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David and Victoria Beckham more than doubled revenue from their business empire last year thanks to the former footballer’s Netflix and Amazon deals and tie-ups with other brands.
DRJB Holdings, a company which includes David Beckham’s earnings from sponsorships and creative content, more than doubled revenue to £72.6mn in 2022. Operating profit rose to £21.9mn from £16mn but pre-tax profit fell to £10.8mn from £23.5mn during the period owing to administrative expenses.
The Beckhams also took out £827,499 in dividends in 2022, down sharply from £6.3mn the previous year, according to accounts being filed at Companies House.
The results come after the ex-Manchester United midfielder sold 55 per cent of his business to US-based Authentic Brands for reportedly hundreds of millions of pounds. He took a stake in Authentic as part of the deal. The US group also owns Hunter wellington boots and Ted Baker brands.
DRJB’s performance was also boosted by David Beckham’s production business Studio 99, which made a biopic about the snooker player Ronnie O’Sullivan, The Edge of Everything, for Amazon.
The Beckham documentary series, which aired earlier this year, also spent six weeks in the Netflix global ranking of top 10 shows and took the number one spot in 59 countries.
DB Ventures, which accounts for most of the celebrity’s brand partnerships, recorded a pre-tax profit of £32mn last year on sales of £57mn, up from £24mn and £34mn respectively in 2021, helped by contracts with long-term partners including Italian carmaker Maserati and video game company Guild Esports.
Separately, revenues at Victoria Beckham’s fashion and beauty brand rose 44 per cent to £58.8mn in 2022, thanks to increased demand for her range of luxury skincare products as well as the Paris Fashion Week debut of her high-end clothing brand.
Victoria Beckham’s business, which has never made a profit since her fashion brand was launched in 2008, narrowed its operating losses from £3.9mn to £0.9mn in 2022.
However, according to the filings, the fashion and beauty venture would continue to need more cash injections to keep it afloat.
Separately, “key management personnel” were paid £10.3mn for services provided to group companies, according to the filings.