George Soros, Vince McMahon, Jerry Jones Head List of DraftKings' Investors

Published on May 12th, 2020 11:02 am EST
Written By: Dave Manuel


The sports betting industry in the United States is growing at a rapid pace. DraftKings went public in late April, despite the fact that the US economy was still essentially locked down.

The company, which went public via a reverse merger with blank-check company Diamond Eagle Acquisition Corp., initially listed its shares at $17.50.

The move to go public in late April was a smart one, as shares of the company now trade at north of $27.

The stock has been buoyed by multiple different factors, including the return of sports to the US landscape (UFC is hosting events again, NASCAR is returning this weekend, etc) and the quality of names that are currently invested in the DraftKings enterprise.

This includes:

George Soros
Disney
Robert Kraft (New England Patriots)
Jerry Jones (Dallas Cowboys)
World Wrestling Entertainment
Madison Square Garden Entertainment
Stephen Pagliuca (Boston Celtics)

-

DraftKings was formerly just a daily fantasy football company, though they have successfully transitioned into being one of the top online sportsbooks in the quickly growing online sports betting market in the United States.

The fact that Disney owns a stake in the company (via their purchase of 21st Century Fox) is especially noteworthy, as it may clear the way for a partnership between DraftKings and ESPN down the road.

If you'll remember, Disney was originally planning on purchasing a 20% stake in DraftKings in 2015 for $250 million, though they eventually decided to back out after a scandal plagued the daily fantasy industry. State governments swooped in, with many instituting a licensing system for daily fantasy sites, and ESPN decided to back out.

Now, five years later, Disney is involved with DraftKings again. Who would have thought that Mickey Mouse would be supporting the online sports betting industry in the United States?

Related Articles