KEVIN DURANT
NBA superstar who built a $300M+ venture portfolio through Thirty Five Ventures — one of the most successful athlete-investor portfolios ever
Kevin Durant is one of the greatest basketball players of all time — two NBA championships, an MVP award, and a scoring title that puts him in the conversation with the all-time greats. But his investment portfolio might end up being more impressive than his basketball career. Through Thirty Five Ventures (named after his jersey number), Durant invested early in Coinbase, Postmates, Acorns, Robinhood, and dozens of other startups before they went public or were acquired. His Coinbase stake alone was worth an estimated $75 million at IPO. He does not just lend his name. He actually shows up to board meetings.
Net Worth
$300 million
Nationality
American
Time Horizon
Long-Term
Risk Appetite
7 / 10
CAREER & BACKGROUND
Two-time NBA champion (Golden State Warriors, 2017-2018). NBA MVP (2014).
Four-time NBA scoring champion. Co-founded Thirty Five Ventures with Rich Kleiman in 2017.
Invested early in Coinbase (pre-IPO), Postmates (acquired by Uber for $2.65B), Acorns, Robinhood, Overtime, Yello, and dozens more. Coinbase stake was reportedly worth $75 million+ at its 2021 IPO.
Portfolio includes 75+ companies across tech, media, and consumer. Launched Boardroom Media, a sports and entertainment media company.
Invested in Major League Soccer franchise (Philadelphia Union stake). Named to Sports Illustrated and Fortune lists of top athlete investors.
COMPANIES & ROLES
Thirty Five Ventures (co-founder), Boardroom Media, NBA player (Phoenix Suns)
INVESTING STYLE & PHILOSOPHY
Durant invests like a VC, not like a typical celebrity. He focuses on technology, fintech, and consumer brands.
He and his business partner Rich Kleiman take small early-stage stakes, conduct real due diligence, and actively participate in portfolio company strategy. Durant is not a "put my name on it" investor — he takes calls, attends meetings, and asks hard questions.
His deal flow comes from genuine relationships in tech, not just his celebrity status.
THE PLAYBOOK
Risk Approach
Moderate to high. Durant invests in early-stage startups where most fail.
His willingness to bet on pre-revenue companies like Coinbase and Postmates when they were small shows genuine risk appetite. But his basketball earnings provide a massive financial cushion — he can afford to lose individual bets without impacting his lifestyle.
Money Habits
Despite earning $300 million+ in NBA salary alone, Durant is known for being relatively modest in lifestyle compared to other athletes. He has spoken about wanting to build businesses, not just collect paychecks.
He lives in the cities where he plays and invests his off-court time in Thirty Five Ventures.
BIGGEST WIN
Coinbase. Durant invested before the company went public.
At Coinbase's peak valuation, his stake was reportedly worth $75 million — a return of roughly 50x on his initial investment. Postmates was another major win — acquired by Uber for $2.65 billion.
BIGGEST MISTAKE
Not every investment has worked. Several of Durant's smaller startup investments have shut down or underperformed, as is normal in venture.
No single catastrophic loss defines his portfolio, which is well-diversified across 75+ companies.
FINANCIAL PHILOSOPHY
Durant believes in investing in the future — technology platforms, digital finance, and media that changes how people consume sports and entertainment. He has said he wants to build generational wealth that outlasts his basketball career.
His philosophy: play the long game in investing just like in basketball.
FAMILY & PERSONAL LIFE
Private about family life. His mother, Wanda Durant, was featured in Nike's famous "The Real MVP" campaign.
He has spoken about growing up in a working-class family in Prince George's County, Maryland.
EDUCATION
Attended the University of Texas at Austin for one year before entering the NBA draft. Named National Player of the Year.
Left after his freshman year.
BOOKS & RESOURCES
The athlete-to-businessman mindset that influenced Durant
Context for the Nike deal that paid Durant over $300 million. Durant has cited studying Warren Buffett's annual letters as formative for his Thirty Five Ventures investment approach
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QUOTES (6)
Basketball made me famous. Investing will make me wealthy. Those are two different games.
I invested in Coinbase before most people knew what crypto was. The returns spoke for themselves.
I show up to board meetings. I ask questions. I am not a logo on a deck. I am an investor.
Rich Kleiman is my business partner. He handles the deals I handle the vision. Together we built a real portfolio not a celebrity vanity project.
My Coinbase stake was worth more than my NBA contract that year. That changed how I think about money.
NETFIGO SCORE
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