Lionel Messi
Argentine football star Lionel Messi has joined digital fan token creator Socios.com as its global brand ambassador. The Paris St-Germain and Argentine forward will promote the digital experience community to his 400 million followers over the next three years under the $20 million deal.
Messi, whose move from Barcelona in August included a cryptocurrency payment, will be involved in a publicity and promotion campaign for Socios in the build-up to the Qatar World Cup, which starts in November, Reuters reported. He becomes the latest athlete to enter the cryptocurrency world after NFL quarterback Tom Brady and NBA star LeBron James.
The deal does not include cryptocurrency payments to Messi.
“Since I played my first professional game, the passion of the fans has been a driving force that has helped inspire me to be my very best. Fans deserve to be recognised for their support. They deserve opportunities to influence the teams they love,” Messi said.
“Socios.com exists to enhance the fan experience, to enable fans to ‘be more’. I’m proud to join Socios.com’s mission to create a more connected and rewarding future for fans around the world.”
With an estimated 1.2 million users, Socios sells virtual tokens that allow sports fans to vote on club matters such as what to name a training ground. There are tokens for more than 130 sports and Socios has signed deals with a range of clubs, including Arsenal, Barcelona, Juventus and Manchester City.
footballer
Messi’s net worth has been estimated at $600m after career earnings in excess of $1 billion. He is thought to have earned a combined total salary of about $875m over his 21 years at FC Barcelona. A contract leak last year showed that Messi was able to earn up to $165m a year in salary, image rights and incentives.
Forbes magazine estimates that he earned $130m in 2021, second only to mixed-martial-arts star Conor McGregor.
Although football provides the major portion of Messi's income, endorsing companies such as Pepsi, Turkish Airlines and Adidas adds to his earnings. He has his own clothing line and opened his first retail outlet, the Messi Store, in 2019 in Barcelona.
Messi is also thought to own a sizeable real estate portfolio, with a home in Barcelona’s upmarket Castelldefels suburb, at least two homes in Rosario, Argentina, six properties in Italy, and a hotel worth €30m ($32.6m) in the Spanish tourist town of Sitges.
The Weeknd
Musicians everywhere are trading in virtual property assets such as NFTs, but one R&B star has been busy building a real-life real estate portfolio. The Weeknd, 32, now has a net worth of $600m, in part due to his property purchases, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The paper cited a source with knowledge of the musician’s finances.
Online, the Journal’s $600m figure is disputed, with alternative estimates of The Weeknd’s net worth ranging between $200m and $300m.
But the musician, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye — has a diverse range of income streams, including music production, investments and property.
Last week, he took part in a $5m seed-funding round in personalised song creation start-up Songfinch, alongside fellow musicians Quincy Jones and Amala “Doja Cat” Dlamini. The round was led by Chicago-based venture fund Corazon Capital.
The Weeknd’s investment comes after an earlier disbursement in Songfinch last July, when he took part in a $2m funding round.
In total, he has also invested in at least seven companies, according to investor intelligence platform Crunchbase.
Last year, he joined Salesforce founder, chairman and chief executive Marc Benioff in a $225m series D funding round in Forward Health. The San Francisco-based start-up offers preventive care using advanced medical technology such as biometric body scans and genetic and blood tests. The funding round resulted in the company being valued at $1bn, according to Reuters.
“I invested in Forward Health because I walked into the Los Angeles location and couldn’t believe what I saw: a state-of-the-art facility that looked like the exact opposite of what you would expect to see in a typical doctor’s office — with no waiting room and everyone being seen straight away,” The Weeknd said.
His other investments include gaming company Backbone, social media marketplace Pearpop and remittance start-up Pomelo.
The Weeknd's principal source of income is his music. Having begun his career releasing tracks anonymously on YouTube, he has released five studio albums since 2013 and played six tours. He has since accumulated US sales of 13.5 million album units and 98 million digital single units, according to the Recording Industry Association of America.
In 2017, Forbes estimated his annual earnings at $92m. He scaled back his concert schedule in 2018, with only six shows in Asia and festivals such as Lollapalooza.
The Weeknd returns to the road with his first global stadium tour this year, beginning with a 19-stop tour across Canada and the US in the summer, with additional dates for Latin America, Asia, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Africa and the Middle East to be announced soon.
Outside of music sales and tours, he is a music producer and co-founder of the XO record label.
The Weeknd has endorsed a wide range of brands, including Apple Music, H&M and Puma. He has previously collaborated with Marvel and has his own fashion label, also called XO.
In August, he bought a home worth about $70m in the Los Angeles district of Bel Air. In January, the Blinding Lights singer listed his penthouse at the ultra-luxury Beverly West condominium in Los Angeles for $22.5m. He purchased the four-bedroom, 8,000 square foot home in 2019 for $21m.
