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Top 15 Athletes Turned Businessmen Of All Time

By @kaylademint

Top 15 Athletes Turned Businessmen Of All Time

Jordan
Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

Most athletes are most well known for the success they find in their sport, but some go beyond their athletic career and find success in their business ventures as well. Here are the top 15 athletes turned businessmen of all time.

15. Arnold Palmer

Arnold Palmer
Jake Gruber-USA TODAY Sports

15. Arnold Palmer

Arnold Palmer
Jake Gruber-USA TODAY Sports

Arnold Palmer may be best known for the drink named after him, but he is also known as one of the best to play the game of golf. He succeeded on the course and also in business. He holds the Arnold Palmer Invitational at his course, the Bay Hill Club and Lodge, and he also owns Arnold Palmer Design Company, which designs golf courses.

14. Wayne Gretzky

Wayne Gretzky
Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports

14. Wayne Gretzky

Wayne Gretzky
Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports

Wayne Gretzky is most notably known as The Great One, and is arguably the best hockey player to ever lace up skates. Turns out, he also has some entrepreneurial spirit as well. He has owned or part-owned three sports teams including Hull Olympiques, Toronto Argonauts and the Phoenix Coyotes. He currently has Wayne Gretzky restaurants and a winery.

13. Tony Hawk

Tony Hawk
Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

13. Tony Hawk

Tony Hawk
Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Tony Hawk is arguably the best skateboarder of all time. He’s also been one of the most financially successful skateboarders. Hawk has his own skateboarding company, his own video game franchise and an autobiography that was a New York Times Bestseller.

12. Shaquille O'neal

Shaquille O'neal
Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

12. Shaquille O'Neal

Shaquille O'Neal
Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

Shaq is both a decorated basketball player and businessman. O'Neal has released rap albums, acted in movies and TV shows, and was on the cover of various movie games. He has also done commercial work endorsing various products and invested in real estate.

11. Venus Williams

Venus Williams
Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

11. Venus Williams

Venus Williams
Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

Venus Williams is a former No. 1-ranked tennis player who also has a head for business. She has her own fashion line, EleVen, an interior design firm, V Starr Interiors, and she also owns part of the Miami Dolphins with her sister Serena. She has also released a book that gave her a place in the top five of the New York Times bestseller list.

10. Serena Williams

Serena Williams
Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports

10. Serena Williams

Serena Williams
Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports

Like her sister, Serena Williams is a tennis champion. In addition to owning part of the Miami Dolphins with her sister Venus, Serena has released a book, has been in TV shows and has done guest voice work. She has also endorsed various brands including Nike, Puma and Tampax.

9. Maria Sharapova

Maria Sharapova
USA Today Sports

9. Maria Sharapova

Maria Sharapova
USA Today Sports

Venus and Serena aren’t the only tennis players looking to get into business. Maria Sharapova also has an entrepreneurial knack, creating a candy line called Sugarpova. The candy line is said to reflect the fun, fashionable and sweet side of the tennis player.

8. Roger Penske

Roger Penske
Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

8. Roger Penske

Roger Penske
Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Roger Penske had a great racing career, being inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame, but was equally successful in his business ventures. He has been involved in Team Penske, Penske Automotive Group, Penske Motor Group, Penske Truck Leasing, Penske Logistics, as well as many auto related businesses.

7. Oscar De La Hoya

Oscar De La Hoya
Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

7. Oscar De La Hoya

Oscar De La Hoya
Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Oscar De La Hoya is a decorated boxer who has won 10 world titles and a gold medal at the Olympics. He’s also a businessman who founded Golden Boy Promotions, which promotes combat sports. Additionally, he has a Grammy-nominated CD entitled 'Oscar De La Hoya.'

6. Alex Bernstein

Oakland Raiders v Denver Broncos
Getty Images

6. Alex Bernstein

Oakland Raiders v Denver Broncos
Getty Images

Alex Bernstein had a relatively short NFL career, but as far as business goes, he is thriving. He has been listed as one of the most successful professional athletes turned entrepreneurs, and has co-founded North Ventures and North Social.

5. Dave Bing

Dave Bing
Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

5. Dave Bing

Dave Bing
Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

After Dave Bing retired from an illustrious career in basketball, he founded Bing Steel which later grew into the conglomerate, the Bing Group. Bing would go on to receive the Schick Achievement Award for the work he did after his NBA career.

4. Magic Johnson

Magic Johnson
Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

4. Magic Johnson

Magic Johnson
Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

Earvin “Magic” Johnson was known for, well, his magic on the basketball court, but that magic translated to business as well. He runs Magic Johnson Enterprises, which includes Magic Johnson Productions, Magic Johnson Theaters and Magic Johnson Entertainment. At one point, he was also a minority owner of the Lakers, although he later sold his stake in the team.

3. Eddie George

Eddie George
Matthew Emmons-USA Today Sports

3. Eddie George

Eddie George
Matthew Emmons-USA Today Sports

Eddie George had a lot of success in football, playing in the NFL and being inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, and has also had success off the field in his business endeavors. George has made a long list of various television appearances, has opened restaurants and is part of the architecture firm, The Edge Group.

2. Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan
Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports

2. Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan
Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports

Michael Jordan’s skills on the basketball court are well known. Off the court, he has also done incredibly well for himself as a businessman. To name a few, he has had endorsement deals with Nike, Gatorade, Hanes and 2K Sports. Additionally, he owns restaurants, a car dealership and a large percentage of the Charlotte Bobcats in the NBA.

1. George Foreman

George Foreman
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

1. George Foreman

George Foreman
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

George Foreman's line of grills bearing his namesake is a household name across North America, a testament to the former boxing champ's business savvy after retiring from the ring.

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