Mark Patricof Leads Elite Athletes Into Investment Opportunities

WHO:

Fast Company - Mark Patricof, founder of Patricof Co; athletes including Serena Williams, Kevin Durant, Cristiano Ronaldo, LeBron James, Reggie Miller, Azzi Fudd, and Rory McIlroy.

Inc - Mark Patricof, CEO of Patricof Co.

WHAT:

Fast Company - Patricof Co has invested more than $200 million in 29 companies.

Fast Company - Notable exits include Cholula, acquired by McCormick & Co. in 2020; Orgain, which sold a majority stake to Nestlé Health Science in 2022; and SpaceX, which went public in June.

Fast Company - Patricof Co is creating CHAMP, a $500 million fund to invest in consumer growth companies, with nearly $60 million coming from over 250 athletes.

Fast Company - Rhoback announced it was selling a minority stake to CHAMP for more than $40 million.

WHERE:

Fast Company - Patricof Co is based in the United States.

WHEN:

Fast Company - CHAMP is set to launch in the future, with specific investments planned for upcoming years.

WHY:

Fast Company - Patricof founded the firm to enable athletes to participate in private equity transactions, believing they have an outsize impact on culture and society.

Fast Company - The firm aims to harness the convergence of capital, influence, and brand-building to benefit both athletes and companies.

HOW:

Fast Company - Patricof Co provides advisory services, networking, and educational opportunities to athletes, facilitating their participation in private equity deals.

Fast Company - The firm creates investment memos tailored to athletes and ensures they understand each deal before investing.

Fast Company - Patricof and his team invest their own money in every deal offered to athletes, and they do not require a minimum investment.

(UPDATED August 3, 2026 16:31 UTC)

Mark Patricof, the founder and CEO of Patricof Co, has announced the creation of CHAMP, a new $500 million fund aimed at investing in consumer growth companies, with nearly $60 million already committed by over 250 athletes. The firm has invested more than $200 million in 29 companies, with notable exits including Cholula, Orgain, and SpaceX, and recently, Rhoback revealed it is selling a minority stake to CHAMP for more than $40 million. Patricof Co, based in the United States, focuses on empowering athletes to engage in private equity transactions, providing them with advisory services and tailored investment opportunities to ensure they understand each deal before participating.