David Beckham Sues Mark Wahlberg’s Fitness Company for Millions in Unpaid Fees
David Beckham is not only known for his skills on the soccer field but also for his business acumen off it. The soccer icon is currently embroiled in a legal battle with F45 Training, a fitness company co-owned by actor Mark Wahlberg. Beckham claims that F45 owes him millions of dollars for an endorsement deal that was not fulfilled as promised.
According to court documents, Beckham signed a five-year agreement in 2020 to be a brand ambassador for F45. The terms of the agreement stated that Beckham would receive $1.5 million per year in addition to shares of the company six months and 12 months after it went public. However, Beckham alleges that F45 did not fulfill its end of the deal, failing to pay him the promised cash and equity compensation after the company’s IPO in July 2021.
Beckham’s management business filed a lawsuit against F45 in May 2023, seeking more than $14 million in damages. F45 attempted to have the lawsuit dismissed, but a judge denied the motion in September 2023. In response, F45 denied Beckham’s allegations, claiming that the former soccer player did not fulfill his contractual obligations and had “unclean hands.”
This legal battle between Beckham and F45 is not the first of its kind. Former world No. 1 golfer Greg Norman initially sued F45 alongside Beckham in October 2022 but later dropped his case. In 2017, former NFL wide receiver Terrell Owens also brought a lawsuit against F45, claiming the company owed him $700,000 for promotional work.
F45, which was once valued at $1.4 billion when it went public in 2021, has since faced financial difficulties, delisting from the stock exchange in August 2023 after losing a combined $372 million in 2021 and 2022. The company’s share price plummeted by more than 90% in 2023.
As the legal battle between Beckham and F45 continues, the fitness company remains active on social media, currently promoting “Wahlberg Week,” featuring workouts created with Mark Wahlberg himself. It remains to be seen how this legal saga will unfold and what the implications will be for both parties involved.
