David Beckham’s name is synonymous with footballing excellence.
But beyond the dazzling footwork and iconic free kicks lies a shrewd businessman.
This article delves into the impressive portfolio Beckham has built, exploring his ownership stakes in various businesses, his investment strategies and the diverse ventures he has undertaken.
From co-owning a Major League Soccer franchise to launching his own grooming line, his business acumen is as impressive as his footballing skills.
DB Ventures
DB Ventures, launched in 2014, is the foundation of Beckham’s business activities.
It acts as the central hub that manages his brand image and leverages it to secure lucrative partnerships and sponsorships.
Imagine them as the team negotiating deals with major brands like Adidas or Tudor watches.
Their focus is on maximizing the value of the David Beckham brand across different areas like fashion, fragrances and accessories.
They even take legal action to protect the brand from counterfeiters.
There are indications of DB Ventures’ success, with reports suggesting it doubled its revenue in 2022 and paying out a substantial salary to a key employee.
Interestingly, in 2022, David Beckham reportedly sold a majority stake (55%) in DB Ventures to Authentic Brands Group for a significant sum.
While Beckham retains some ownership, Authentic Brands likely has more control over the company’s direction now.
David Beckham Ventures Limited and Seven Global
David Beckham Ventures Limited (DBVL) and Seven Global work together within Beckham’s brand management structure, but they serve different purposes.
DBVL acts more like a behind-the-scenes holding company.
It’s part of David Beckham Holdings Limited, which oversees his entire brand portfolio.
While its specific activities are unclear, it likely holds ownership stakes in other ventures and manages financial aspects.
Seven Global, on the other hand, directly manages a specific set of Beckham’s brand partnerships and sponsorships.
Founded in 2015, it took control of some of his long-standing deals like Adidas and Tudor watches.
Imagine it as a partnership Beckham formed, initially with Global Brands Group, to manage these specific endorsements.
Inter Miami CF
Beckham isn’t just a businessman, he’s also a co-owner of a Major League Soccer (MLS) team called Inter Miami CF.
He invested in the club through his holding company, Beckham Brand Holdings, alongside Jorge and Jose Mas.
This team fulfilled Beckham’s dream of bringing a high-caliber soccer club to Miami.
Approved in 2018, Inter Miami CF competes in the highest professional soccer league in the United States and Canada, Major League Soccer.
The team plays its home games in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, while representing the Miami metropolitan area.
Beckham’s involvement has had a significant impact.
Not only has Inter Miami CF brought a world-class soccer experience to Miami, but Beckham’s star power has also helped elevate the profile of Major League Soccer on a global scale.Â
Guild Esports
Beckham is the co-owner and director of Guild Esports, a professional esports organization based in the United Kingdom.
Launched in 2019, Guild Esports aims to be a leader in the rapidly growing world of esports.
Beckham’s involvement with Guild Esports goes beyond just a financial investment.
He serves as a director and leverages his star power to bring global recognition to the organization.
This partnership brings together the worlds of traditional sports and esports, potentially attracting new fans and sponsors to both.
Guild Esports fields competitive teams in various popular games like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Fortnite, Valorant and more.
The organization focuses on developing and supporting talented gamers, providing them with training facilities, coaching, and resources to compete at the highest level.
By combining Beckham’s star power with a commitment to developing top esports talent, Guild Esports positions itself as a major player in the ever-evolving world of competitive gaming.
House 99
Beckham created his own brand of men’s grooming products called House 99.
It’s more than just a product line though; it aspires to be a community for men.
House 99 launched in 2018, offering a comprehensive range of hairstyling products, skincare essentials and beard care items.
The idea behind the brand goes beyond simply providing these products.
House 99 aims to challenge traditional notions of masculinity and inspire men to experiment with their personal style.
The brand achieves this through various means.
For instance, they use playful names for their products, like ‘When-To’s’ instead of the usual ‘How-To’ guides.
They also feature a diverse cast of influencers in their marketing materials, showcasing different styles and approaches to grooming.
House 99 embraces a community feel, providing a space for men to share tips and ideas, encouraging them to find their own unique look and express themselves confidently.
The name House 99 itself holds a special meaning for Beckham.
The word ‘House’ reflects his goal of building a welcoming community and the number ’99’ is a significant year in his life, marking his marriage to Victoria Beckham, the birth of their eldest son Brooklyn, and the year Manchester United, the team he played for, achieved a remarkable treble win.
So House 99 combines the idea of a supportive community with a personal touch that reflects Beckham’s own journey.
Studio 99
Beckham isn’t just a sports icon and businessman, he’s also a creative force behind Studio 99.
This venture is a full-service content production company that he co-founded.
Studio 99 focuses on creating unique and engaging content that resonates with a global audience.
The studio operates across two main areas: editorial and commercial production.
On the editorial side, Studio 99 develops premium documentaries, series, and formats for major platforms like Netflix, Disney+ and the BBC.
These projects showcase their ability to tell captivating stories with broad appeal.
Commercially, Studio 99 offers a complete service to clients.
This includes creative and brand strategy development, followed by campaign execution across various media channels.
They also manage the social media presence of David Beckham himself, leveraging his massive following of over 150 million people globally.Â
Studio 99 has already built a successful track record including Save Our Squad for Disney+, a documentary chronicling the rise of MLS club LAFC and Fever Pitch, a historical documentary about the Premier League for Paramount Plus.
With their diverse skillset and ability to tap into David Beckham’s star power, Studio 99 is poised to continue creating high-quality content that entertains and informs audiences worldwide.
Investments in tech startups
Beyond fashion, fragrances, and sports franchises, Beckham has dipped his toes into the world of technology by investing in tech startups.
The specific details of all his tech investments are not publicly available, but there are a few notable examples.
One such instance is Synthesia, a UK-based artificial intelligence startup that creates realistic videos using AI.
Beckham’s involvement helped Synthesia secure a significant funding round, allowing the company to further develop its innovative technology.
This isn’t the only instance where Beckham has shown faith in the tech industry.
He has also reportedly invested in other tech startups, though the exact names remain undisclosed.
These investments suggest that Beckham recognizes the potential of technology to revolutionize various aspects of our lives and is willing to back promising companies in this dynamic field.
Restaurant ventures
Beckham’s ventures extend beyond fashion, fragrances and sports team ownership.
He has also dabbled in the restaurant industry, though his involvement appears to be limited.
There aren’t many details available about specific restaurants Beckham has invested in.
However, there are reports that he was previously involved in opening a restaurant in London’s Mayfair district. The specifics of this restaurant, its name, cuisine, or current status are unclear.
Given the lack of information and the absence of Beckham’s name being associated with any prominent restaurants currently, it seems his foray into the restaurant business might not have been a long-term venture.
It’s possible the Mayfair restaurant closed down, or perhaps Beckham decided to focus his business efforts on other areas where he has found more success.
