The latest edition of the 'Hollywood Derby' returns this week when Ryan Reynolds' Wrexham take on Tom Brady's Birmingham City. The importance of the Championship clash travels all the way to the star-studded riches of the United States. The match takes place on Friday at the Racecourse Ground, with the clash among the most high-profile of games in the second division.
Hollywood owners and their investments
Reynolds, alongside Rob Mac, purchased the Welsh side in 2021 and, through their sizeable investment, oversaw three consecutive promotions from the National League to the Championship. The success of the Hollywood duo saw Brady, a record seven-time Super Bowl winner, try his hand at footballing glory by becoming a minority owner of Birmingham in 2023. The 49-year-old dipped into his estimated £256million fortune, according to Celebrity Net Worth, to do so, but initially faced failure after the Blues were relegated to League One in his first season.
Regarded by many as the greatest player in NFL history, the former quarterback is believed to have earned a staggering £175m in salary alone across his 20-year career. However, that figure could have been significantly more had he not signed team-friendly deals with the New England Patriots to give them a better chance of success.
Brady's wealth and Reynolds' empire
His supreme game intelligence and status as the greatest winner the NFL has ever seen led him to ink a 10-year, £285m contract to become an NFL analyst for FOX Sports in 2022. Brady's wealth is matched by Reynolds, who has enjoyed financial success through multiple revenue streams. Known for his role as the superhero Deadpool and for starring in the likes of Red Notice and the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday, the Canadian entrepreneur has made several investments through his production company, Maximum Effort.
The 49-year-old's empire is estimated to be worth £256m, which received an astounding boost thanks to his reported £96m profit from the sale of Aviation Gin, after buying the company in 2018. Reynolds' astute business mind also saw him allegedly make £250m after selling a 25 per cent stake in Mint Mobile, which T-Mobile bought in 2024. However, it's not money that'll decide bragging rights on Friday.
Recent form and bragging rights
Such rights currently belong to Brady after Birmingham won the latest meeting between the two sides in April 2026. The Blues dispatched Wrexham 2-0 at home, with Brady taking to his Instagram Stories to bask in his team's glory while teasing Reynolds and Mac. He posted: "Big W. It's always more fun to beat your friends."
Both teams have made an identical start to the new season, with Wrexham drawing 1-1 against Cardiff City and Watford. Birmingham's opening two games saw them held to a 0-0 draw with Sheffield United before earning a 2-2 tie against Bristol City, courtesy of Demarai Gray's 95th-minute penalty.
