**Ryan Reynolds Expands Sporting Empire with Estimated £37 Million Sailing Team Acquisition**
Hollywood actor and entrepreneur Ryan Reynolds, already famed for his transformative role as Wrexham AFC co-owner, has once again captured headlines with a major sporting purchase valued at around £37 million. Teaming up with Australian actor and fellow “Deadpool & Wolverine” star Hugh Jackman, Reynolds has announced the acquisition of the BONDS Flying Roos, an Australian team currently competing in the prestigious SailGP international sailing league.
This new venture follows the remarkable success of Reynolds and Rob McElhenney in reviving Wrexham AFC, which has risen from non-league football to the Championship in just four seasons, achieving a historic three consecutive promotions. Their journey has not only turned Wrexham into a global talking point but also fuelled interest in Reynolds’ own venture capital instincts.
The formation of the Reynolds-Jackman partnership introduces Jackman to the world of sports ownership for the first time. Both have expressed enthusiasm for entering the dynamic and increasingly celebrity-backed world of SailGP, where other high-profile investors include Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé, actress Anne Hathaway, F1 star Sebastian Vettel and boxer Deontay Wilder. Their statement to the press highlighted Jackman’s pride in representing his home country and a witty acknowledgment of their friendship: “He will also be bringing his overly clingy emotional support human along for the ride. Apologies in advance to Australia.”
Further details on the transaction remain confidential, though sources estimate the combined investment at no less than $50 million (£37 million). This move strengthens Reynolds’ reputation as a canny investor with an expanding portfolio of sports assets. Alongside Wrexham AFC, Reynolds and McElhenney have previously acquired stakes in Mexican football club Club Necaxa, Colombian squad La Equidad and even the Alpine Formula One team, reflecting a growing diversification far beyond the Hollywood sphere.
Unsurprisingly, Reynolds has become one of the world’s wealthiest actors, with his net worth estimated to hover around $400 million (£295 million). According to Forbes, he was the second-highest-paid actor globally in 2024, fuelled by box office hits such as “Deadpool & Wolverine”, family drama “IF”, and the Emmy-winning documentary “Welcome to Wrexham.” Alongside cinematic success, Reynolds’ sharp business acumen has led to fruitful investments, such as his stake in Aviation Gin, eventually sold for a whopping $600 million, and a lucrative telecommunications venture with Mint Mobile, pocketing over $300 million on its sale to T-Mobile in 2023.
Despite a series of lucrative commercial deals, Reynolds’ commitment to Wrexham has also come with financial sacrifice. Since purchasing the club in late 2020, Reynolds and McElhenney are thought to have invested over £20 million of personal funds. The documentary “Welcome to Wrexham” even revealed a £8.9 million loss since the takeover, with Reynolds famously quipping, “I’m going to throw up,” on realising the club’s financial plight.
Outside his business exploits, Reynolds’ personal life continues to attract public fascination. Married to “Gossip Girl” star Blake Lively since 2012, the couple have four children together and have become known for their playful and affectionate social media exchanges. Lively regularly attends Wrexham matches and paid tribute to the club’s recent achievements, expressing her joy at sharing such moments with the passionate city. Before meeting Lively, Reynolds had high-profile relationships with Alanis Morissette and Scarlett Johansson, the latter ending in 2010 due to conflicting work schedules.
Despite becoming close collaborators at Wrexham, Reynolds and McElhenney’s friendship blossomed primarily out of mutual curiosity and admiration, rather than a longstanding association. The idea to purchase Wrexham was originally seeded by McElhenney, who, inspired by the Netflix series “Sunderland ‘Til I Die”, sought out Reynolds’ involvement after only occasional online interactions. Their partnership is now so close that McElhenney describes Reynolds as “a kind and generous soul, and somebody you can rely on.”
With new investments in international sailing and a legacy already established in football, Ryan Reynolds appears to be charting a course for further accomplishments in the sporting world—a journey marked by ambition, business sense and the star power that only Hollywood can bring. As he continues to branch out, industry watchers and fans alike will be eager to see which field he conquers next.