Serena Williams is a woman of many talents.
On the tennis court, she was a sensation, cementing herself as arguably the greatest women’s tennis player with 23 Grand Slam wins and the only player to accomplish a career Golden Slam in both singles and doubles competitions.
While Williams’ playing days are behind her as she focuses on her family, that does not mean her impact is not felt. Her fingerprints are all over the fashion industry, the film world and in the sporting sphere as well. She may have made quite a bit of cash by dominating the clay and grass surfaces, but she also is a money-making machine outside of tennis.
One of those business ventures is in the NFL. Williams, who grew up in West Palm Beach, Florida, has built a relationship with the Dolphins that is different than most.
Here is more to know about Williams and her ownership stake in the Miami football franchise.
MORE: Full dates, times, how to watch Serena Williams documentary on ESPN
Does Serena Williams own the Dolphins?
Serena Williams is a minority owner of the Dolphins.
In 2009, team owner Stephen Ross sold a small portion of the team’s shares to Serena, her sister, Venus, and a number of other celebrities.
“I am so excited to be part of such a renowned organization,” Serena told People at the time. “Having spent so much of my childhood in the area, being involved with a staple of Miami culture is a huge honor. We look forward to many championships and much success together with the Miami Dolphins.”
Genius athletes that got into team ownership after retiring…
9️⃣ Serena & Venus Williams
Own a minority stake in the Miami Dolphins:
2009: $1B valuation
2023: $4.6B valuation1st African-American minority owners in NFL history. pic.twitter.com/p2cm3TOPYP
— Andrew Petcash (@AndrewPetcash) May 28, 2023
The moment was historic, as the two were the first Black women to become team owners in the NFL.
“We are thrilled to have Venus and Serena join the Dolphins as limited partners,” Ross told People. “They are among the most admired athletes in the world and have become global ambassadors for the game of tennis. Their addition to our ownership group further reflects our commitment to connect with aggressively and embrace the great diversity that makes South Florida a multicultural gem.”
MORE: How Coco Gauff paid homage to Serena Williams at 2024 Wimbledon
What percentage of the Dolphins do the Williams sisters own?
Ross sold the Williams sisters a $10 million ownership share of the team, making up 1% of the team’s ownership. He did this with a number of other celebrities, keeping a majority of the ownership under his name.
Who owns the Dolphins?
Stephen M. Ross is the majority owner of the Dolphins. He owns 95% of the team, as well as Hard Rock Stadium.
When Ross initially sold off stakes in the company to celebrities, the Williams were two of a number of other A-list celebs that bought a part of the Miami organization.
In addition to the two tennis stars, singer/actress Gloria Estefan, musician Emilio Estefan, actress Jenifer Lopez, singer Marc Anthony and singer Fergie were among the high-profile names that purchased a part of the NFL club. Those all remain in their roles today with the exception of Lopez, who sold her share to Anthony after the couple divorced.
Dolphins team value
The Dolphins are valued at $5.7 billion in 2024, according to Forbes.
Read the full article here