Skip to content
MarketScale
Demo
Contributors›Leigh Steinberg
Leigh Steinberg photo

Hall of Fame Sports Agent and Chairman, Steinberg Sports & Entertainment

Leigh Steinberg

Leigh Steinberg, premier sports agent, entrepreneur, best-selling author, and Chairman of Leigh Steinberg Sports and Entertainment Holdings, is best known for his work building athletes into stand-alone brands. He is often credited as the real-life inspiration for the Oscar-winning film Jerry Maguire. Leigh has represented many of the most successful athletes and coaches in football, basketball, baseball, hockey, boxing, and golf, including the number one overall pick in the NFL draft for an unprecedented eight times in conjunction with 64 total first round picks. With an unrivaled history of record-setting contracts, Leigh has secured over $4 billion for his 300+ pro athlete clients and directed more than $1 billion to various charities around the world.

3 articles
Contributor Brief·Leigh Steinberg · 3 articles
Updated Sep 6, 2023

NIL monetization now extends beyond athletes to all talented students

Steinberg argues that Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunities have fundamentally democratized personal brand monetization, extending well beyond traditional college athletes to any student with marketable talent or expertise. His core thesis is that modern students—whether athletes, creators, or specialists—should simultaneously pursue multiple revenue streams (institutional deals, independent licensing, gaming partnerships) rather than viewing them as mutually exclusive.

3

distinct monetization categories now available to college students

“Video games represent the latest frontier for college athlete personal brand expansion.”

Video Games are the Latest NIL Partnerships That Talented College Students Should Seek Out

NIL monetization pathways available to college students

Athletic NIL through university1
Independent licensing agreements1
Gaming and esports partnerships1
Niche talent sponsorships (non-athletes)1

SHARE

25%Athletic NIL
Athletic NIL through university
Independent licensing agreements
Gaming and esports partnerships
Niche talent sponsorships (non-athletes)

∞

revenue ceiling when multiple NIL streams are combined simultaneously

Non-athletic students with unique talents are discovering unexpected monetization opportunities previously unavailable.

NIL Partnerships are Extending Personal Branding Opportunities to Non-Athletic Students With Unique Talents

Athletes should no longer choose between institutional deals and independent agreements—pursue both simultaneously.

College Athletes Ponder NIL Deals Through Their University vs. Official License Agreements. Why Not Both?

“Personal branding now matters more than athletic prowess alone for revenue generation.”

Themes:NIL monetization democratization beyond athletesPortfolio approach to simultaneous revenue streamsGaming and niche talent as emerging NIL frontiers

What is MarketScale

These experts publish through MarketScale, a content platform that turns industry knowledge into articles, video, and audience. Want the same for your team?