Technology

Hollywood Star Ryan Reynolds Lands Multi-Million Windfall and Could Invest Further in Wrexham

By

Sandeep Singh

46-year-old Hollywood movie star and entrepreneur Ryan Reynolds is hundreds of millions of bucks richer following the sale of Mint Mobile to telecommunications behemoth T-Mobile. Reynolds is reported to have held a 25% stake in Mint Mobile, which could see him bag a $337.5 million cash windfall. Reynolds is a co-owner of Welsh National League football club Wrexham, whose fans are desperate for him to invest some of this in their club. Wrexham is in with a great chance of winning promotion to the English Football League this season. They are now 2/9 favorites to win the National League title with bet365, which is one of the top three operators in the eyes of oddschecker, based on the strength of its welcome and existing customer promotions. In fact, it’s now a heads-up fight for the title with historic English club Notts County.

Reynolds, who bought Wrexham in November 2020 with fellow Hollywood star Rob McElhenney, has a vision for guiding the club back into the English Football League before rising through the pyramid towards the riches of the English Premier League (EPL). Reynolds and McElhenney paid just $2.42 million to acquire the North Wales club. Even splashing a tenth of his windfall from Mint Mobile could give Wrexham a budget more akin to a top of the table League One club.

Reynolds and McElhenney have also done very nicely out of their documentary with Disney+ titled “Welcome to Wrexham”, which has proven a commercial success and has been renewed for a second season. It’s thought that the documentary alone may in fact cover their initial outlay in purchasing the club.

Wrexham fans are getting starry-eyed over Reynolds’ newfound wealth

Wrexham fans immediately took to social media following the announcement of Mint Mobile’s sale, urging Reynolds and co. to embark on a shopping spree and making tongue-in-cheek demands for Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe.

One of the biggest statements of intent made by Reynolds and McElhenney was their contract offer for former Premier League keeper Ben Foster, a matter of weeks before he announced his retirement. Foster, who plied his trade in the top tier of English football for 15 seasons, would have been a big coup for Wrexham in the fifth tier. Foster has always credited a successful loan spell with Wrexham back in 2005 for giving him exposure to senior football, but the Hollywood duo weren’t able to convince him to sign after he lost the “buzz” for the sport in his last spell with Watford.

Foster’s rejection was a blow, but Wrexham have still invested heavily in the last 12 months. Star striker Paul Mullin turned down a contract with League One side Cambridge United in favor of a three-year deal at Wrexham. Mullin has repaid the club’s faith by bagging 29 National League goals so far this term.

The starting line-up also includes a string of proven performers from the English Football League. Ben Tozer is a proven defender with one of the longest throw-ins in English football. Meanwhile, stylish defender Eoghan O’Connell joined Wrexham from League One side Charlton earlier this year, becoming a lynchpin at centre half.

The brand of Ryan Reynolds

It’s not the first time that Ryan Reynolds has made a fortune in the world of commerce. Reynolds’ Aviation Gin brand was eventually sold last year in a $600 million transaction. Reynolds is certainly a big deal in business. He has also been part of an investment group that funded $750 million into Wealthsimple, a fintech start-up valued at over (CAD)$5 billion. Reynolds also has an equity stake in FuboTV, which is one of the leading on-demand streaming platforms in North America.

Reynolds will hope that his initial $2.42 million investment in Wrexham will multiply in the coming months if they can secure a return back to Football League. It has been an almighty tussle with Notts County throughout the season, but it looks like the Welsh wizards have managed to tip the scales in their favor in recent weeks.