The same year, he also bought a mansion worth about $11m for his mother and signed the deposit cheque as “The Weeknd”.
In 2017, the Canadian star paid $18.2m for a 1,170-square-metre (12,600 square foot) property in the gated community of Hidden Hills, California. He put it on the market in 2020, finally selling the seven-bedroom home to pop star Madonna for $19.3m last April.
Nicola Peltz
Actor Nicola Peltz is reported to have signed a prenuptial agreement with chef and former footballer Brooklyn Beckham before their wedding on Saturday at her father’s home in Palm Beach, Florida.
The agreement protects the assets and finances of each partner in the event of a divorce. While Beckham is thought to have a net worth of $10m, his new wife is estimated to have five times that amount in net assets. Pletz's wealth comes principally from her modelling and acting career, including an appearance in Transformers: Age of Extinction and The Last Airbender.
She is also the daughter of billionaire activist investor Nelson Peltz, founder of investment company Trian Fund Management. The fund has $8.5bn in assets under management, according to Forbes.
Her brother, Will Peltz, is also an actor. By contrast, Beckham’s parents, British celebrity couple David and Victoria, are estimated to have a combined net worth of £380m ($498m).
The couple is understood to have few joint assets. In March, they sold their five-bedroom home in Beverly Hills for $11m, according to Hello magazine. They are reportedly scouting for a new home in Miami, where Beckham's parents own a $24m penthouse.
Gwyneth Paltrow
Actor Gwyneth Paltrow has made a name for herself as a retailer of controversial feminine hygiene products through her Goop website. Now, she has linked up with Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz, Carla Harris and others to invest in Evernow, a telehealth company that provides personalised prescription treatments and clinicians for menopausal and perimenopausal women.
The $28.5m series A funding round will be used to expand the team, enrol new members and strengthen product development.
Paltrow, 49, has invested in a dozen different companies, including The Expert, an online interior design consultation platform, and health beverage brand Olipop. In December, she participated in a $200m debt and equity financing round for TeraWulf, a crypto mining company that aims to produce Bitcoin using 100 per cent zero-carbon energy.
She is estimated to have a net worth of $150m, according to wealth tracking website Celebrity Net Worth.
-
Brad Pitt and Gwyneth Paltrow, in a white satin blazer, attend the 'Living in Oblivion' premiere on July 12, 1995 at the Royal Theatre in Los Angeles, California. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in jeans and a leather jacket, and Brad Pitt attend the premiere of 'Copycat' in Los Angeles, California, on October 19, 1995. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Donna Karan, attends the premiere of 'Great Expectations' in Los Angeles, California, on January 20, 1998. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Giorgio Armani, and Hillary Clinton attend the 'Shakespeare in Love' premiere at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York, US, on December 3, 1998. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in a taffeta skirt and cardigan, attends the 56th annual Golden Globe Awards on January 24, 1999 in Beverly Hills, California. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Ralph Lauren, arrives at the 71st annual Academy Awards on March 21, 1999 in Los Angeles, California. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in a pale blue slip dress, arrives at the sixth annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on March 12, 2000 in Beverly Hills, California. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in a silky relaxed two-piece, attends a Miramax pre-Oscar party in Beverly Hills, California, on March 25, 2000. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Calvin Klein, arrives at the 72nd annual Academy Awards on March 26, 2000 in Los Angeles, California. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in a strapless LBD and pashmina, attends the premiere of 'Bounce' on November 15, 2000 at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York, US. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in a simple shirt and trousers, arrives for the premiere of 'Snatch' on January 18, 2001 in Hollywood, California. Getty Images -
Stella McCartney and Gwyneth Paltrow, in a black cold-shoulder dress, attend a gala to celebrate the clothes of Jacqueline Kennedy on April 23, 2001 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, US. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Valentino, and Valentino Garavani attend the opening ceremony of the 59th Venice Film Festival on August 29, 2002 in Venice, Italy. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in a ruffled LBD, attends the 28th annual Deauville Film Festival on September 3, 2002 in Deauville, France. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in a strapless black midi, attends the BFI London Film Festival closing gala at the Odeon Leicester Square on November 6, 2003 in London, England. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Vivienne Westwood, and Jude Law arrive at the premiere of 'Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow' at the Empire Leicester Square on September 27, 2004 in London, England. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in a tweed two-piece, attends a photo call at Hotel Hesperia on November 11, 2004 in Madrid, Spain. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in a cap-sleeved black dress, arrives at the premiere of 'Proof' at the Odeon West End on October 22, 2005 in London, England. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Stella McCartney, attends the launch party of Stella McCartney's collaboration with H&M at St Olave's House on October 25, 2005 in London, England. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in velvet boots and a silk dress, arrives at the premiere of 'I'm Going to Tell You a Secret' at the Chelsea Cinema on November 29, 2005 in London, England. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Zac Posen, arrives for the 79th annual Academy Awards at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California, on February 25, 2007. EPA -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Stella McCartney, attends a photo call at the Ritz-Carlton on April 22, 2008 in Berlin, Germany. