MELLODY HOBSON 1ST BLACK NFL PART OWNER
Mellody Hobson made history as she became the first black to have equity in the NFL, making Denver Broncos the only NFL team with an African-American female part owner.
The Denver Broncos’ new owner, Rob Walton, the heir of Walmart, has announced that Mellody Hobson, president of Ariel Investments, has joined the team’s ownership group.
“We are excited to announce that Mellody Hobson, Co-CEO of Ariel Investments, has agreed to join our ownership group. Beyond her role at Ariel, Mellody is an influential leader in corporate and civic organizations across the nation.” Said Walton. “Mellody currently serves as Chair of the Board of Starbucks Corporation and is also a director of JPMorgan Chase. We know she will bring her strategic acumen and leadership perspective to our team.”
When the former owner of the Denver Broncos, Pat Bowlen, died, the owner went to the family’s Trust until they decided to sell off the team. The Bowlen Trust revealed that they’ve agreed to sell the team for $4.65 billion, the highest price ever paid for an American sports franchise.
Despite having Black players in the majority, the team’s ownership remained with the White men. The new group came forward and brought along diverse co-investors, including Hobson.
“I am truly excited and honored to join the Denver Broncos ownership group,” said Hobson in a statement. “The Broncos are a great organization with a rich history, and I look forward to doing my part to help continue their success on and off the field.”
Hobson, married to the famous Star Wars creator George Lucas, has made her name in the business world. Soon after graduating from Princeton University, she joined Ariel Investments, a Chicago-based investment firm that manages about $13 billion in assets. Slowly and gradually, she excelled in her career and became the president and co-CO of the company.
Hobson moved forward and started making herself known for her passion for finance and for educating people about their money. She started her two shows where celebrities would share their financial habits.
Hobson is also the chair of Starbucks and serves on the board of several prominent organizations, including Bloomberg Philanthropies, JPMorgan Chase, the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, and the Sundance Institute.
