David Beckham’s business empire has delivered a bumper payoff worth almost $36 million, thanks to surging profits at DRJB Holdings, the company behind his global licensing deals.
Newly released financial statements reveal that 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 hung up his boots.
In the year to December 2023, DRJB more than doubled its pre-tax profits, rising from $16.2 million to $36.2 million. The company, whose name derives from Beckham’s full name, David Robert Joseph Beckham, earns income from a wide array of endorsements and licensing agreements 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 documenting the life of David and his wife, Victoria—the fashion entrepreneur and former Spice Girl—first aired in October 2023.
The four-part show was produced by The Studio 99 group, owned by DRJB, and proved an immediate success, charting in Netflix’s top ten across all 90 countries where it tracks viewership. In its newly published accounts, DRJB credits the documentary for boosting earnings, in tandem with a steady stream of brand partnerships. As well as 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, transferred majority control of DRJB to the US-based Authentic Brands Group last year, in exchange for $269 million in shares and cash. Though ABG acquired a 55 per cent stake in DRJB, Beckham retains a 45 per cent holding and benefits from the ongoing growth of his name and image rights. ABG itself owns licensing rights for a suite of global icons, including the basketball star Shaquille O’Neal and golf’s Greg Norman, plus the intellectual property of Marilyn Monroe and Muhammad Ali.
Despite the windfall from his brand business, Beckham’s wife Victoria has contended with more modest financial fortunes through her own fashion and beauty ventures, which recorded losses in 2023. Nevertheless, the couple’s total wealth stands at an estimated £455 million, thanks in part to David’s continuing success off the pitch. Alongside a stake in Major League Soccer’s Inter Miami—secured as part of his playing contract with LA Galaxy—Beckham’s social media following now tops 163 million across Instagram, Facebook, and major Chinese platforms.
While critics have occasionally warned of overexposure, DRJB’s filings suggest the Beckham brand’s popularity remains robust. Administrative costs at the firm have been significantly reduced under ABG’s stewardship, enabling it to fund large shareholder payouts and strengthen its push into new product categories.
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David Beckham lands $36m payday as Netflix documentary boosts brand empire