Boxer Tyson Fury recently announced that he was retiring from the sport. Just like he did in 2013 and 2017. And then again in 2022.
Maybe this time he means it. If he does, it will mean walking away from a lucrative planned fight against Anthony Joshua, which was set to generate over $300 million (£246 million) in revenue.
Not that Fury will have any pressing financial concerns of course. He is reportedly Britain’s highest-ever paid boxer, with estimates putting his net worth between £80 million and £300 million.
But given Fury’s multiple business ventures, he can easily choose to now pivot towards expanding his fortune outside of the ring. The 36-year-old is another example of a celebrity entrepreneur who has been hugely successful in one field and then used their fame to branch into others.
Fury’s Many Options
In Fury’s case, his current projects include an energy drink, ice lollies, and protein bars. There’s a Netflix series too, so he’s unlikely to be bored in retirement (if he sticks to it, of course).
Social media is likely to help Fury if he wants to develop his business interests, as a crucial element of his ongoing brand value. Luckily for him, this is another space where he packs a considerable punch. He has 6.9 million followers on Instagram, 2.2 million on X, and 2.2 million on Facebook.
For athletes seeking to pursue an entrepreneurial path after they’re done with elite competition, social media has become a crucial tool. With the right numbers, it can be an easy way to amplify their personal brand and smooth the transition from sporting excellence to things like fashion, entertainment, and food and drink.
Fury’s numbers put him in an excellent position to launch and promote consumer products. Or indeed, to promote social causes, and change some of the media narrative that surrounds him as an outspoken and sometimes controversial showman. He has previously used his popularity to raise awareness against social causes like youth knife crime, for example.