FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried had access to a litany of notable people in politics and business, but his closest relationship may have been in the sports world.
Although Bankman-Fried reportedly wasn't a big sports fan, being partial instead to video games like League of Legends, he agreed to eight-figure partnerships with Tom Brady and his then wife Gisele Bündchen to serve as “ambassadors” for FTX. Brady, in particular, appeared in TikTok videos, at events, and in commercials promoting Bankman-Fried and the company. In 2021, the former quarterback also signed an endorsement deal that promised him $30 million almost entirely in FTX stock, according to the New York Times.
