Russell Westbrook, the unlikely business mogul 🏀
Russell Westbrook is an animal on the basketball court. The LA Clippers star can dunk on anyone and anything. But off the court, Westbrook is an entirely different animal.
While most NBA players go broke after retirement, Westbrook is cleverly building a business empire to become a billionaire.
At 35, Russ is already worth $375 million, according to Forbes. But chasing cheques was never enough for Mr Triple Double.
After signing his massive five-year, $207 million contract in 2017, Russ shocked the sports world by launching a startup. Honor The Gift is his passion project, a streetwear fashion brand that embodies his "why not?" philosophy.
Last year alone, Honor The Gift generated $6 million in sales. But as we all know, fashion brands come and go faster than Westbrook's lightning crossover.
To really scale up, Russ launched Russell Westbrook Enterprises (RWE) - his holding company - in 2019.
RWE brings in tens of millions in revenue through its digital advertising agency, RW Digital. Russ's team helps brands tap into the power of minority consumers.
But Brodie has bigger ambitions. He's modelling his empire after Vinnie Johnson - the legendary "microwave" who won rings with the Bad Boy Pistons before becoming a billionaire auto parts magnate.
Russ is now evaluating auto parts companies to acquire through RWE. Guided by billionaires like Thomas Tull, his stake in Tulco grew from $9 million to over $90 million in 3 years.
There's still a long way to go, but Russ won't stop attacking the rim until he joins MJ as the only billionaires in the world.
#RussellWestbrook #NBA #SportBiz #SportBusiness
Joyful, Optimistic, Grateful, Hopeful, and Loving this Beautiful Journey
3moMagic and MJ laid the foundation. I also salute Junior Bridgeman for the dynamic example he set for the next generation of athletes on setting up a successful life beyond the NBA while simultaneously giving back.