--- title: Ryan Reynolds, marketing genius? - The Hustle description: Ryan Reynolds’ knack for marketing helps him launch brands — and sell them for big bucks. image: https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/hubfs/The%20Hustle%20News/Assets/Images/443732073-HS-News-Brief_2023-03-17T002332.170Z.webp --- # Ryan Reynolds, marketing genius? ![Juliet Bennett Rylah](https://53.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/53/assets/hubspot.com/web-team/WBZ/HubSpot%20Media/Blog%202021/Images/Nav/Optimized/TheHustle_Icon_Dark.svg) [Juliet Bennett Rylah](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/author/juliet-bennett-rylah) [Juliet Bennett Rylah Twitter profile ](https://twitter.com/JBRylah) Published: March 17, 2023 Updated: October 11, 2023 Ryan Reynolds: movie star, philanthropist, former *People*’s [Sexiest Man Alive](https://people.com/celebrity/all-the-sexiest-man-alive-covers/), and… exceptional at business? ![Ryan Reynolds holding money](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/hs-fs/hubfs/The%20Hustle%20News/Assets/Images/443732073-HS-News-Brief_2023-03-17T002332.170Z.webp?width=595&height=400&name=443732073-HS-News-Brief_2023-03-17T002332.170Z.webp) In 2019, Reynolds acquired a [25%+](https://techcrunch.com/2019/11/25/in-wake-of-sprint-t-mobile-deal-ryan-reynolds-has-an-announcement) stake in Mint Mobile, a prepaid phone plan company that uses T-Mobile’s wireless network. Earlier this week, T-Mobile announced plans to buy Mint in a [$1.35B](https://www.npr.org/2023/03/15/1163743380/t-mobile-buys-mint-mobile-ryan-reynolds) deal. T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert touted the benefits of Mint’s “marketing formula,” which largely centers around Reynolds, who also [appeared](https://twitter.com/Mintmobile/status/1635991206780981253?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1635991206780981253%7Ctwgr%5E7a8b55feca69e5668a371e20151b9cd2766c6898%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.npr.org%2F2023%2F03%2F15%2F1163743380%2Ft-mobile-buys-mint-mobile-ryan-reynolds) with Sievert in a video announcing the acquisition. #### **Reynolds’ involvement is the key** Reynolds co-founded production studio Maximum Effort with former 20th Century Fox exec George Dewey in 2018, which: - Is building a production studio in Canada - Will launch its own network on FuboTV, in which Maximum Effort owns [a stake](https://variety.com/2022/digital/news/ryan-reynolds-maximum-effort-fubotv-stock-first-look-1235335758/) This has allowed Reynolds’ companies to produce not only films, but funny, engaging, and topical ads. **Case in point:** Davos Brands’ Aviation Gin, in which Reynolds acquired a stake in 2018. - Following Peloton’s uncomfortable holiday ad about a woman who receives a bike from her husband, Aviation’s [parody](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2DoapmVFU8) featuring the same actress downing a martini went viral. In 2020, Diageo acquired Aviation in a $610m deal, [per](https://www.foodandwine.com/news/ryan-reynolds-aviation-gin-sale-diageo) *Food & Wine*. In 2022, Reynolds opened an Aviation distillery in Portland, Oregon, that ends with an escape room set in Reynolds’ “office.” #### **But wait, there’s more** In 2020, Reynolds and actor Rob McElhenney [took over](https://www.espn.com/soccer/wrexham/story/4235695/hollywood-stars-ryan-reynolds-rob-mcelhenney-complete-wrexham-takeover) Wrexham AFC, a fifth-tier Welsh football team they hoped to revive. Per *Huddle Up*’s [Joe Pompliano](https://twitter.com/joepompliano/status/1580587331081613312?s=46&t=OghpaU3TxhyO74M30bnSWg), they invested $2.5m in the team, signed a 25-year local stadium lease, and Reynolds’ studio produced a docuseries about the process. Wrexham has since enjoyed myriad sponsorship deals, a nearly 3x increase in season ticket sales, and a boom in social media followers. Now, Reynolds is [looking to conjure](https://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/2023/02/14/ryan-reynolds-joins-toronto-area-real-estate-group-in-bid-to-buy-ottawa-senators.html) the same magic with the Ottawa Senators, a Canadian hockey team. If successful, he intends to build the team a new rink and produce another series about that process. 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