TPG Launches Sports Investment Platform with Rory McIlroy as Strategic Advisor & Investor

Global investment firm TPG has launched a dedicated sports investment platform, TPG Sports, with professional golfer Rory McIlroy joining as a strategic advisor and co-investor. The initiative was officially announced this week and will focus on growth-stage opportunities across the sports, media, and entertainment sectors, marking TPG’s latest expansion into specialised vertical investing.

TPG Sports will operate as a separate unit within TPG’s growth investment strategy and will be led by David Trujillo and Paul Hackwell, both senior partners at the firm. The platform aims to leverage TPG’s existing expertise in media and consumer markets to identify scalable businesses at the intersection of sport and technology. McIlroy, who has previously co-founded investment firm Symphony Ventures and the tech-focused TMRW Sports, brings additional industry insight and athlete-driven perspective to the venture.

In a statement, McIlroy said, “TPG’s commitment to backing bold entrepreneurs and innovative ideas makes them an ideal partner in this next chapter of sports investing. I’m excited to work with the team to identify and support businesses that are shaping the future of the industry.” His involvement is expected to complement the firm’s institutional knowledge with practical experience in brand-building, digital media, and athlete-led enterprise.

TPG has a long-standing presence in sports and media, with past investments in companies such as Spotify, Vice Media, Creative Artists Agency, and DirecTV. However, this marks its first formal unit dedicated exclusively to sports investments. According to the company, TPG Sports will focus on opportunities in sports content, league and team ownership structures, data and technology platforms, fan engagement, and infrastructure.

David Trujillo, co-managing partner of TPG Growth, noted the increasing convergence of media, technology, and sport as a catalyst for the new initiative. “Sports is one of the most powerful engagement engines in the world today. We see an opportunity to help companies grow with capital and operational support while aligning with shifts in consumer behaviour and digital transformation,” he said.

The launch of TPG Sports reflects a broader trend in private equity and institutional capital targeting the sports sector as a source of long-term value. The firm indicated it would continue to evaluate investments globally and across different sports, with no limitations on geography or asset class. While no specific investments have been announced, the firm is actively sourcing deals.

TPG currently manages over $222 billion in assets and has increasingly moved toward building specialist teams to capitalise on market-specific opportunities. With the addition of TPG Sports, the firm joins a growing list of global investors—including Arctos, RedBird Capital, and CVC—developing dedicated sports platforms to support a maturing and commercially dynamic global industry.