I know a guy making $1.5B from the NFL this year. But he doesn't own a team. He doesn't even play football. I'm talking about Michael G. Rubin, CEO of Fanatics. This is the company that makes branded merchandise for the NBA, WWE, NASCAR, and many more. And how Michael got here was a wild ride. Here's what happened 🏈 1/ Early Years Rewind to the 80's. Michael is a young hustler learning the basic laws of commerce: supply and demand. His first attempt is a ski shop that he opens at just 14 years old. It's mostly a disaster. But in the process he manages to get his hands on $200K worth of merchandise, that he picks up for 9¢ on the dollar. Then he flips the load for a quick $75K profit. Now he’s in the game. And it’s about to get serious. 2/ One Down Michael takes the cash and starts KPR sports, buying and selling overstock product from big brands. By 1993, he's at $1M in annual sales and by 1995, he hits a crazy $50M. With eCom exploding, he takes the company online launching GSI Commerce. He uses it as a vehicle to build and buy more businesses. Michael’s bulking up to play with the giants. And in 2011, one of those giants takes him out - eBay buys GSI for $2.4B. But we haven't even gotten to the good part. 3/ Sports Magnate Next Michael pulls another baller move, buying back a chunk of GSI from eBay. This chunk includes Fanatics, an eCommerce player that makes branded clothing for sports leagues and colleges. He modernizes the company with things like real-time manufacturing, mobile-first commerce, and a bunch of new licensing deals. Growth explodes. Today, Fanatics is a juggernaut across wholesale, D2C and even in-stadium retail. It's valued at $27B. And the biggest investor in its latest funding round? The NFL. 4/ My Take Michael's approach is so simple and masterfully executed. → He sees value where others miss it and jumps on the opportunity. From that first overstock flip to scooping up Fanatics from eBay. → He finds riches in the niches. Michael goes narrow and deep, aiming to own a huge slice of a single pie. No crumbs left. → He leans on big brands. Why build one when you can borrow instead? And the world's biggest sports franchises are happy to share. - @jon_davids