Celebrities who own franchises
Public figures who have bought restaurants of a chain as franchisees, with when each holding was reported and whether they still own it.
Shaquille O’Neal
Hall of Fame basketball player and TV analyst. Everything Shaq owns
Papa Johns Owns, as of 2024
Joined Papa John’s board in March 2019 and took a stake of about 30% in nine Atlanta-area restaurants, run as a joint venture with the company. He left the board when his term ended in May 2024, and the company said he would keep the nine restaurants and stay on as a brand ambassador. (Papa John’s International (SEC), March 2019; CNBC, March 2019; Investing.com, February 2024)
Papa Johns franchise: $281K–$890K to open, $5K–$25K franchise fee, royalty 5%, 3,294 US locations (+174 franchised in 3 years).
Big Chicken Owns, as of 2025
Big Chicken opened its first restaurant a few blocks east of the Las Vegas Strip in 2018, and in 2021 Nation’s Restaurant News described him as its majority partner, alongside Authentic Brands Group and JRS Hospitality. The chain’s filing says he owns part of the franchisor’s parent company through two companies, ABG-Shaq and SONOFBUTCHY, and works on brand development, expansion and advertising. Craveworthy Brands is the parent company’s managing partner and an investor. (BC Licensing LLC, 2025 filing, pages 8 and 85; Nation’s Restaurant News, September 2021)
Big Chicken franchise: $682K–$1.54M to open, $40K franchise fee, royalty 6%, 24 US locations (+22 franchised in 3 years).
Krispy Kreme Owns, as of 2022
Bought into Krispy Kreme’s downtown Atlanta shop, open since 1965, in October 2016, when he also became a spokesperson for the chain. The chain’s 2022 filing says he owns an interest in a Krispy Kreme franchise in the Atlanta market and has no stake in the franchisor. (ESPN, October 2016; Krispy Kreme Doughnut Corporation, 2022 filing, page 53)
Krispy Kreme franchise: $2.02M–$4.33M to open, $25K franchise fee, royalty 4.5%, 368 US locations.
Five Guys Sold
Money reported in 2019 that he had once owned 155 Five Guys restaurants, about a tenth of the chain’s franchised locations, and had since sold his stake. CNBC put the number he had owned at 27 the same year. (Money, April 2019; CNBC, March 2019)
Five Guys franchise: $928K–$1.38M to open, $25K franchise fee, royalty 6%, 1,583 US locations (+71 franchised in 3 years).
Auntie Anne’s Sold
Money reported in 2019 that he owned 17 Auntie Anne’s pretzel shops. In a podcast interview reported in October 2022, he said he had sold them. (Money, April 2019; Black Enterprise, October 2022)
Auntie Anne’s franchise: $158K–$836K to open, $36K franchise fee, royalty 7%–8%, 1,247 US locations (+101 franchised in 3 years).
Rick Ross
Rapper and founder of Maybach Music Group. Rick Ross’s Wingstop restaurants
Wingstop Owns, as of 2021
Has opened Wingstop restaurants since 2011, starting in Memphis, through his company Boss Wings Enterprises. Revolt reported in September 2021 that he owned more than 25 Wingstop locations. (Revolt, September 2021)
Wingstop franchise: $310K–$1.05M to open, $25K franchise fee, royalty 6%, 2,586 US locations (+851 franchised in 3 years).
Magic Johnson
Hall of Fame basketball player and investor.
Starbucks Sold
From 1998 his company ran Starbucks coffeehouses in city neighborhoods through Urban Coffee Opportunities, a 50/50 partnership with Starbucks. He sold his half to Starbucks in October 2010, when it took full ownership of the venture and its more than 100 locations. (Nation’s Restaurant News, October 2010)
Can you open a Starbucks? How it’s run and the closest franchises you can open.
Burger King Reported in 2004
Magic Johnson Enterprises agreed in June 2004 to buy 30 existing Burger King restaurants in Atlanta, Birmingham, Dallas and Miami. (Associated Press (Fox News), June 2004)
Burger King franchise: $348K–$4.73M to open, $50K franchise fee, royalty 4.5%, 6,650 US locations (−1,474 franchised in 3 years).
Sports teams Owns, as of 2023
Became a part-owner of the Washington Commanders in 2023, and holds stakes in the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Los Angeles Sparks and Los Angeles FC. (NBC News, July 2023)
Peyton Manning
Hall of Fame quarterback.
