crossover)
Owns ~25 Wingstop restaurants with strong annual returns. Calls it “Trap Kitchen to Trap Franchise” success. Combines music brand with food‑business growth. Celebrity‑athlete lifestyle meets franchising.
Phil Mickelson
Owned rights to Orange County Five Guys franchise. Tried acquiring Waffle House rights, though unsuccessful. Brings golf star status into business ventures. Athlete tapping into burger franchise sector.
Robert De Niro
Co‑founded Nobu Hospitality chain, high-end sushi restaurants globally. Though actor, heavily tied to sports bars lounge culture. His brand blurs celebrity, dining and upscale nightlife. Often featured alongside athlete entrepreneurs.
Justin Timberlake
Co‑owns Southern Hospitality BBQ restaurants in NYC. Partners with athletes like Elway in Nashville/NY. Offers Southern cuisine with music & sports crossover vibe. Built tasting rooms that merge celeb, food & sports culture.
