Tom Brady’s $100 million business empire gets a major boost Jay-Z, Aaron Judge and Connor McDavid join CardVault

Tom Brady is proving that his competitive edge did not disappear when he left the NFL. The seven-time Super Bowl champion has added another powerful chapter to his growing business career, surrounding CardVault by Tom Brady with some of the biggest names in sports, entertainment and finance. Jay-Z, Aaron Judge, Connor McDavid and other influential figures have joined the venture, giving Brady’s collectibles business fresh momentum and an ambitious path forward.Tom Brady’s CardVault investment brings together a powerful sports lineupBrady has never treated retirement as the end of his competitive life. Instead, he has steadily built a portfolio that keeps him close to the sports world while opening doors far beyond football.CardVault may be one of his most personal ventures.Brady acquired a 50% stake in the sports collectibles company in February 2025. The business was then renamed CardVault by Tom Brady, putting the quarterback's famous name directly alongside a market built around athletes, memorabilia and passionate fans.The transformation has been striking.CardVault had only three stores when Brady became involved. It has since grown to 17 locations across major markets, including New York, Chicago, Dallas, Las Vegas and San Francisco. The company now has a much bigger target in sight: more than 100 stores.The latest investment group could help make that goal realistic.The new backers include music and entertainment powerhouse Jay-Z, Yankees captain Aaron Judge, Oilers superstar Connor McDavid and Celtics co-owner Wyc Grousbeck. Fenway Sports Group principal owner John Henry has also joined, adding another major figure with deep ties to professional sports.That combination gives Brady something money alone cannot buy. It brings relationships, credibility and a network stretching across different corners of the sports industry.Tom Brady turns a childhood passion into a growing business empireFor Brady, the attraction to sports cards goes back much further than his investment.He collected cards as a child and has maintained a strong interest in sports memorabilia. CardVault gives him a way to turn that longtime passion into a serious commercial operation.The new investors also fit the company's identity. Judge and McDavid are active superstars with enormous fan bases. Their presence could help CardVault connect more naturally with collectors who follow baseball, hockey and other sports.Behind the athletes are investors with extensive experience in finance, technology and business. RedBird Capital Partners founder Gerry Cardinale, Silver Lake co-CEOs Egon Durban and Greg Mondre, and Raising Cane’s founder Todd Graves are also part of the group.The capital will help CardVault pursue new stores while improving its technology, automated retail systems, supply chain and online business.Brady is also building credibility outside the collectibles market. He remains Fox Sports' lead NFL analyst and holds a minority ownership position with the Las Vegas Raiders. His business interests span sports, apparel, wellness and entertainment.That makes CardVault more than a side project.It is another sign of how Brady is shaping life after football. His playing career established the brand. Now he is using that brand to build companies, attract heavyweight partners and chase a new kind of championship.This time, there is no scoreboard.There is a business plan, a growing collector market and a 100-store ambition.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.