Martha Stewart, the renowned American lifestyle entrepreneur, has become the latest celebrity to take a minority ownership stake in Swansea City, a club competing in the Championship. At 84 years old, Stewart joins an illustrious group of investors that includes rapper Snoop Dogg and six-time Champions League winner Luka Modric.
On Friday, she attended Swansea’s Championship match against Wrexham, a rival Welsh side owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. The fixture took place at the Swansea.com Stadium, where Stewart was a guest of the club. Following her investment announcement, Swansea expressed their excitement about her joining the board.
In an exhilarating match, Swansea rallied from a goal down to clinch a 2-1 victory over Wrexham, with Adam Idah scoring a dramatic winner in the 91st minute. The club noted that experiencing the game live only heightened Stewart’s enthusiasm for her new role.
Swansea City is currently managed by American owners Andy Coleman, Brett Cravatt, and Jason Cohen, operating under Swansea Football LLC. Snoop Dogg, a 17-time Grammy nominee, and Luka Modric, winner of the 2018 Ballon d’Or, previously announced their investments in the club in July, highlighting the strong community spirit of Swansea. Snoop Dogg expressed a personal connection to the club and its history, identifying it as a proud representation of a working-class city.
In the current Championship standings, Swansea sits at 19th, having secured a seven-point buffer above the relegation zone while remaining nine points shy of the playoff positions. The club enjoyed a successful seven-season run in the Premier League from 2011 to 2018 and won the League Cup in 2013.
Stewart’s entry into the ownership landscape reflects a growing trend of North American celebrities investing in English football clubs. Other notable figures include Tom Brady, who has invested in Birmingham City, and JJ Watt, a former NFL star who became a minority investor in Burnley. This influx of high-profile investors signifies a rising interest in English football’s potential as both a competitive sport and a profitable venture.
With her extensive experience as a business leader, Stewart’s involvement in Swansea City may pave the way for new opportunities both on and off the pitch, ultimately benefiting the club in its quest for success in the Championship.