Kobe Bryant, who made $400 million thanks to Coca Cola, is on his way to receiving a fitting $1 billion tribute now
Kobe Bryant made good on his deal with Body Armor, taking them to the number two sports drink brand in the US, and Body Armor made sure to give the former Laker a fitting tribute.
Kobe’s legacy was built on everything he accomplished in his career, his five rings, Finals MVP, scoring titles and more, but an important part of it is also the fact that he spent his entire career with the Lakers.
In an era defined by player autonomy and the right to carry his brand anywhere, Kobe decided to stay. He stayed put even as the Lakers were rebuilding and had no superstars to surround him when he could easily have been playing with a superstar or two if he wanted to.
He made the Lakers have to watch TV even when they weren’t. 20 seasons. That’s how long Kobe was a Laker. Countless memories were created. Everything from pure euphoria to absolute angst included. This was Kobe for Los Angeles.
Kobe Bryant goes to work during Game 1 of the 2009 NBA Finals.
Mamba finished with 40 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 blocks, 2 steals in the Lakers victory.
pic.twitter.com/wuLXPPvlpX— Kobe Bryant Stories & Motivation (@kobehighlight) June 2, 2022
Body Armor gave it back to Kobe Bryant in a big way
For all the work Kobe did to help Body Armor reach its current status, the company knew it had to pay the former Laker back.
In a nod to Kobe’s jersey number, Body Armor and Repole donated a combined $24 million to the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation (MMSF). Those foundations were established in 2020 after Kobe’s tragic passing.
The $24 million was the largest donation MMSF has ever received, and is part of a larger plan for Body Armor to take MMSF to the next level.
“This $24 million is just the beginning,” Repole would say in a phone interview. “I want this to be funded for the next 100 years. Let’s turn it into a billion dollar foundation. This is my way of making sure Kobe’s legacy and what he stood for will continue for a long, long time.”
The partnership will also renovate sports facilities and fund youth clinics across the US to help MMSF achieve its goal of funding sports programs for underserved athletes.
“I don’t want people to ever forget that BodyArmor wouldn’t be where we are if it weren’t for Kobe Bryant,” Repole added. “I’m not sure we’ll make it without Kobe. The credibility he gave us was incredible. I consider him a co-founder.”
Kobe Bryant made Body Armor the official sports drink of the UFChttps://t.co/tHBrkkqLWv pic.twitter.com/9zQSudDPyL
— Lakers Nation (@LakersNation) November 4, 2017
Kobe Bryant made a net $400 million for partnering with Repole, as with Coca Cola’s investments, Body Armor’s valuation rose to $8 billion after Coca Cola spent $5.6 billion to buy the remaining shares of Body Armour.