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Sonia Rykiel, attends the premiere for 'Iron Man' at the Cinemaxx on April 22, 2008 in Berlin, Germany. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Preen, attends the 'Iron Man' premiere at Warner Moderno Cinema on April 23, 2008 in Rome, Italy. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Chanel, attends the 'Two Lovers' premiere at the Palais des Festivals during the 61st International Cannes Film Festival on May 19, 2008 in Cannes, France. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Antonio Berardi, arrives at the 'Two Lovers' premiere on November 4, 2008 in Paris, France. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in jeans and a blazer, attends the Stella McCartney show as part of Paris Womenswear Fashion Week at Palais de Tokyo on October 5, 2009 in Paris, France. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Donna Karan, attends the Mamounia hotel inauguration on November 26, 2009 in Marrakech, Morocco. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Elie Saab, arrives at the Laureus World Sports Awards at Emirates Palace Hotel on March 10, 2010 in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Prada, attends the National Movie Awards at Royal Festival Hall on May 26, 2010 in London, England. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Stella McCartney, attends the Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, US, on May 2, 2011. EPA -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Prada, poses at a photo call during the 68th Venice Film Festival at the Palazzo del Cinema on September 3, 2011 in Venice, Italy. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Prada, attends the 'Contagion' premiere during the 68th Venice Film Festival at Palazzo del Cinema on September 3, 2011 in Venice, Italy. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Elie Saab, attends the Bambi Awards at the Rhein-Main-Hallen on November 10, 2011 in Wiesbaden, Germany. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Tom Ford, arrives for the 84th annual Academy Awards at the Hollywood and Highland Centre in Hollywood, California, on February 26, 2012. EPA -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Louis Vuitton, attends a Louis Vuitton party as part of Paris Fashion Week at the Musee des Arts Decoratifs on March 7, 2012 in Paris, France. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Prada, arrives for the Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, US, on May 7, 2012. EPA -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Hugo Boss, presents the new Boss Nuit Pour Femme perfume at the Neptuno Palace on October 29, 2012 in Madrid, Spain. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Erdem, attends the premiere of 'Iron Man 3' at the Grand Rex theatre in Paris, France, on April 14, 2013. EPA -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Dior, attends a photo call at The Dorchester on April 17, 2013 in London, England. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Valentino, attends the Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, US, on May 6, 2013. EPA -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Prada, at Printemps Haussmann on November 7, 2013 in Paris, France. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Prada, attends the British Fashion Awards at London Coliseum on December 2, 2013 in London, England. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Prada, arrives for the 49th annual Goldene Kamera awards at Flughafen Tempelhof in Berlin, Germany, on February 1, 2014. EPA -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Lanvin, arrives for the premiere of 'Mortdecai' at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles, California, on January 21, 2015. EPA -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Ralph & Russo, arrives for the 87th annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California, on February 22, 2015. EPA -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Marc Jacobs, arrives at the amfAR Hong Kong gala at Shaw Studios on March 14, 2015 in Hong Kong. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Valentino, attends the Valentino show at Piazza Mignanelli on July 9, 2015 in Rome, Italy. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Gucci, arrives for the Los Angeles County Museum of Art Art + Film Gala in Los Angeles, California, on November 7, 2015. EPA -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Michael Kors, attends an Audi event at Hotel zur Tenne on January 22, 2016 in Kitzbuehel, Austria. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Gucci, attends Elle Magazine's 30th anniversary party at Circulo de Bellas Artes Club on October 26, 2016 in Madrid, Spain. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Gucci, arrives for the Lacma Art + Film Gala at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in Los Angeles, California, on October 29, 2016. EPA -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Retrofete, attends the premiere of 'Avengers: Infinity War' at the El Capitan and TCL Chinese Theatres in Hollywood, Los Angeles, on April 23, 2018. EPA -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Emilia Wickstead, attends the Gwyneth Paltrow x Frederique Constant Ladies Automatic launch at the Design Museum on June 21, 2018 in London, England. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in G Label by Goo, attends the premiere of 'Avengers: Endgame' at the LA Convention Centre in Los Angeles, California, on April 22, 2019. EPA -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Valentino, attends the Valentino show as part of Paris Fashion Week on July 3, 2019 in Paris, France. Getty Images -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Adam Lippes, attends the amFAR gala at Milk Studios in Los Angeles, California, on October 10, 2019. EPA -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Fendi, arrives for the 77th annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, on January 5, 2020. EPA -
Gwyneth Paltrow, in Ralph & Russo, attends the Harper's Bazaar Exhibition as part of Paris Fashion Week at Musee des Arts Decoratifs on February 26, 2020 in Paris, France. Getty Images
