Brand Beckham stood firm during the pandemic, with showbiz couple David and Victoria scooping £8.1m in dividends in 2020. The latest figures released show that the former professional footballer's company, David Beckham Ventures, paid out the sum after reporting a profit for the year of £10.6m.
The company, which manages Beckham 's global brand, reported the £1.6m profits uplift from the previous year's £9m after signing several multi-million pound sponsorship deals, including link-ups with computer game group Electronic Arts, Adidas and gym chain F45. The profit was boosted by one of Beckham's other businesses, Seven Global, which manages contracts with perfume brand Coty and Italian eyewear maker Safilo. The £8.1m payout was lower than the £14.5m from the previous year.
Beckham, who was the first English player to win league titles in four countries: England, Spain, the United States and France, is also the current president and co-owner of Inter Miami CF and co-owner of Salford City.
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The Beckhams are not the only celebrities to pocket sizeable dividends despite the pandemic. Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver was paid around £5.6m from his media and restaurant empire last year despite profits from two of his companies dropping to £9m, from £11.8m.
It wasn't such a glowing success for his wife Victoria 's fashion and beauty business Victoria Beckham Holdings (VBH), which remained lossmaking in 2020, as the former pop star, her husband David and other shareholders pumped in millions of pounds to keep it afloat during the pandemic, according to The Guardian.
Sales fell 6% compared with a year earlier to £36m, but the company’s £6.8m pre-tax loss was less than half the £15.6m loss for 2019, which the company attributed to better management of its supply chain, and a new business model whereby the brand sold more of its goods directly to consumers.
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