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- Antetokounmpo to collaborate on live events and marketing initiatives
- Greek forward also partners with Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian on Chelsea Women stake
Basketball star Giannis Antetokounmpo has expanded his investment portfolio by taking stakes in prediction market company Kalshi and Women’s Super League (WSL) club Chelsea.
The Milwaukee Bucks icon becomes the first basketball player to acquire shares in Kalshi and will partner with the company on live events, marketing initiatives and other engagements.
As an active player in the National Basketball Association (NBA), the Greek forward will be banned from trading on markets related to the league as part of the company’s terms of service aimed at preventing insider trading and market manipulation.
“I love the Kalshi markets and have been checking them often recently,” said Antetokounmpo. “I like to win. It’s clear to me Kalshi is going to be a winner and I’m excited to be getting involved”.
Antetokounmpo joins US golfer Bryson DeChambeau as an athlete endorsing Kalshi. The prediction market platform also has partnerships with the National Hockey League (NHL) and the Pro Padel League (PPL), as well as a team deal with the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks.
“Giannis is a legend,” said Tarek Mansour, chief executive of Kalshi. “He’s exactly the type of long-term partner we want to align our growing brand with, and we couldn’t be happier he’s on board.”
As a prediction market exchange, Kalshi enables users to trade contracts that increase or decrease in value based on the outcome of live sport and other major events.
The company operates under federal commodities and derivatives regulations, rather than state gambling laws, which means it can operate in states where sports betting remains illegal.
Kalshi has previously offered contracts linked to the possibility of Antetokounmpo changing teams. His involvement with Kalshi has attracted criticism from fans who believe this creates a potential conflict of interest.
Meanwhile, Antetokounmpo has also become a minority owner of Chelsea Women. He is partnering with Reddit cofounder Alexis Ohanian, who acquired a ten per cent stake in the club last year for a reported UK£20 million (US$27.3 million).
In a post on social media, Antetokounmpo said Chelsea were a “historic club built on passion, excellence, and a willing culture”.
“Chelsea’s history speaks for itself, and I’m excited to contribute to the future by supporting continued growth and impact in women’s sport,” he wrote. “This is about ambition, legacy, and pushing the game to new heights. Up the Chels!”
The WSL team remains majority owned by Chelsea’s ownership group, which spun off control of the women’s team to the BlueCo holding company in 2024.
Antetokounmpo adds investments in Kalshi and Chelsea Women to a growing portfolio that includes his media venture Improbable Media. He has also invested in a number of sports teams, including TGL franchise Los Angeles Golf Club, Major League Soccer’s (MLS) Nashville SC, Major League Baseball’s (MLB) Milwaukee Brewers, and the Unrivaled three-on-three women’s basketball league.
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