# @benzinga on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DE6WMe4J_9p
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/26007560-benzinga-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/legacy-do/a80206d7cc8ac754b308821b10ea9ba39735cd66ad0c761530f1b874713f4275.jpg
- **Posted:** 2025-01-17T03:30:10.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Benzinga | News That Moves (@benzinga) — https://gondola.cc/benzinga

## Caption

Lionel Messi and Neymar are former FC Barcelona legends who have made high-profile real estate purchases around the world. However, one of Messi's much less heralded teammates has quietly become a bona fide real estate mogul with a property portfolio worth an estimated $250 million.

Keep reading to learn how Martin Braithwaite parlayed an $850,000 investment into an empire. 

According to Martin Braithwaite's career bio on Transfermrkt.com, he started his career with the Danish club Esbjerg FC in 2007. He would go on to ply his trade in France's Ligue 1, then Middlesbrough in the English second division before landing in Spain with Leganes in 2019. Simply put, Braithwaite was never a superstar, but he was well-respected in European soccer.

Today, Braithwaite plays for Gremio in the Brazilian league, but football is simply a recreational pursuit. Despite being only 33 and having never made the astronomical wages typical of soccer superstars like Messi, Braithwaite won't ever have to kick a ball or work again. He has been preparing for retirement for quite a few years. 

According to CEO World Magazine, Braithwaite invested $850,000 to form NYCE Companies with his uncle Philip Michael in 2017. NYCE Companies is a venture that has been busy purchasing properties in the lucrative New York City real estate market since its inception. It's also worth noting that NYCE isn't just a buy-and-flip outfit. It focuses on affordable housing opportunities notoriously scarce in the NYC real estate market.

Martin and his uncle's entry into the real estate market was perfectly timed and their properties are in high demand. According to Forbes Magazine, NYCE's portfolio grew quickly and was worth almost $10 million within one year. NYCE's portfolio has since expanded into other markets, including Philadelphia and New Jersey. It now includes 1,500 units, with another 500 under construction and has an estimated value of $250 million.

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 4,668
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- **Comments:** 32

## Credits

These are the roles credited on Gondola. Credits may be incomplete.
A brand, account owner, or featured person is not necessarily the creator.

| Name | Username | Profile | Role |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Benzinga | News That Moves | @benzinga | https://gondola.cc/benzinga | Brand |
| Jacob Shipley | @okcmayor | https://gondola.cc/okcmayor | Director of Social Media |

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