chris.ha • May 5, 2021
LA VIP AGENT: PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES WHO BECAME ENTREPRENEURS
#LAVIPAgent to talk about some famous athletes who turned into some tremendous businessmen and businesswomen after their careers (some during!). As you know I played professional basketball overseas in my hayday but now I spend my full time devoted to my other passion, Luxury Real Estate. I think a little known fact is how business savvy some of these legendary players are. Often professional athletes are earning a lot of money and building wealth during their careers so it is only natural they invest it in business after. So without further ado, here are some great stories of athletes turned entrepreneur!
MICHAEL JORDAN
Arguably the best basketball player known to the game, Michael Jordan changed the way basketball is viewed. He played for the Chicago Bulls and later for the Washington Wizards, totaling more than $90 million in earnings as a player salary.
VENUS WILLIAMS
This tennis ace couldn’t wait for retirement to start her own company, and the seven-time Grand Slam singles champ now has an equally impressive business résumé as she does an athletic one.
She is the founder and CEO of the clothing line, EleVen, and interior design company, V Starr Interiors. She told Forbes magazine, “I think as an athlete you’re always overcoming all kinds of challenges. That’s the name of sport — it’s a challenge. So definitely applying those lessons of perseverance and learning from mistakes and setting goals has definitely helped me in business.”
ROGER STAUBACK
The Hall of Fame quarterback who led the Dallas Cowboys to two Super Bowl victories turned to real estate after retiring his football helmet and pads. He worked for real estate titan Henry Miller Jr. for six years before building his own commercial real estate firm, The Staubach Company. The firm began with five employees, expanded exponentially under Staubach’s leadership, and eventually sold for $613 million in 2008.
TONY HAWK
It’s easy to take for granted the fact Tony Hawk’s name is synonymous with skateboarding, but his ascension to superstardom comes on the back of some terrific business instincts. In 2009 Hawk was the highest-paid action sports athlete on the planet at $12 million, selling his name on everything from shoes to bicycles, clothes, a best selling autobiography and of course, skateboards. His video game series has amassed over a billion dollars since their inception in 1999, and while his peers lived the rockstar lifestyle partying in Southern California, Hawk enjoyed the best of both worlds.
Rod Watson, Real Estate Advisor to celebrity sports stars like Zach Randolph, De’Aaron Fox, and Markelle Fultz, has left his role as Sports and Entertainment Director at Revel Real Estate to join forces with Keller Williams Beverly Hills, The Real Deal has learned. The reason Rod has chosen to partner with KW Beverly Hills is simple, it’s all about leadership and support. “At KW Beverly Hills they fully support my vision. I will work jointly with our leadership team, Paul Morris and Josh Spitzen, to continue my efforts in building the premier Sports and Entertainment real estate brand.” KW has a proven track record of helping their agents build profitable businesses through their systems and billion-dollar technology. “The Forward Living sub-brand of KW offices in greater los Angeles provides further resources and leverage to help me realize my vision more quickly and profitably.” Rod says this partnership will help provide his brand with a global presence along with the support to help train and grow his team. Rod officially joined KW Beverly Hills on May 26th and will focus on servicing celebrities, athletes, investors, developers, millennials and high net worth professionals.
Basketball veteran Zach Randolph has yet to find a team for the upcoming NBA season, but he has found a new home. A corporate entity tied to the two-time All-Star has paid out $5.195 million for a brand new mansion in Encino, records show. The affluent San Fernando Valley neighborhood is home to many athletes, and fellow basketball players JaVale McGee, Kenny Smith and Gilbert Arenas have all owned property there over the last few years. Covering half an acre, the property packs in plenty of amenities. In addition to an 8,200-square-foot home, there’s a swimming pool, a cabana with a bathroom, a fire pit lounge, an outdoor kitchen, an herb garden and a basketball court. A vast open floor plan full of clean lines, white walls, light hardwood floors and pocketing doors anchors the three-story interior. A 300-bottle wine cellar sits at the center, and surrounding it are a chandelier-topped dining room, living room with a fireplace and custom kitchen with a split-level island.
As the drive increases for society to become more inclusive, and provide sustainable and equitable support for Black communities, the real estate sector has come into the spotlight for lack of racial representation. To date, Rod Watson, founder of The Watson Group LAVIPagent team, and Director of Sports and Entertainment at Keller Williams Beverly Hills, has sold and negotiated over $120 million in real estate during his 14 year career. He says, "I've learned a lot of valuable information when it comes to real estate investing. My focus has been to help as many athletes and people of color as I can to generate, and maintain generational wealth through real estate investing. That is my purpose and reason for being in this business." His journey began with a dream to get out of the impoverished 5th Ward community in Houston, Texas, the community which he grew up in, and make his name in sports. He did that and so much more. Today, a successful Realtor in the luxury market, Rod counts his clients as some of the most recognised names in sports and entertainment. Yet, this real estate professional is much more than a salesman. I caught up with Rod to learn more about the switch from professional sports to real estate, and why he made a pledge to himself to put diversity and inclusion at the heart of what he, and his industry does.
