American lifestyle entrepreneur Martha Stewart has become the latest celebrity to invest in Swansea City FC, joining rapper Snoop Dogg and footballer Luka Modric as a minority owner of the Welsh club. The announcement was made by club co-owners Brett Cravatt and Jason Cohen on the club's website, though the size of her investment was not disclosed.
Swansea City, who play in the second tier of English football, have been owned by an American consortium since 2016, with Cravatt and Cohen taking control last year. The influx of US investors into British football has grown, with retired American football star Tom Brady also a minority owner at Birmingham City.
Stewart attended Swansea's recent 2-1 comeback win against Wrexham AFC, a north Wales club backed by Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac. Reynolds and Mac have created a Disney television show about Wrexham's recent successes, and the club received an £18m grant from the local council for a new stand. Swansea City are also looking to buy their council-owned stadium.
Often credited as the first self-made billionaire in the US, Stewart built her brand around a catering company and has written 99 books. She served five months in prison in 2004 for conspiracy and obstruction of justice related to a share sale. In recent years, she has developed a friendship with Snoop Dogg, appearing with him at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Cravatt and Cohen said they do not expect a busy January transfer window under new head coach Vítor Matos, citing his experience in developing young players. They expressed excitement about Stewart joining the ownership group, noting that her attendance at a recent match increased her enthusiasm for being part of the club.
