Celebrity Name: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Represented By: Octagon
Deal Type: Multi-year global partnership; 100% equity (no cash)
Announced: April 2, 2026
Impact: First NBA athlete shareholder in a NASDAQ-listed health & longevity brand
- Giannis becomes the first NBA athlete shareholder in a NASDAQ-listed health and longevity brand, joining IM8 as a Global Partner in a multi-year deal announced April 2, 2026.
- He chose 100% equity over any cash compensation, a notable signal of personal conviction in the brand, rather than a traditional paid endorsement arrangement.
- IM8 is the fastest-growing supplement brand on record, reaching $100 million in annualized recurring revenue within just 11 months of launch, with projections of $180–$200 million in full-year 2026 revenue.
- Giannis’s 35M+ social following unlocks key global markets (the US, Europe, Africa, and Asia) that align directly with IM8’s expansion roadmap, backed by the NBA’s broadcast reach in over 215 countries.
Prenetics, the parent company of health and longevity supplement brand IM8, has announced a multi-year global partnership with Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Giannis becomes a Global Partner of IM8 and the first NBA athlete shareholder in a NASDAQ-listed health and longevity brand, choosing 100% equity over any cash compensation.
IM8 was co-founded with David Beckham and has already attracted equity stakes from World No. 1 tennis player Aryna Sabalenka and F1 driver Ollie Bearman, making Giannis the brand’s first basketball partner.
IM8 is best known for its Daily Ultimate Essentials supplement powder, a product combining multivitamin, probiotic, and nutritional support, along with Daily Ultimate Longevity, formulated to support healthy aging at the cellular level.
Giannis commands 35 million followers across Instagram, X, and TikTok, with strong audiences in the US, Europe, Africa, and Asia, all of which align directly with IM8’s global expansion targets.
This isn’t the only major business move Giannis has made recently: just in February 2026, he joined prediction market Gopuff as a shareholder, and he’s held notable equity partnerships with brands including Nike, WhatsApp, and Kalshi.
On the court, Giannis remains the cornerstone of the Milwaukee Bucks franchise, a two-time MVP and 2021 NBA Champion signed to a deal that runs through 2026–27.
The deal aims to accelerate IM8’s penetration among 18–34-year-olds and support a 2026 revenue target of $180–$200 million.
Similar equity-for-endorsement deals have been gaining traction, as seen when Cardi B joined Zevia as both brand ambassador and shareholder, a growing trend of athletes and artists taking ownership stakes instead of flat fees.
Takeaways
This deal is about a lot more than a name on a label. The fact that Giannis chose equity over cash says everything, he’s not lending his name to a brand; he’s betting on it with real ownership.
For IM8, adding basketball’s biggest global personality to a roster that already spans football, tennis, and Formula 1 is a masterclass in cross-sport brand building.
Past partnership announcements by Prenetics moved the stock by an average of 4.59% over 24 hours, a signal that the market has learned to pay attention when this company makes a move.
The real story here is the blueprint Prenetics is building: no cash endorsements, only equity. Every partner is a co-owner. That creates alignment you can’t buy with a check.
With equity partners now spanning football, tennis, F1, and NBA, which sport or global market should IM8 target next to complete its roster? Giannis took zero cash, is the “equity-only” endorsement model the future of athlete-brand partnerships, or does it only work for fast-growing brands like IM8?
