The Power of Sports as a Marketing Tool

How moguls from Mark Cuban to Ted Turner followed in the footsteps of Sir Walter Lipton and used sports teams to help build their reputations—and fortunes

By Ira Boudway

Sir Thomas Lipton was one of the first CEOs to harness the power of sports as a self-promotional tool. (Would the death of George Steinbrenner, head of American Shipbuilding, make front-page news?) Here are others who have used the spotlight to boost their own brand.

Mark Cuban

After selling his Web radio company to Yahoo! (YHOO), Cuban bought the Dallas Mavericks in 2000. Now he soaks up attention on the sidelines at every game.

Roman Abramovich

Having amassed a fortune during Soviet privatization, he became famous in Europe for his 2003 purchase of the Chelsea Football Club for $233 million.

Ted Turner

The TV magnate bought the then-sorry Atlanta Braves in 1976 to provide programming for TBS. Liberty Media (LINTA) owns the team now, but they play at Turner Field.

Boudway is a reporter for Bloomberg News.

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