‘We Have Innovation’: Kobe Bryant Knew The Potential BodyArmor Held as Soon as He Became an Investor in 2014

Published 11/02/2021, 12:08 AM EDT

Kobe Bryant and his off the court business deals continue to impress. The Lakers legend’s estate recently received $400 million in profits, thanks to an investment he made back in 2014. It seems like Kobe’s vision wasn’t just spectacular on the court, but also off it. But how could someone foresee a company’s success so many years ago?

Well, clearly, Bryant could. And it’s something he even expressed when he became an investor for BodyArmor, the sports drink company. In fact, the co-founder of BodyArmor, Mike Repole has also admitted that Kobe’s contribution did wonders for their success.

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The highly successful investment from Kobe Bryant

When Kobe initially became an investor, putting in $6 million, he might not have predicted that one of the biggest companies in the world, Coca-Cola will be willing to own it. Now that Coca-Cola has officially announced its ownership for $5.6 billion. This amounted to Kobe’s $6 million investment, turning into $400 million in return.

Coca-Cola first got involved with BodyArmor in 2018, when they bought a 15% stake in the company. This made them the company’s second-largest shareholder, with Kobe as the third. But what Kobe saw before the others as soon as he became an investor is just unreal. This even got his wife praise him on the achievement.

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When the Black Mamba talked about BodyArmor’s potential

To the success that it has reached now, an old video of Kobe talking about the company’s future and imparting wisdom has gone viral on social media. He had stated, “We want to see the success of this company. In 2025, we want to be the number one sports drink. That means we have got to roll up our sleeves and get after it.”

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“We got to make sure of the market and make sure that the athletes know there’s a better option for you out there. Innovation is the key to everything. You come out with a great idea, but if the idea lacks substance, lacks originality and innovation, you’re not going to get anywhere. We have innovation.”

"Innovation is the key to everything."
Kobe had a vision for BodyArmor back when he invested.
Co-Founder Mike Repole says their success literally would've been impossible without Bryant.
(🎥: @CNBC) pic.twitter.com/QjleSAIeX9
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) November 1, 2021

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This just goes to prove that Kobe’s greatness transcended from the court. And it’s thanks to that, his family will be taken care of for years and years to come.

New York Giants’ Xavier McKinney Reveals How Kobe Bryant Helped Him ‘Build as a Player’

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Written by:

Yashima Bhatia is an NBA writer for EssentiallySports who specialises in providing nuanced predictions and updates for matches. She has a Bachelor's degree in journalism and mass communication. Yashima's love for playing the game came up at a young age, when the excitement of the games coupled with the intensity of the Playoffs had her hooked.

‘We Have Innovation’: Kobe Bryant Knew The Potential BodyArmor Held as Soon as He Became an Investor in 2014

The highly successful investment from Kobe Bryant

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When the Black Mamba talked about BodyArmor’s potential