David Beckham’s business empire has secured a huge payout worth almost $36 million, thanks to rising profits at DRJB Holdings, the company behind his global licensing deals.
Newly released financial statements show the former England footballer received a $12.8 million dividend for 2023, followed by a further $23 million this year, underscoring the enduring appeal of the Beckham brand, a decade after he ditched his boots had put.
In the year to December 2023, DRJB more than doubled its pre-tax profits, from $16.2 million to $36.2 million. The company, whose name is derived from Beckham’s full name, David Robert Joseph Beckham, earns revenue from a wide range of endorsements and licensing deals that feature Beckham’s name and image on everything from clothing to consumer goods. The brand’s reach has grown even further thanks to a hit Netflix series about the lives of David and his wife Victoria – the fashion entrepreneur and former Spice Girl – which first aired in October 2023.
The four-part show was produced by the Studio 99 group, owned by DRJB, and proved an instant success, ranking in Netflix’s top ten in all 90 countries where viewership is tracked. In its recently published reports, DRJB credits the documentary for boosting revenue, along with a steady stream of brand partnerships. In addition to recent deals with Boss, Tempur, Coty fragrances, EA Sports, Nespresso and Uber Eats, Beckham has found new endorsement wins, including collaborations with Chinese online retailer AliExpress and SharkNinja, known for air fryers and home appliances.
Beckham, now 49, last year transferred majority control of DRJB to US-based Authentic Brands Group in exchange for $269 million in stock and cash. Although ABG has acquired a 55 percent stake in DRJB, Beckham will retain a 45 percent stake and benefit from the continued growth of his name and image rights. ABG itself owns licensing rights to a range of global icons, including basketball star Shaquille O’Neal and golfer Greg Norman, plus the intellectual property of Marilyn Monroe and Muhammad Ali.
Despite the windfall from his branding business, Beckham’s wife Victoria has struggled with more modest financial fortunes through her own fashion and beauty ventures, which posted losses in 2023. Nevertheless, the couple’s total wealth is estimated to be £455 million, thanks in part to David’s continued success off the field. In addition to a stake in Major League Soccer’s Inter Miami – acquired as part of his player contract with LA Galaxy – Beckham’s social media following now stands at more than 163 million followers across Instagram, Facebook and major Chinese platforms.
Although critics have occasionally warned about overexposure, DRJB’s documents suggest that the Beckham brand’s popularity remains robust. Administrative costs at the company have been significantly reduced under ABG’s leadership, allowing the company to fund large shareholder returns and strengthen its position in new product categories.