While endorsement deals and commercial work payout for NBA players exploring options to make additional money on top of their league salaries, smart investments are what really put the big dough in some of their pockets. Thaddeus Young knows this all too well and has invested in several firms through his venture fund. That includes multiple beverage brands, an industry Young got into, inspired by Kobe Bryant’s success.
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Young, while breaking down his investment portfolio during a recent edition of the Out The Mud podcast, mentioned how he began working with beverage mogul Lance Collins, the man who brought NBA players into his industry. Two of Collins’ biggest partners were James Harden and Bryant, who invested in the sports drink BodyArmor.
In 2021, BodyArmor was purchased by Coca-Cola for $5.6 billion. Naturally, Kobe and Harden had a big payout day. The Beard walked away with over $20 million on a $500,000 investment. The Mamba pulled in a whopping $400 million. That was enough reason for Young to continue working with Collins.
He revealed that Collins created Casa Azul, Accelerator, Recover 180, and ZenWTR. “I’ve invested into all those,” said Young. “He got the cheat sheet on all of it.”
It’s not just beverages that the former NBA baller invests in, though. Through his venture fund, he has explored numerous other options. Young explained that having “access to a ton of different people,” including those who “came to games,” allowed him to become an expert in risk versus strategy.
“I realized that I needed to put a process in place,” said Young. He revealed that he has a team that fields 50-60 deals per month, with each having the potential to net the 36-year-old a big return.
It’s refreshing to see how he has built a fortune for himself through investment. It’s an area where many retired players fail. Young did not remain satisfied with the $152 million he earned playing in the NBA and set out to create a business empire. And his strategy has been brilliant.
He approaches investments with mathematical precision. It’s something even Kobe did when he formed his own venture capital fund with Jeff Stibel in 2013. The Mamba’s fund invested in a variety of companies from tech to media. BodyArmor remained one of the now-deceased legend’s biggest investment wins.
There is a good chance that we could witness Young turn into another billionaire athlete in the future. And that would be a lot more impressive than Michael Jordan or Magic Johnson pulling it off.
