The Hollywood actor has several high-profile business projects under his belt but always finds himself making football references and providing updates to Wrexham fans around the world.
Even when Ryan Reynolds is away from the racetrack, the Hollywood star constantly prioritizes his co-ownership of Wrexham over his other business ventures.
In addition to his successful career as an actor, writer, and producer, Reynolds has created a thriving business empire, including ventures such as Aviation Gin, Mint Mobile, marketing company Maxim Effort, 1Password, and Wealthsimple. It also holds joint ownership in the F1 Team Alpine and the Welsh Football Club, and is the focal point of the Welcome to Wrexham documentary series.
On Wednesday, Reynolds was honored with the Order of British Columbia in a special ceremony, the province’s highest honour, in recognition of his exceptional contributions. Prime Minister David Eby presented Reynolds with a certificate of appointment during the event. Despite the Welcome to Wrexham crew asking to film the party, the 47-year-old declined.
In a recent interview with Vancouver Sun, Reynolds delved into his upbringing in Vancouver, British Columbia. Even when discussing his early years, Reynolds couldn’t resist mentioning Wrexham, suggesting its continuing importance.
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Reynolds commented on the club’s promotion last season, saying: “I don’t feel any degree of smugness about it.” “It’s football, anything can happen. It’s kind of an awkward situation day in and day out. We’re dealing with a lot of injuries at the moment.”
Reynolds’ choice of the term “soccer” rather than “soccer” reflects the cultural nuances shaped by club ownership. Despite the financial losses in the investment, Reynolds embraced the city, expressing his passion and commitment.
Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson has previously spoken of the difficult period the club went through before the arrival of its new ownership, highlighting the big positive changes brought about by Reynolds and McIlhenny. Parkinson confirmed the Hollywood duo’s active involvement in the club’s affairs, but clarified that they do not interfere in choosing the team’s lineup.
When asked on talkSPORT “Pretty much. Ryan will be here for a while, the next few months. Rob and Ryan are very interested in the players we sign and the team we pick and we watch every game from America and, yeah, they’re really involved,” Parkinson said.
While Reynolds covered his achievements, charitable endeavors and business perspectives, Wrexham remained the exclusive project where he provided progress and updates. He confirmed that the third season of Welcome to Wrexham is being filmed and will premiere in April.
Reynolds and co-owner Rob McElhenney acquired the rights to Wrexham for around £2 million. Despite the initial losses, expectations are that they can sell the football club for around $10 million, indicating a significant increase in profits. The pair’s positive impact on Wrexham’s match results, merchandise sales, social media presence and ticket sales has lifted the club and the city.
Away from ownership, Reynolds has gained recognition for his compassionate involvement with the club. Most notably, he provided support to midfielder Anthony Forde, making it easier to get a second opinion after Forde was diagnosed with an incurable brain tumor. Subsequent evaluation provided relief, revealing that the tumor was benign.
