How Much Did Ryan Reynolds Spend to Buy Brazilian Serie D Club Santa Cruz?

Hollywood titan Ryan Reynolds is reportedly eyeing Brazilian side Santa Cruz as his next "sleeping giant" project. Fresh off leading Wrexham AFC to the EFL Championship in early 2026, Reynolds has set the gold standard for sports ownership through community-focused revitalisation. As rumours swirl around the Recife-based club, fans are eager to see if his "Midas touch" will finally debut in South American football.

The Santa Cruz Takeover

Despite intense social media speculation and fan-led campaigns in Brazil, there is currently no confirmed financial transaction involving Ryan Reynolds and the purchase of Santa Cruz. While the club, known for its massive and passionate fanbase, recently secured promotion to Série C, official ownership records for 2026 show that the club remains under the control of Cobra Coral Participações S/A.

The rumours likely stem from the actor's well-documented interest in "rebuilding" historic clubs with deep community roots. Santa Cruz, with its 60,000-capacity Estádio do Arruda and a legacy of loyalty despite financial hardship, perfectly fits the profile of a "Reynolds Project". However, as of this quarter, the actor has not moved beyond the investigation stage for any Brazilian assets.

From Wrexham to the World

While a deal for Santa Cruz has not yet materialised, the scale of Ryan Reynolds’ sports empire explains why these rumours carry such weight. Just last week, in February, Reynolds and his partner Rob McElhenney made headlines by injecting an additional 47.83 million euros into Wrexham AFC. This blockbuster investment is aimed at future-proofing the club’s infrastructure as they push for a historic spot in the Premier League.

The duo’s portfolio has expanded rapidly over the last year:

• La Equidad (Colombia): Acquired in early 2025 as part of a $30 million consortium deal.
• Club Necaxa (Mexico): A minority stake purchase that has already seen the launch of a new "Welcome to Necaxa" documentary series.
• Alpine F1: A strategic 24% stake in the Formula 1 team, valued at nearly 900 million euros.

The Business Behind the Multi-Million Dollar Moves

The capital driving these acquisitions comes from a series of high-profile business exits that have turned the actor into a corporate titan. In late 2024 and early 2025, Reynolds saw massive returns from his backing of the fintech firm Nuvei, which was acquired in a deal valued at approximately $6.3 billion. This followed his legendary sales of Aviation Gin and Mint Mobile, providing him with the liquid capital to aggressively pursue global sports teams.

For the supporters of Santa Cruz, the prospect of a Hollywood takeover remains a dream of financial stability and international branding. While Reynolds has proven he can turn a fifth-tier Welsh side into a 350 million pound global brand, his current focus remains on consolidating his recent acquisitions in Mexico and Colombia