Ryan Reynolds' new £50m sports project and net worth after Hollywood divorce

North Wales Live

14 hours ago

Ryan Reynolds has again made headlines by partnering with another Hollywood star to purchase a sports team. It follows the remarkable success of his acquisition of Wrexham AFC with Rob McElhenney.
After guiding Wrexham AFC from non-league obscurity to the Championship in just four seasons, and achieving an unprecedented three consecutive promotions, Reynolds and McElhenney have put the Welsh club firmly on the global map. Now, they are tantalisingly close to reaching the Premier League, which would cap off their fairytale story.
But already Reynolds is embarking on a new sporting adventure with his friend and fellow actor Hugh Jackman, known for their roles in Deadpool and Wolverine. The duo has announced ownership of an Australian sailing team, the BONDS Flying Roos, competing in the high-profile SailGP international sailing competition.
This event has attracted investment from celebrities like Kylian Mbappe, Anne Hathaway, Sebastian Vettel, and Deontay Wilder. While Reynolds and McElhenney also have stakes in Club Necaxa, La Equidad, and the Formula One team Alpine, this venture marks Jackman's debut in sports ownership, reports Wales Online.
"We're incredibly excited to set sail together in this new adventure," said Reynolds and Jackman. "Hugh brings a deep love for and pride in his home country as well as being an avid fan of sailing.
"He will also be bringing his overly clingy emotional support human along for the ride. Apologies in advance to Australia." Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now
The exact sum shelled out by Reynolds and Jackman for the team remains under wraps, but estimates suggest a joint investment of at least $50 million (£37 million).
In light of the Wrexham co-owner's new venture, we took a look at how he made his huge fortune and the key figures who've been with him on the way.
Astonishing net worth
It's said that Reynolds possesses an eye-watering net worth estimated at $400 million (£295 million), earning his spot as one of Tinseltown's biggest earners.
Forbes ranked the actor second among the world's highest-paid actors in 2024, his staggering earnings of £79 million placing him just a whisker behind Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson.
Reynolds' prosperity was significantly boosted last year by his leading roles in the blockbuster Marvel flicks Deadpool and Wolverine, not forgetting the contributions from family hit IF and the Emmy-triumphant documentary Welcome to Wrexham.
His wealth isn't solely from acting; his astute investments include nabbing a stake of up to 20% in Aviation Gin before flipping it in a colossal £443 million sale in 2020.
Another savvy business move saw him sell a sizeable chunk of Mint Mobile to T-Mobile in 2023, resulting in a mammoth £997 million transaction that lined his pockets with more than £220 million.
Deadpool actor Ryan Reynolds and co-owner Rob McElhenney have significantly invested in Wrexham AFC, reportedly contributing more than £20 million since their acquisition of the club in 2020.
According to a 2023 episode of Welcome to Wrexham, the Hollywood pair encountered substantial financial loss of around $12 million (£8.9 million) post-takeover, eliciting a candid reaction from Reynolds who quipped: "I'm going to throw up."
Life after divorce
Reynolds, having finalised his Hollywood divorce, is happily married to Gossip Girl star Blake Lively. The couple met on the Green Lantern set and their romance quickly developed, resulting in one of Tinseltown's most cherished unions.
They exchanged vows at a private South Carolina marriage ceremony and are proud parents to four children, James, Inez, Betty, and Olin.
Lively has been seen supporting Wrexham AFC at the Racecourse Ground. She praised the town following the team's leap to the Championship in April with an enthusiastic Instagram tribute. "Back to back to back," she posted.
"History was made. Congratulations to @wrexham_afc. I will never forget the love and elation in that town today. Thank you for sharing it with us always."
She also commended her husband and McElhenney for their hard work, adding, "And to these two men, @robmcelhenney and @vancityreynolds ... the love and respect that pours out of you each and together exponentially grows and creates more joy, more possibilities, more magic, more history,".
"This picture feels to me like a painting of all you do for so many, while being so present and appreciative of every moment."
Before finding love with Lively, Reynolds was no stranger to high-profile relationships, having been engaged and married to some of the most well-known women in the entertainment industry.
In 2004, he proposed to fellow Canadian Alanis Morissette, after meeting the singer at Drew Barrymore's birthday bash two years prior. They called it quits in 2007, with Morrissette attributing the pressures of fame as a contributing factor, but they have remained firm friends ever since.
Reynolds - who has also been romantically linked to actresses Sandra Bullock, Melissa Joan Hart, and Charlize Theron - soon started dating actress Scarlett Johansson and they tied the knot in 2008, in a private ceremony in Vancouver.
However, they split in 2010, with both Reynolds and Johansson confessing that their relationship crumbled due to their hectic schedules and a lack of quality time together.
"We work and then go home," the actress later shared with Time Out. "I'd just stare at the wall for a few hours before I got to sleep." Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox
Friendship with Rob McElhenney
Despite overseeing one of the most remarkable turnarounds in football history together, Reynolds and McElhenney weren't exactly mates when they decided to purchase Wrexham, having only interacted with each other online on a handful of occasions.
Contrary to common assumption, it wasn't Reynolds who initially had the idea to take over a football club. Instead, it was McElhenney who spearheaded the initiative after being inspired by British comedy writer and football enthusiast Humphrey Ker.
Despite not having a particular interest in football, McElhenney found himself captivated by Ker's passion for Liverpool FC. Consequently, Ker suggested that he watch the Netflix series Sunderland 'Til I Die during the coronavirus lockdown.
The series piqued the interest of the It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia star, leading him to the decision that he wanted his own football club to create a documentary about.
Once the actor had established his budget, Ker assisted him in identifying some suitable options - with Wrexham standing out to McElhenney due to the club's rich history, fervent supporters and the need for fresh investment following the pandemic.
He then approached Reynolds - who had previously messaged him about his favourite scene from Always Sunny - to try and secure additional funds for investment and to attach another high-profile name to the club.
Reynolds was enthusiastic about the proposal and didn't want to be merely a sponsor, but a co-owner alongside McElhenney.
In November 2020, the pair purchased the club for £2 million and the rest, as they say, is history - with the two now firm friends despite not meeting face-to-face until April 2021. McElhenney has since shared his close bond with Reynolds, calling him a "kind and generous soul, and somebody you can rely on."
He praised the actor as a "truly inspiring person," and noted: "Our families have grown incredibly close, and even though we live on opposite coasts, we feel like we're right next to each other."