Lionel Messi and Neymar are former FC Barcelona legends who have made high-profile real estate purchases around the world. However, one of Messi's much less heralded teammates has quietly become a bona fide real estate mogul with a property portfolio worth an estimated $250 million. Keep reading to learn how Martin Braithwaite parlayed an $850,000 investment into an empire.
According to Martin Braithwaite's career bio on Transfermrkt.com, he started his career with the Danish club Esbjerg FC in 2007. He would go on to ply his trade in France's Ligue 1, then Middlesbrough in the English second division before landing in Spain with Leganes in 2019. Simply put, Braithwaite was never a superstar, but he was well-respected in European soccer.
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Braithwaite's performances at Leganes caught the attention of footballing giants FC Barcelona when they were experiencing an injury crisis in 2020. Suddenly, Braithwaite, who had spent much of his career in middle-tier teams or lower-level leagues, lined up alongside all-time great Lionel Messi on one of the world's biggest clubs.
Today, Braithwaite plays for Gremio in the Brazilian league, but football is simply a recreational pursuit. Despite being only 33 and having never made the astronomical wages typical of soccer superstars like Messi, Braithwaite won't ever have to kick a ball or work again. He has been preparing for retirement for quite a few years.
According to CEO World Magazine, Braithwaite invested $850,000 to form NYCE Companies with his uncle Philip Michael in 2017. NYCE Companies is a venture that has been busy purchasing properties in the lucrative New York City real estate market since its inception. It's also worth noting that NYCE isn't just a buy-and-flip outfit. It focuses on affordable housing opportunities notoriously scarce in the NYC real estate market.
Martin and his uncle's entry into the real estate market was perfectly timed and their properties are in high demand. According to Forbes Magazine, NYCE's portfolio grew quickly and was worth almost $10 million within one year. NYCE's portfolio has since expanded into other markets, including Philadelphia and New Jersey. It now includes 1,500 units, with another 500 under construction and has an estimated value of $250 million.
Braithwaite's success is not an accident. During an interview with Danish Magazine BT, Martin's uncle (and partner) Philip revealed that his family are veteran real estate investors. He told BT, "It started with our family having been in the real estate business for a long time. Here (in the U.S.) you will find that one of the ways you can build a fortune and secure your future financially is by investing in real estate."
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For his part, Braithwaite is also happy to be providing affordable housing and he noted how fortunate he was to grow up in a place where the affordable housing NYCE Properties provides is more plentiful because of Denmark's social safety net. In the same interview, Martin said to BT, "In Denmark, we have an amazing system protecting the people. Everyone is good. No one needs anything. In America, it’s not really the same thing."
Martin Braithwaite may not be a household name in world soccer, but he and his company are well-respected in financial circles. Growing a real estate portfolio from an $850,000 investment into a 1,500-unit empire worth $250 million is quite an accomplishment. The fact that Braithwaite has secured his retirement while helping those less fortunate is the proverbial icing on the cake.
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