Billion-Dollar Ball - S. Florida Business & Wealth
Main Navigation
Sections
Social Media Connect
Our Other Brands
  • Lifestyle Media Group Logo
South Florida Business and Wealth
South Florida Business & Wealth
Editor's Choice

Billion-Dollar Ball

With the signing of soccer superstar Lionel Messi, it’s clear that David Beckham arguably made the best deal in sports history.
| SFBW Staff

The signing of 35-year-old Argentine soccer superstar Lionel Messi to the Major League Soccer franchise Inter Miami has rocked the sports world. The verdict is in: Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham is a sports deal mastermind as well as a legendary athlete. The acquisition, according to experts, has pushed Inter Miami’s valuation from $600 million to $1 billion. And that’s after the 48-year-old footballer earned $225 million on an initial investment of $25 million when he purchased the club—an audacious bid to transform Miami into a soccer town. Beckham and the ownership group snapped up the soccer club in 2014; the first game was played in 2020. In opting for Miami, Messi rejected a reported $400 million offer from Saudi Arabia; meanwhile, the Miami Herald reports that Messi’s deal will net him as much as $150 million in two and a half years. But some decisions are about more than money. Two years ago, clearly in a Miami state of mind, Messi bought a $7.3 million condo in Sunny Isles Beach.

You May Also Like
A smiling woman and man pose at an outdoor event; the woman holds up a "SFBW" magazine featuring business professionals on the cover, while the man points at the magazine. People and umbrellas are visible in the background. South Florida Business & Wealth
Six people, five in white lab coats and one in a blue blazer, stand smiling in front of a backdrop with repeated "SFBW" logos at an indoor event. South Florida Business & Wealth
Aerial view of a shopping center with stores, including Ross Dress for Less, Ulta Beauty, and Five Below, in front of a large parking lot with scattered cars and a residential neighborhood in the background. South Florida Business & Wealth
Two modern mid-rise buildings with large windows and beige exteriors stand among palm trees under a blue sky with scattered clouds. Cars and pedestrians are visible along the street in front of the buildings. South Florida Business & Wealth
More Editor's Choice Posts
From Service to Leadership: DeAnn Hazey
 |  Jessica Graves

ARMY | Sergeant, E5
Executive Director, Government & Community Affairs,
Nicklaus Children’s Health System

Read More
A woman in a green, ruffled dress and heels stands confidently in a large, empty, industrial space with sunlight streaming in from behind her. South Florida Business & Wealth
From Service to Leadership: Jon Merkel
 |  Jessica Graves

MARINE CORPS | Sergeant
Commercial Relationship Manager at Fifth Third Bank

Read More
A man in a blue suit and brown shoes stands with hands in pockets on a polished concrete floor in a spacious, industrial warehouse, looking to his left. South Florida Business & Wealth
From Service to Leadership: Ben Sorensen
 |  Jessica Graves

NAVY RESERVE | Chaplain
Fort Lauderdale City Commissioner, CEO of Sorensen Consulting, Inc.

Read More
A person in a tan military uniform stands with arms crossed in a large, empty industrial space with a concrete floor and a dark, metal-paneled wall in the background. South Florida Business & Wealth
Barkov Makes Seven-Figure Gift to Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital
 |  SFBW Staff

The Panthers captain’s donation will expand pediatric orthopedic and sports medicine services, with the program now renamed in his honor.

Read More
Two adults stand in front of a sign reading "Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital." The woman on the left wears a red suit and smiles with arms crossed. The man on the right wears a gray polo shirt and khaki pants, smiling with a hand in his pocket. South Florida Business & Wealth
Other Posts
Funding the Future
 |  Jessica Graves

Strategic philanthropy for South Florida’s next generation

Read More
A woman with blonde hair, wearing a gray turtleneck and black blazer, smiles while standing indoors by large windows with a blurred building in the background. South Florida Business & Wealth
Aging, Care, and the Cost of Waiting Too Long
 |  Jessica Graves

Attorney Heidi Friedman on VA benefits, Medicaid rules, and why early planning can prevent costly mistakes

Read More
A smiling professional woman sits at a desk with an older couple, discussing paperwork. Documents labelled "Medicaid," "Long-Term Care," and "VA Benefits" are on the table. A marina is visible through the large window behind them. South Florida Business & Wealth
The Labor Problem No  Florida Contractor Can Ignore
 |  Jessica Graves

As workforce volatility reshapes construction economics, Daniel Goldburg shows how continuity has become a competitive advantage

Read More
Two men wearing hard hats and CSCI-branded shirts smile and walk at a sunny construction site, with piles of dirt, trees, and a building visible in the background. South Florida Business & Wealth
Boca Raton Ranks Among Nation’s Best Small Cities for Career Growth
 |  SFBW Staff

A new national study places Boca Raton on a list of smaller U.S. metros where strong job markets, rising wages, and quality of life are drawing professionals away from major urban centers.

Read More
A view of a waterfront city with tall buildings, a pink bridge, and boats docked along the water. Palm trees line a walkway where people are strolling under a clear blue sky. South Florida Business & Wealth