237: Pro Sports Investing & Helping Athletes Build Real Wealth with Tom Zheng

Imagine signing a $10M contract, only to see $2M after taxes, fees, and cuts?

That’s the reality for most pro athletes. And for many, it’s just the beginning of financial missteps that can lead to bankruptcy just a few years after retiring.

Today’s guest is Tom Zheng—a former NFL sports scientist turned investor. He’s also the Co-Founder & CEO of The Players Company, a platform helping professional athletes build real wealth through education, access, and smart investments.

In this episode, Tom shares a behind-the-scenes look at how professional athletes are financially coached (or often misled), the growing role of private equity in sports, and how he’s guiding athletes toward smarter financial futures through education and access to exclusive investment opportunities.

Whether you’re a sports fan, investor, or entrepreneur, this episode is packed with lessons about leverage, legacy, and building financial intelligence.

 

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1.) How Tom went from NFL sports science to investing in pro teams and building a player-owned private equity firm.

2.) The financial traps most pro athletes fall into—and how The Players Company is solving them.

3.) Why investing in sports teams and NIL assets isn’t just for billionaires anymore—and what this means for everyday investors.

Show Notes: LifestyleInvestor.com/237

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