10 North American Celebrities Dropping Major Cash in Esports

If you think esports is just a bunch of kids playing video games, you might want to check your bank account against these A-listers. Imagine that, just this year, the global market is projected to reach $4.8 billion and will still increase to $5.9 billion by 2030.

The United States is the big winner projecting $1.87 billion by next year. North America, is set for even more significant growth, reaching a staggering  $3.36 billion by 2030. Those numbers aren't for rookies, by the way!

Let's find out which big names are getting their slice of the digital pie:

10. Magic Johnson

The Lakers legend didn't just stop at dominating the court. Back in 2016, Magic made a power play by co-founding aXiomatic and snagging Team Liquid.

Mind you, it was a smart move because Team Liquid is now valued at $440 million with 1,901 tournament appearances since they began solidifying their position as a dominant force in the esports landscape. No wonder why more investors are eyeing this team! 

9. Michael Jordan

Because of aXiomatic Gaming's buzz in the battle arena, Michael Jordan made waves by investing $26 million alongside Magic Johnson. 

You know it will be a big hit when His Airness drops into something like embracing digital and competitive gaming spaces. His investment boosted Team Liquid and became a powerhouse in esports consistently crushing the top teams globally in League of Legends, Dota 2, and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. 

8. Jennifer Lopez

Jenny from the Block knows how to spot the next big thing. When she dropped into NRG Esports in 2017, bringing Shaq and A-Rod along for the ride with a massive $15 million funding round, everyone had to stop and take notice.

These guys in NRG weren't messing around. They burst onto the scene in League of Legends and just kept snowballing, building killer squads in Overwatch, CS:GO, Hearthstone, and Rocket League. When you've got this much star power backing your plays, you don't just participate - you dominate.

7. Rick Fox

Rick Fox's esports venture began with his son's passion for video games, such a classic dad move but big time! He joined the industry in 2015 by co-founding Echo Fox, a team that competed in the prestigious League of Legends Championship Series (LCS).   

As a pioneer investor in Team Gravity, (which later became Echo Fox) opened the doors for other celebrities to invest in esports. Sadly, the team faced some rough patches and had to stop operations in 2019.

6. Steve Aoki

Our man DJ Aoki didn't just want to invest, he wanted his own team so he scooped up Rogue in 2016. Things got interesting and they did this whole merger with KOI, a team co-owned by Spanish football stars Ibai Llanos and Gerard Piqué rebranding Rogue's League of Legends team to KOI but the partnership didn't last long.

Rogue announced its return by 2023, separating from KOI reclaiming its brand identity, and returning to competing in the League of Legends European Championship (LEC).

5. Steph Curry

Stephen Curry joined the ranks of celebs investing in esports. He dropped into Team SoloMid (TSM) with a $37 million Series A funding round investment. Joining Curry in this investment was none other than Yahoo! co-founder, Jerry Yang through his venture capital firm, Bessemer Venture Partners. 

And guess what? Curry's not just in it for the cash. The man actually believes esports is changing how we consume content. 

4. Will Smith

The Fresh Prince didn't just invest in West Philadelphia this time, Will Smith went full global by joining Gen.G's massive $46 million funding round. While he's keeping mum about exactly how much he threw down, the investment's paying off. 

Gen.G has teams in eight different esports leagues and keeps extending. Their Rocket League crew dominated the North American qualifiers (OQ4) and finally claimed MSI glory in 2024. 

3. The Weeknd

The "Blinding Lights" singer saw the glow in esports when he backed OverActive Media, the parent company of Splyce in 2019. While The Weeknd kept the investment amount close to his chest, he became the face of the Toronto Defiant Overwatch team. 

And he's not just an investor but a gamer too! He's been spotted playing games like Elden Ring, Call of Duty: Black Ops, Warzone, and Tears of the Kingdom. 

2. Post Malone

Let's be real, having a multi-platinum artist who actually knows his way around a gaming setup is the kind of street cred most esports orgs can only dream about. And that's what Post Malone is all about. Aside from streaming Warzone and PUBG, he became a co-owner of Envy Gaming in 2020.

Post Malone's investment in Envy Gaming is pretty personal as his way of giving back to his roots. Envy Gaming operates teams in multiple esports titles, including the Dallas Empire in the Call of Duty League and the Dallas Fuel in the Overwatch League. 

1. Drake

Of course, Drake would invest in 100 Thieves, it's literally the most Drake thing! 100 Thieves, with Nadeshot at the helm (a true CoD legend, btw), has that winning mix of competitive gaming and serious street cred, just like Drake himself.

100 Thieves has been dominating everything from League to Valorant and CS:GO.  And as if that wasn't enough, Drake decided to double down and not only fund an esports betting company, but also partner with Stake.com. This guy's all in on the future of gaming.

The Future of Celebrity Esports Investments 

Esports has gone mainstream. We're talking Olympic-level discussions, major broadcasts, and a form of entertainment captivating Millennials and Gen Z. These celebrity investors aren't just bringing their money; they're introducing new audiences and creating exciting possibilities.

However, it's important to remember that genuine commitment is key. We don't need investors who disappear when the next trend emerges. We need those who understand that esports is about building a sustainable future, not just chasing quick profits.

From my perspective, the future of esports looks incredibly promising. Who knows, you might just remember this post when your grandkids are competing in the Olympic Counter-Strike finals.