Here's A List Of Kobe Bryant's Business Ventures Before His Death

Kobe Bryant was an NBA legend, having played for 20 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers. He also had a crucial part in what was called the "Redeem Team" by Netflix's new sports documentary directed by Jon Weinbach. Carmelo Anthony said in the documentary that Bryant joined the team because he was tired of watching them lose.

He retired from the sport in 2016 and moved on to investing before his untimely death in 2020. Talking to CNBC in 2016, Bryant mentioned that in 20 years, he wanted to be remembered more for investing than for basketball.

"There's going to be another team that wins an NBA Championship, another player that wins another MVP award. But if you really want to create something that lasts generations, you have to help inspire the next generation," Bryant said.

Let's take a look at Bryant's business ventures before his death:

1. The Players' Tribute

In 2013, Bryant started a $100 million venture-capital firm with Jeff Stibel, named Bryant Stibel. The firm's investment focus was on businesses in the technology, media and data sectors, according to its website. Bryant Stibel invested in early-stage companies and more established brands.

One of its investments was in The Players' Tribute, a media company founded by Derek Jeter, a former baseball player for the New York Yankees. The company publishes first-person long-form, short-form, podcast and video content created by athletes, allowing them to connect directly with their fans.

2. Dell

Bryant Stibel also invested in Dell, a global company that focuses on the design, development and manufacture of personal computers and computer-related products. Headquartered in Texas, Dell is one of the world's leading suppliers of personal computers.

3. Alibaba

Bryant had a close relationship with Alibaba's founder Jack Ma. He was also one of the most popular NBA players in China, according to the Red Card Report by The Mailman Group. Bryant spoke bits of Mandarin to interact with fans and was one of the early adopters of Chinese social media. Bryant also visited the country frequently and was even awarded by the Asia Society as a cultural ambassador in 2009.

Part of his partnership with Alibaba Group was the release of his documentary "Kobe Bryant's Muse" in China in 2015 and the development of a social media platform to connect with China's youth, according to a press release.

In the same press release, Alibaba Group said, "Alibaba Pictures, an affiliate of Alibaba Group, will work with Kobe Inc. to create a series of Kobe branded products and distribute them through Alibaba Group's popular retail platforms, including Taobao Marketplace and Tmall.com, which are accessed by over 350 million active buyers throughout China."

4. Epic Games

Bryant invested in Epic Games in 2019 before the company's global user base reached hundreds of millions in 2020. Epic Games is behind the popular game "Fortnite," released in 2017. By 2020, the game had 350 million players across the globe, according to Statista.

5. The Honest Company

The company founded in 2011 by Jessica Alba focuses on making clean, sustainable and well-designed products for babies and homes, according to the business' website.

"Since day one, it's been my goal to build a diverse, inclusive and ethical company based on values of transparency, trust, sustainability and a deep sense of purpose in all we do," said the founder. Bryant Stibel invested in the company two years after its founding.

6. LegalZoom

In 2014, Bryant Stibel invested in LegalZoom, an online platform that provides legal solutions and documents. According to the investment firm's website, Bryant Stibel's team "has been instrumental in the growth of LegalZoom – as a partner and an investor." Bryant Stibel is one of the top five investors in the company.

LegalZoom CEO Emeritus John Suh said the strategic investment was not just about the business. "It's about people, a partnership and a unique bond that has formed over the years between board meetings, off sites, and, of course, all those spur-of-the-moment phone calls in between."

7. Art of Sport

One of Bryant's ventures after his retirement was the startup company Art of Sport, which sells body care products, including deodorants, soaps and sunscreens for athletes. According to the company website, the products are "designed and tested by the world's greatest athletes" so that athletes can feel fresh and stay confident while performing at their peak every day.

The company also has retail partners such as Target, Walgreens and Dick's Sporting Goods to reach more consumers.

8. BodyArmor

New York-based BodyArmor, a brand that offers sports performance and hydration beverages aiming to compete with Gatorade, was part of Bryant's business investments in 2014. He invested a total of $6 million in the business, amounting to 10% of the company.

In 2018, Coca-Cola, a popular brand in the beverage industry, acquired a minority stake in BodyArmor, which turned Bryant's $6 million investment into $200 million, according to an ESPN report. In November 2021, Coca-Cola announced full ownership of BodyArmor, paying "$5.6 billion in cash for the remaining 85% of the company."

9. Granity Studios

Aside from investing in other companies, Bryant also founded the award-winning multimedia original content company Granity, which was previously called Kobe Studios. His goal was to create projects that combined his love for sports and storytelling through stories that entertain, educate and inspire.

Bryant poured over "Harry Potter," "Star Wars" and Disney movies to learn more about the story and character development. Granity is behind the ESPN Plus sports analysis series called "Detail," written, produced and hosted by Black Mamba himself. Under Granity, he also produced "The Punies," a podcast about a fictional group of youths chasing their sports dreams. He also collaborated with author Wesley King on the YA franchise "Wizenard Series," a story that combined fantasy and sports.

10. Nike

Bryant signed a four-year deal with Nike in 2003. Under the $40-million deal, he had several lines of Nike merchandise. Nike was also involved in the launch of Bryant's youth basketball league called the Mamba League.

In 2016, he signed a five-year deal with Nike to extend his Mamba shoe line past his retirement. In March 2022, two years after Bryant's death, Nike announced a new agreement with Vanessa Bryant honoring the NBA hall-of-famer, with all proceeds benefiting the Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation.