The Story of John Textor: From Falling on His Head to Owning Four Football Clubs

Some stories are instantly believable, while others seem too far-fetched. But the story of John Textor, the owner of Botafogo, Crystal Palace, Olympique Lyon, OL Reign, and RWD Molenbeek, who quit sports after a serious fall to become a businessman, is 100% true. 

Finding Clarity in a Skateboard Fall

Skateboarding played a big role in Textor’s life for many years. In fact, it was his first experience in competitive sports. Today, he’s a well-known billionaire and owner of five football clubs worldwide, but at age 12, he was already a skateboarding prodigy.

In the 1970s, young John was competing in freestyle skateboard tournaments in California, with a special focus on bowl riding (now known as "park" at the Olympics) and freestyle, a style performed on a flat platform with obstacles, similar to today’s "street" style.

Few might know that Textor was so skilled that he joined "The Sims" skateboarding team, one of the most famous teams in the U.S. When the company faced financial trouble years later, Textor stepped in at age 31, buying it and saving it from bankruptcy. While the skateboarding team is no longer around, it has left a legacy in skateboard parts and gear.

It’s said that Textor was one of the few skaters who could beat Rodney Mullen (considered one of the most influential skateboarders) in freestyle competitions in the late 1970s. He quit competitive skateboarding in the early 1980s to focus on other pursuits after a severe head injury during a competition.

From Head Injury to an Oscar Win

Textor has said that this accident prompted him to shift his focus to education and technology from a young age.

In the early 1990s, Textor made his mark in the business world when his company, Wyndcrest Partners, invested in Art Technology Group, helping it become a major player valued at $10 billion today.

His big break came with the acquisition of Digital Domain in 2006. In 2009, the company won an Academy Award for visual effects in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button with Brad Pitt. Yes, from skateboarder to Oscar winner!

Textor continued to make waves with projects like producing the film Ender's Game in 2011 and creating the holographic appearance of Tupac Shakur at Coachella in 2012, which earned his studio an award at the Cannes International Festival of Creativity.

Living the Billionaire Life: Bought a Company on Zoom!

In 2020, Textor bought FuboTV over a Zoom call, leading to its public listing on the NYSE and a market value of over $6 billion in less than two years.

Football: A New Chapter

Like many billionaires who have moved beyond yachts, poker, and casinos, John Textor sought the high-stakes world of global media and sport: football.

In August 2021, Textor invested £86 million to acquire a 40% stake in Crystal Palace Football Club, joining Steve Parish, Josh Harris, and David Blitzer as co-owners.

In January 2022, Textor acquired a 90% stake in the famous Brazilian club Botafogo, and during that same week, he also reportedly bought 80% of Belgian club RWD Molenbeek.

On June 20, 2022, Textor became the owner of Olympique Lyon after purchasing 40% of OL Group shares from IDG Capital and Pathé. Most shares were previously held by the controversial Jean-Michel Aulas. By December 19, 2022, The Financial Times reported that Textor had increased his stake to 77.49%, with the total transaction valued at $940 million (€884 million).

Learning the Hard Way, Even Later in Life

Last week, Textor tried his luck again and was caught on camera riding a mini ramp and performing old-school tricks with local skaters in Rio de Janeiro. Unfortunately, he fell badly and ended up in the hospital with an open fracture on his elbow.

"I’ve been skateboarding for years, but this was a particularly nasty fall. I should have worn elbow pads and not attempted moves like I did when I was younger," Textor said.