The Denver Broncos just got a little richer and Blacker, thanks to new investor and equity holder, Lewis Hamilton.
The seven-time Formula One champion is joining the new ownership group headed by Walmart heir, Rob Walton. This gives the group another powerful name a week before the final step in the purchase of the team, which is scheduled for next Tuesday.
Lewis joins former Secretary of State Condolezza Rice as the higher profile individuals in the ownership group.
The F1 star also becomes the third Black investor in the group behind Rice and businesswoman, Melody Hobson, co-CEO of Ariel Investments.
“We’re delighted to welcome Seven-Time Formula One World Champion Sir Lewis Hamilton to our ownership group. He is a champion competitor who knows what it takes to lead a winning team and a fierce advocate for global equality, including in his own sport,” said Walton in a statement.
“His resilient spirit and standard of excellence will be an asset to the ownership group and the Broncos organization,” he added.
Hamilton is tied with Michael Schumacher for Formula One championships and holds the F1 record for race wins with 103. He currently sits in sixth place overall in this season’s standings.
Walton won the sale for the Broncos with a bid of $4.65 billion, the highest-priced professional sports team purchase in history. The league finance committee unanimously approved the sale last week and now 75% of the team owners (24) need to vote “yes” to make it official.
While majority Black ownership of the team was a possibility through bidder Byron Allen and billionaire and Denver native Robert F. Smith (who declined to enter the bidding process), having Hobson, Rice and Lewis on board as team equity owners continues the quest for that ultimate goal.
