5 pro athletes who could join Patrick Mahomes as team owners

Patrick Mahomes won’t be the last rich athlete to buy a sports team.

Fresh off signing a half-billion-dollar contract with the Kansas City Chiefs, Patrick Mahomes used a chunk of the money to buy a stake in the Kansas City Royals. Being an active professional athlete and a team owner is an incredible flex for the former high school baseball star, but he won’t be the last big-name athlete with a big bank account to turn into a team owner.

Before there was Mahomes, there was Derek Jeter buying a stake in the Miami Marlins. And before the former New York Yankees star, there was Michael Jordan who bought the Charlotte NBA franchise and turned them from the Bobcats to the Hornets. And then there’s Jeter’s former Yankees teammate, Alex Rodriguez, who is trying to buy the New York Mets with his wife, Jennifer Lopez, and a few other professional athletes, that includes former Chicago Bears Hall of Fame linebacker, Brian Urlacher, among others.

With the way professional athletes are compensated for their athletic ability, the money is definitely going to be there for a few select athletes to buy a professional sports team when their playing days are over.

So in honor of Mahomes getting into the ownership, here are a few other athletes with deep pockets who could be enticed to buy their own team.

These pro athletes could become future owners just like Mahomes.

5. Mookie Betts, Dodgers

After the trade that sent him from Boston to Los Angeles, Mookie Betts cashed in with a 365 million contract to keep him in Dodger blue. A former Los Angeles sports icon became a big-time mogul and entrepreneur when his career was over, so perhaps Betts can learn a few things from Magic Johnson who is a part of the Dodgers ownership group.

4. Drew Brees, Saints

Drew Brees is the richest active NFL player, just ahead of Tom Brady, with career earnings of $244,710,422. Always active in the community and philanthropy, Brees could elect to use some of his earnings to purchase a franchise in the NFL when his playing career is over.

3. Mike Trout, Angels

Before Mahomes signed his new deal, Mike Trout owned the richest contract in sports with his 12-year, $426.5 million contract with the Angels. The life-long Philadelphia Eagles fan could make for a fun minority owner when his baseball career is over.

2. Peyton Manning, former Colts and Broncos QB

Before brother Eli Manning passed him by, Peyton Manning earned the most money in NFL history with $248,732,000. Combined with Eli’s $252,280,004 career earnings, the brothers combined to make what Mahomes is going to make on his next deal. While NBC, ESPN and CBS chase Peyton for a broadcasting job that would pay him close to $20 million per year, Manning could pursue ownership as a way to get back into the game. Maybe the Indianapolis Colts are an option? I’m sure Jim Irsay could sell off a few shares to the man that made him so rich.

1. LeBron James, Lakers

LeBron James has $306,984,009 in career earnings, according to Spotrac. That’s not even including how much money he’s made endorsing products or through his own ventures. While ownership may not be at the forefront of LeBron’s priorities after his playing career is over considering his work in media and social justice, he could continue to accentuate and built out his brand as a team owner just as Jordan did before him. Maybe he ends up buying the Cleveland Cavaliers down the road? How’s that for a hometown hero makes good story?