Papa Johns Sold
Bought Papa John’s restaurants in the Denver area in 2012, after signing with the Broncos, and sold his 31 stores along the Front Range in early 2018. (CBS Colorado, March 2018)
Papa Johns franchise: $281K–$890K to open, $5K–$25K franchise fee, royalty 5%, 3,294 US locations (+174 franchised in 3 years).
D1 Training Owns, as of 2026
D1 Training’s filing names him among the athletes who own interests in D1 Aggregator, one of the owners of the franchisor’s holding company, alongside Chris Paul, Tim Tebow, Philip Rivers, Von Miller and Chipper Jones. (D1 Sports Franchise, LLC, 2026 filing, page 63)
D1 Training franchise: $402K–$837K to open, $63K franchise fee, royalty 7%, 160 US locations (+76 franchised in 3 years).
Junior Bridgeman
Former NBA player and businessman (1953–2025).
Wendy’s and Chili’s Reported in 2025
A longtime Wendy’s and Chili’s franchisee who at one time ran more than 450 restaurants in 20 states. He later became a Coca-Cola bottler. He died in March 2025. (Associated Press, March 2025)
Wendy's franchise: $1.52M–$2.99M to open, $50K franchise fee, royalty 4–6%, 5,933 US locations.
Chili's franchise: $3.96M–$6.35M to open, $60K franchise fee, royalty 1.25% + 2.75%, 1,208 US locations (−2 franchised in 3 years).
Celebrities with a stake in the franchisor
These own part of the company that sells the franchises, often the parent company, and usually help promote it. Their stakes are named in the brand’s own franchise filing.
Drew Brees
Former New Orleans Saints quarterback.
Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux Owns, as of 2026
Holds a membership interest in Walk-On’s corporate parent and works on brand development, expansion and advertising; he has no direct investment in the franchisor. (WALK-ON'S ENTERPRISES FRANCHISING, LLC, 2026 filing, page 55)
Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux franchise: $2.05M–$6.58M to open, $60K franchise fee, royalty 5% of gross revenue, 78 US locations (+5 franchised in 3 years).
Smalls Sliders Owns, as of 2026
Owns part of a company that holds an interest in Smalls Sliders’ corporate parent, and is also one of its franchisees. (Smalls Sliders Franchising LLC, 2026 filing, page 47)
Smalls Sliders franchise: $1.41M–$2.14M to open, $35K franchise fee, royalty 6% of gross sales, 45 US locations (+39 franchised in 3 years).
Everbowl Owns, as of 2026
Is a minority owner of Everbowl’s parent company and at times recommends its franchises; he has no direct stake in the franchisor. (Everbowl Franchise, LLC, 2026 filing, page 47)
Everbowl franchise: $209K–$391K to open, $40K franchise fee, royalty 6%, 96 US locations (+41 franchised in 3 years).
Mark Wahlberg
Actor and producer.
Wahlburgers Owns, as of 2025
Mark and Donnie Wahlberg and their brother Paul, a chef, own part of Wahlburgers’ parent company, WB Holding, indirectly and promote the franchise; none of them has invested in the franchisor directly. (Wahlburgers Franchising LLC, 2025 filing, page 49)
Wahlburgers franchise: $1.53M–$2.79M to open, $50K franchise fee, royalty 6%, 25 US locations.
Guy Fieri
Chef and TV host.
Chicken Guy! Owns, as of 2025
His company, GRF Enterprises, manages and owns half of Chicken Concept, LLC, the parent of the Chicken Guy! franchisor. The chain is named after him, and he helps develop the business and promote it to the public and to buyers. (Chicken Guy (Franchisor), LLC, 2025 filing, page 46)
Chicken Guy! franchise: $765K–$3.02M to open, $50K franchise fee, royalty 6%, 11 US locations (+6 franchised in 3 years).
Barbara Corcoran
Shark Tank investor.
Cousins Maine Lobster Owns, as of 2026
Owns 15% of the Cousins Maine Lobster franchisor and its affiliates through her company, BCH Holdings, with voting rights but no day-to-day role. (CML FRANCHISE LLC, 2026 filing, page 45)
Cousins Maine Lobster franchise: $194K–$651K to open, $40K franchise fee, royalty 8% + minimum, 84 US locations (+40 franchised in 3 years).
Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Boxer.
Mayweather Boxing + Fitness Owns, as of 2024
Is a principal in the franchisor’s parent company and appears in its marketing. (MW Franchise Holdings International, LLC, 2024 filing, page 64)
Mayweather Boxing + Fitness franchise: $347K–$660K to open, $50K franchise fee, royalty 7%, 69 US locations (+48 franchised in 3 years).
Tony Robbins
Author and speaker.
OsteoStrong Owns, as of 2026
Is an indirect owner of OsteoStrong’s parent company, Blue Ocean International, and has agreed to promote the brand; he isn’t an officer or director of the franchisor. (OSTEOSTRONG FRANCHISING, INC, 2026 filing, page 40)
OsteoStrong franchise: $276K–$616K to open, $35K franchise fee, royalty 7%; monthly minimum applies, 165 US locations (+33 franchised in 3 years).
Kevin Harrington
Entrepreneur and TV personality.
The DRIPBaR Owns, as of 2026
Took a 5% interest in the DRIPBaR franchisor in January 2023 in exchange for advice and promotion, with no management role. (DRIPBaR Franchising, LLC, 2026 filing, page 47)
The DRIPBaR franchise: $169K–$400K to open, $60K franchise fee, royalty 7%, 126 US locations (+87 franchised in 3 years).
The franchises side by side
| Brand | Cost to open | Royalty | US locations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auntie Anne’sShaq$158K–$836K | $158K–$836K | 7%–8% | 1,247 |
| The DRIPBaRKevin Harrington$169K–$400K | $169K–$400K | 7% | 126 |
| Cousins Maine LobsterBarbara Corcoran$194K–$651K | $194K–$651K | 8% + minimum | 84 |
| EverbowlDrew Brees$209K–$391K | $209K–$391K | 6% | 96 |
| OsteoStrongTony Robbins$276K–$616K | $276K–$616K | 7%; monthly minimum applies | 165 |
| Papa JohnsShaq, Peyton Manning$281K–$890K | $281K–$890K | 5% | 3,294 |
| WingstopRick Ross$310K–$1.05M | $310K–$1.05M | 6% | 2,586 |
| Mayweather Boxing + FitnessFloyd Mayweather$347K–$660K | $347K–$660K | 7% | 69 |
| Burger KingMagic Johnson$348K–$4.73M | $348K–$4.73M | 4.5% | 6,650 |
| D1 TrainingPeyton Manning$402K–$837K | $402K–$837K | 7% | 160 |
| Big ChickenShaq$682K–$1.54M | $682K–$1.54M | 6% | 24 |
| Chicken Guy!Guy Fieri$765K–$3.02M | $765K–$3.02M | 6% | 11 |
| Five GuysShaq$928K–$1.38M | $928K–$1.38M | 6% | 1,583 |
| Smalls SlidersDrew Brees$1.41M–$2.14M | $1.41M–$2.14M | 6% of gross sales | 45 |
| Wendy'sJunior Bridgeman$1.52M–$2.99M | $1.52M–$2.99M | 4–6% | 5,933 |
| WahlburgersMark Wahlberg$1.53M–$2.79M | $1.53M–$2.79M | 6% | 25 |
| Krispy KremeShaq$2.02M–$4.33M | $2.02M–$4.33M | 4.5% | 368 |
| Walk-On's Sports BistreauxDrew Brees$2.05M–$6.58M | $2.05M–$6.58M | 5% of gross revenue | 78 |
| Chili'sJunior Bridgeman$3.96M–$6.35M | $3.96M–$6.35M | 1.25% + 2.75% | 1,208 |
What a famous owner means for a buyer
A celebrity owner can bring attention to a young brand, but it doesn’t change the terms you sign. You pay the same fees and royalty, you are bound by the same agreement, and the franchisor, not the celebrity, gives you training and support. Judge the brand on its costs, its sales figures and how many locations open and close; the compare tool puts up to five side by side.
Questions
Do franchisors have to say if a celebrity is involved?
Yes. A franchise filing has a section on public figures: it must say whether the franchisor pays a famous person to promote the franchise or uses their name, and whether that person owns part of the company or helps run it. A famous face in the ads doesn’t mean they own any of it, so read that section before you count on the name.