Giannis Antetokounmpo and his family are broadening their investment portfolio in Greece with the reported acquisition of one of the country’s leading winery estates.
Reports say that the “Greek Freak” through his investment company, Ante, has bought the Semeli Estate, a historic winery in the Nemea region of Peloponnese. The winery has been in operation since 1979, and 20 percent of its revenue comes from exports, mainly to the USA and England. A recent five million euro investment upgraded the facilities, making the estate a top wine destination.
Nemea is celebrated for the local Agiorgitiko variety, one of Greece’s most important red grapes with Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) certification, perpetuating a 2,500-year-old tradition. Nemea is often referred to as the crown jewel of the new wine industry and Greece’s most important appellation, while its wineries are ranked among the top names in the country.
The “Greek Freak” through his investment company, Ante, has bought the Semeli Estate, a historic winery in the Nemea region of Peloponnese. Credits: Erik Drost, CC2/Wikipedia and Semeli Estate
Winery in Greece and other Antetokounmpo investments
Antetokounmpo has been actively expanding his ventures beyond basketball into various business domains, including in Greece.
Through their investment company, Ante, the Antetokounmpo brothers became minority shareholders in Hellenic Wineries, the parent company of the renowned Greek winery Boutari and Ioli water.
Ante, founded in August 2023, is a company designed to manage their collective projects and investments, emphasizing a family-centric approach to business.
In December 2024, the Antetokounmpo family, in partnership with Premia Properties, acquired the Village Shopping & More center in Rentis, Athens, for €14.1 million. Their plan is to transform the 49,000-square-meter property into a premier sports and entertainment hub, enhancing facilities for families and young people.
In 2023, Giannis purchased a substantial residence in the upscale Athens suburb of Psychiko. This property serves as a home for his family, including his mother and brothers, reflecting his deep-rooted connection to his homeland.
In 2022, Giannis and his brother Thanasis invested in two residences at Costa Navarino, an exclusive resort located in the southwestern Peloponnese, where he was married in late August 2024. This investment underscores their commitment to Greece’s luxury real estate market and tourism sector.
Antetokounmpo’s investments in the US
In November 2024, Antetokounmpo launched Build Your Legacy Ventures (BYL Ventures), a venture capital fund focusing on investments in sports, entertainment, and technology. This fund aims to provide not just capital but also strategic partnerships and access to Antetokounmpo’s extensive network to help startups grow, particularly those facing barriers.
One of BYL Ventures’ initial investments is in Unrivaled, a new women’s 3-on-3 basketball league, reflecting Antetokounmpo’s commitment to supporting emerging sports platforms.
Additionally, Antetokounmpo has made significant investments in professional sports teams, becoming a minority owner of the Milwaukee Brewers in August 2021 and joining the ownership group of Nashville SC in Major League Soccer in March 2023.
In August 2022, he partnered with Calamos Investments to launch the Calamos Antetokounmpo Sustainable Equity Fund, focusing on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investments.
This collaboration led to the creation of Calamos Antetokounmpo Asset Management LLC (CGAM), a 50/50 joint venture between Calamos Investments and Antetokounmpo. The partnership introduced the Calamos Antetokounmpo Global Sustainable Equities ETF (SROI), an actively managed equity ETF incorporating ESG principles.
A portion of the partnership’s profits is committed to charitable causes, including financial education initiatives.
