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A career in sports won’t last forever. Athletes may be the pillar of endurance and athleticism in their heydays, but as the years pass by, they may suffer from major injuries or may need to retire from the active lifestyle because of old age.
While not a few athletes have been unfortunate to retire without a penny in the bank, there are those who have invested their money on business ventures and have succeeded.
The following are four of the most popular sportsmen who have made an impressive career shift from being athletes to entrepreneurs:
Oscar De La Hoya, the “Golden Boy” of boxing, is an Olympic gold medal winner and the youngest boxer ever to win five world titles. Today, he owns 50 percent of the international boxing management company Golden Boy Promotions, which generates more than $100 million annually, according to CNBC.com.
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American basketball legend Michael Jordan is considered as the best player in the history of basketball. His gravity-defying stunts in the court have earned him the title “Air Jordan.” Most remembered for playing for the Chicago Bulls, he is the current owner of the basketball team Charlotte Bobcats. He is also the spokesperson for Nike’s Air Jordan sneakers.
Legendary skateboarder Tony Hawk started his game at the age of 12 and became a professional at 14. He won 73 professional skateboarding competitions during his career and has made more than 80 tricks. After retirement, he founded two skateboarding companies, Birdhouse and Hawk Clothing. He also created the best-selling Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater Video game (in partnership with Activision).
Brad Pyatt is a former National Football League player who played for Indianapolis Colts and Miami Dolphins. After his four-year career in the NFL, he founded MusclePharm, a nutritional supplements company, which has grown at an average annual growth rate of 626 percent since its inception in 2008, making him one of the youngest pro athletes-turned-entrepreneurs at the age of 32.
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MusclePharm’s official website provides more information on Brad Pyatt’s career shift, as well as a complete list of its products.
