8 Brands Built by Athletes

Athletes don’t just dominate the game they build empires off it.

Here are 8 athlete-founded brands that blew up beyond sports 

Blaze Pizza – LeBron James 

LeBron invested early & became the face of this fast-casual chain.

Fresh ingredients, customizable pies, & star power = rapid growth.

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EleVen – Venus Williams 

Activewear designed to empower women.

Performance fabrics + style for both on-court & lifestyle wear.

Venus showed fashion can fuel athletic legacy.

Honor The Gift – Russell Westbrook 

Streetwear brand rooted in Westbrook’s LA upbringing.

Bold designs, cultural storytelling, & resilience woven into every piece.

Jordan Brand – Michael Jordan 

What started as a Nike shoe line in the ’80s became a multibillion-dollar empire.

Apparel, accessories, team ownership—anchored by the iconic Jumpman logo.

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On Running – Roger Federer

The Swiss legend co-owns this innovative footwear brand.

Famous for “cloud” cushioning tech Federer even helps design the shoes.

Proper No. Twelve – Conor McGregor 

McGregor’s Irish whiskey made waves with brash marketing & smooth flavor.

Sold in 2021 for hundreds of millions one of the biggest athlete business wins.

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TB12 – Tom Brady 

Wellness brand with supplements, recovery tools & training programs.

Built on Brady’s longevity-focused lifestyle "pliability" became a buzzword.

Teremana Tequila – Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson 

Premium small-batch tequila, authentically crafted in Mexico.

Sustainability-focused & massively popular proof The Rock sells more than movies.