Athletes Who Retired... But Were MORE Successful After

Summary

This video script highlights the diverse and remarkable post-sports careers of ten athletes. George Foreman found success with his eponymous grill, while Jason Statham transitioned from diving to action stardom. Arnold Schwarzenegger leveraged his bodybuilding into acting and politics, and Magic Johnson became a business mogul. Other athletes like Ilie Năstase, Michael Strahan, Vinnie Jones, and Shaquille O'Neal also carved out unique paths in entertainment and business. Terry Crews pursued his passion for the arts, and Michael Jordan's partnership with Nike catapulted him to billionaire status, making him the richest athlete ever.

Takeaways

• 🥊 George Foreman transitioned from boxing to endorsing a grill that drains excess fat, earning significant profits from the deal.
• 🏅 Jason Statham moved from diving to acting, using his discipline and focus from sports to excel in action movies and survive a near-fatal accident.
• 💪 Arnold Schwarzenegger leveraged his bodybuilding success into acting roles and later became a billionaire through savvy investments and business ventures.
• 🏀 Magic Johnson achieved success in the NBA and later as a businessman, investing in sports teams and other ventures, becoming a billionaire.
• 🎾 Ion Ţiriac capitalized on his unique look and success in tennis to build a business empire, including a bank and a car museum, making him Romania's richest man.
• 🎤 Michael Strahan transitioned from the NFL to a successful career in television, winning awards and recognition for his hosting skills.
• 🍔 Vinnie Jones used his aggressive reputation from soccer to play tough roles in films, and his off-field troubles added authenticity to his on-screen persona.
• 🎤 Shaquille O'Neal diversified his post-retirement career with music, acting, and business ventures, accumulating a significant net worth.
• 🎨 Terry Crews pursued his passion for the arts while playing in the NFL, which eventually led to a successful acting career and iconic commercials.
• 👟 Michael Jordan's partnership with Nike for his own shoe line became a massive success, contributing to his status as the richest athlete ever with a net worth of 3.2 billion.

Q & A

How did George Foreman transition from his boxing career to the kitchen appliance industry?

George Foreman transitioned from boxing to the kitchen appliance industry by allowing a company called Sultan to use his name for a grill that drained excess fat. Initially, the product was a failure, but it became successful when Foreman began hosting infomercials for it. He received 40% of the profits and eventually sold his share for a one-time payment of 137 million dollars.

What was the initial success of the George Foreman grill?

The George Foreman grill initially failed in the market. Its success came after George Foreman started hosting the infomercials for the product, which led to a significant increase in sales.

How did Jason Statham's diving career influence his acting career?

Jason Statham's diving career taught him discipline and focus, principles he applied as an action movie star. His swimming ability also contributed to his roles in productions like 'The Meg' and 'Expendables 3', where diving skills saved his life during a filming accident.

How did Arnold Schwarzenegger's sporting achievements impact his acting career?

Arnold Schwarzenegger's sporting achievements, particularly his multiple Olympia wins, led to him being cast for roles that matched his Greek hero-like appearance, such as Hercules in New York, Conan the Barbarian, the Terminator, and Dutch from Predator.

What business ventures did Magic Johnson undertake after his basketball career?

Magic Johnson invested in sports teams, bought the LA Dodgers, the Los Angeles Sparks, the Los Angeles football club, and the Washington commanders. He also launched his own talk show, film studio, record label, and bought a movie theater, the tallest building in Brooklyn, and multiple Starbucks locations. Additionally, he bought 60% of the Equit Trust Insurance company, which nearly doubled its assets.

What was unique about Ion Ţiriac's post-retirement business ventures?

Ion Ţiriac opened the first bank in Romania after the fall of communism, funded by profits from his tennis career. He also ventured into real estate, auto leasing, and air travel. His coolest business is the Ţiriac Auto Gallery, featuring over 300 unique cars, including two rare Rolls-Royce Phantom 4S.

How did Michael Strahan's transition from the NFL to media impact his career?

Michael Strahan became a talk show co-host on 'Live with Kelly and Michael', which significantly increased its ratings. He then moved to 'Good Morning America', where he won two daytime Emmys for outstanding talk show host and received a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame.

What was the turning point in Vinnie Jones' acting career?

Vinnie Jones' acting career took off when he was cast as a criminal in 'Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels'. His tough-guy image, built from his reputation as an aggressive soccer player, made him perfect for such roles.

How did Shaquille O'Neal diversify his post-retirement career?

Shaquille O'Neal made rap music, released five studio albums, performed live at music festivals, appeared in WWE shows, and acted in numerous commercials and TV shows. He also made savvy business moves, owning 155 Five Guys restaurants, 150 car washes, 40 gyms, and 17 Auntie Anne's restaurants, building a net worth of half a billion dollars.

How did Terry Crews' NFL career influence his acting career?

Terry Crews was known as the 'artist football player' during his NFL career. After retiring, he took his talent to Hollywood and landed roles in movies and commercials, notably the Old Spice commercials, which became a significant part of his acting career.

What made Michael Jordan the richest athlete ever?

Michael Jordan's partnership with Nike to create his own special shoe line was extremely successful, earning him roughly 1.5 billion dollars. He also bought a share in the Charlotte Hornets, which he later resold for a significant profit, leading to a net worth of 3.2 billion.