Hall of Famer Shares His Business Acumen and Testimony
Magic Johnson is a retired NBA legend and Hall of Famer who revolutionized the point guard position with his imposing 6’9” frame and court vision. Johnson played his entire career with the Los Angeles Lakers, winning five NBA titles with the storied franchise, earning three Finals MVP awards. He was the face of the “Showtime” Lakers that shone in the 1980s.
Although his athletic achievements are impressive, his acumen as a businessman is equally remarkable. Johnson is a prominent figure in sports media and team ownership, boasting a robust portfolio of companies generating millions of dollars in revenue. He was the perfect keynote speaker for Invest Fest 2025, the annual multi-day event in Atlanta, Georgia, held at the Georgia World Congress Center from August 22 to 24, which combines financial education with pop culture and entertainment. The summit was created by Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings, of the “Earn Your Leisure” podcast. The event focuses on empowering underrepresented communities and minorities, making wealth-building strategies more accessible and engaging.
His testimony captivated the audience with his message of being judicious and holding onto business assets, as well as when to liquidate them to fuel future investments.
Johnson spoke about his strategic decision not to sell the WNBA Los Angeles Sparks franchise early, which yielded immense dividends for Magic Johnson Enterprises. The value has only increased with the fever-pitch interest and growth of the women’s game on the hardwood.
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“It’s been tough going for the WNBA — until now,” Johnson admitted. “Hold on. There was a time when we said, ‘Should we sell this?’ And we kept saying, ‘No, let’s hold on to it.’ Now, a group out of Boston, just bought the Connecticut sun for $325 million. Oh, thank God we didn’t sell too early,” he said to rousing applause. “We only paid $10 million for the (WNBA Sparks) franchise. So when you think about that return, we’re going to have is amazing. So don’t sell too early.”
Johnson was also a franchisee of over one hundred Starbucks locations, which he subsequently liquidated, using the resulting cash flow to purchase a stake in the Los Angeles Dodgers.
“Why did I do that? First of all, there was no people of color (who were owners) in Major League Baseball. That’s one reason,” he said. “The second reason is, I’m buying the Dodgers. The Dodgers got the biggest brand in baseball (and the Yankees). Those are the two biggest brands. So I knew it was going to be a home run.”
At the core of his message was understanding your worth in the marketplace and making moves that set you up for future success, while also bringing diversity into leadership positions across various industries.
Unlock your event’s potential by bringing in Magic Johnson as your keynote speaker! Don’t miss the opportunity to inspire your audience—Contact Athlete Speakers today for more information, or fill out our Online Booking Request Form. Let us leverage our 25 years of industry-leading experience to secure the perfect sports talent for your next event!
