Soccer star David Beckham pocketed nearly $100 million in licensing deals as his Netflix documentary and a controversial endorsement of the Qatar World Cup helped his company double its revenues last year.
Beckham’s company DRJB Holdings took in £72.6 million ($92.2 million) in revenues in 2022 on the back of brand deals with companies including Maserati and Adidas, according to filings released Friday and viewed by several publications.
However, pre-tax profits for the company fell by more than 54% to £10.8 million ($13.7 million), with publications citing a significant increase in costs.
The former soccer player manages two subsidiaries, DB Ventures and Seven Global, through his holding company.
Beckham, who played as a midfielder for clubs including Manchester United, Real Madrid, and L.A. Galaxy, sold a majority stake in DB Ventures to sports marketing group Authentic Brands Group in 2022 for a reported £200 million ($254 million).
The company owns consumer brands as well as the likenesses and estates of stars including Elvis Presley and Muhammad Ali.
Beckham penned a deal with Nespresso this year, according to a statement released by DRJB Holdings and reported by the Guardian.
Qatar World Cup boosts Beckham’s coffers
Beckham has kept himself busy since playing his last soccer match for French side Paris Saint Germain in 2013.
Beyond his endorsement deals with major companies, he is also the co-owner of the MLS franchise Inter Miami, where he has been able to lure soccer superstar Lionel Messi.
But he also got a boost to his coffers from new avenues in 2022, notably through his ambassadorship at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Beckham was reportedly paid £10 million ($12.7 million) to endorse the global soccer event as part of a 10-year deal worth £125 million ($159 million).
He faced a heavy public backlash for his decision thanks to Qatar’s human rights record, particularly its treatment of people from the LGBTQ+ community. Same-sex relationships are illegal in Qatar and can carry steep prison sentences or even the death penalty if prosecuted.
The criticism was more pronounced given Beckham’s reputation as a strong ally of the community after appearing on the cover of Attitude magazine in 2002. Darren Styles, the owner of Attitude, said in 2022 he was removing Beckham’s cover from the publisher’s London office.
Beckham said in October he was proud to act as an ambassador for the World Cup.
Beckham also expanded into media as he let Oscar-winning director Fisher Stevens document his time as a global soccer star while letting viewers gain an insight into his personal life over four episodes.
The documentary series Beckham proved to be a huge success, amassing 3.8 million viewers in its first week on the platform, Deadline reported.
Tougher year for wife Victoria
It was a tougher year for Beckham’s wife Victoria Beckham, whose fashion brand continued to experience losses amid a significant cash injection from investors to keep her company afloat.
The former member of the pop group the Spice Girls raked in £58.8 million ($74.5 million) in revenues in 2022 from her fashion and lifestyle brand, but she required a £6.9 million ($8.7 million) loan from shareholders despite losses narrowing.
