Brand Beckham pays $124mn in dividends

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David Beckham’s famous businesses have paid out around $124mn in dividends, according to accounts filed this week, with profits increasing due to deals, digital content and the launch of new consumer products.

The DRJB Holdings portfolio highlights the continued popularity of the Beckham brand more than ten years after he retired from football.

DRJB Holdings includes David Beckham Ventures Limited, which owns the majority of his brand portfolio and receives licensing income from companies such as Boss, Stella Artois and Paramount. It’s also the company that holds Studio 99, which made the Beckham documentary for Netflix and produces marketing campaigns for network partners.

Beckham and his team have been active in growing his public image – most recently with a popular Netflix documentary – and turning it into income by connecting with brands and brands that want to be associated with the star.

Beckham is also the co-founder and owner of the Major League Soccer franchise Inter Miami.

DRJB Holdings is the majority of the US retail and entertainment group Authentic Brands Group, which bought the business in 2022 and has been overseeing the global business operations.

According to the accounts, filed on Monday, DRJB Holdings paid shareholders $28.5mn in ordinary dividends in 2023 as well as $38.9mn in option distribution payments.

The reports also show that after the end of 2023, a final dividend of $5.6mn was paid against preferred shares in the first quarter of 2024, while ordinary dividends of $51mn were paid to shareholders. the company.

A person familiar with the matter said the royalties were split between Authentic Brands, which owns 55 per cent of the business, and Footwork Productions, Beckham’s company which owns the rest.

However, Authentic Brands paid all of its shares in preferred shares, the person added, meaning the footballer would have received about $36mn from the stake. company home.

Authentic Brands, which has retailers including Forever 21 and Barneys New York, as well as brand rights for stars such as Shaquille O’Neal, paid about $269mn for 55 percent of the group in 2022.

According to reports, pre-tax profit for DRJB Holdings rose to $36.2mn in 2023, from $16.2mn in 2022. Taxes rose to $91.2mn, from $89.7mn last year.