**Ryan Reynolds: From Hollywood Heartbreak to Wrexham Triumph and a Colossal Net Worth**
Ryan Reynolds’s journey from a childhood in Vancouver to global stardom has been nothing short of extraordinary. The Canadian-born actor, famed for his wit, charm and blockbuster film roles, is now equally cherished in Wales thanks to his transformative ownership of Wrexham AFC. As the club celebrates an unprecedented third consecutive promotion, the world’s eyes are once again on Reynolds—but there’s much more to his story than what fans see on the pitch.
Reynolds, along with business partner and fellow actor Rob McElhenney, took a bold leap when they purchased Wrexham AFC in 2021. Since then, the duo have injected millions into the club, fuelling its meteoric rise from lowly standing to a team now within touching distance of Premier League football. The promotion to the Championship this season marks another high point not just for the club, but also for the co-owners, who have stated their dream is to see Wales fly the flag in English football’s top flight.
Born in October 1976, Reynolds was the youngest of four boys raised in an Irish Catholic family in Vancouver, British Columbia. He began acting at age 13, grabbing roles in youth-oriented TV series like ‘The Odyssey’ and Nickelodeon’s ‘Hillside’. His big break, however, came with the 2002 comedy ‘Van Wilder’, setting him on a path to Hollywood that would see a string of romantic comedies and, later, more serious and action-packed roles.
Despite some early career missteps, including the widely panned superhero flick ‘Green Lantern’, Reynolds found his stride and silenced critics with the phenomenal success of ‘Deadpool’. The film, produced on a relatively modest budget, grossed more than $780 million worldwide—cementing Reynolds’ reputation as both a box-office draw and a shrewd negotiator in the film industry. The ‘Deadpool’ franchise and his frequent forays into comedic, dramatic and action roles have continued to boost both his fame and fortune.
Yet, Reynolds’ financial success isn’t purely the result of his acting prowess. In recent years, he has forged an impressive reputation as a savvy businessman. He took a significant stake in Aviation Gin, growing the brand’s profile internationally before selling it to drinks giant Diageo for over $600 million in 2020. Shortly after, his investment in Mint Mobile saw similar rewards, with the telecommunications firm snapped up by T-Mobile for a sum in excess of $1.3 billion—Reynolds reportedly earning a personal payout in the region of $300 million.
It is estimated that the actor, now 46, is worth in excess of $400 million. An eye-watering sum, much of which comes from his entertainment work: in 2024 alone, acting roles in hits like ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’, family film ‘IF’, and earnings from the docuseries ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ netted him tens of millions. More recently, his and McElhenney’s investment in Wrexham has not only increased the club’s turnover, but is also expected to bring further riches: television revenues following promotion could add another £8 million to the club’s coffers.
Away from the boardroom and the football terraces, Reynolds’s personal life has also made headlines. He was once engaged to singer Alanis Morissette, but fame and its pressures led to a split. His first marriage, to actress Scarlett Johansson, attracted intense media attention but lasted barely two years—strained, by all accounts, by clashing work schedules and limited time together. Despite their public profile, both Reynolds and Johansson spoke openly about how difficult it was to make their relationship last amidst the madness of Hollywood.
After a well-publicised divorce, Reynolds found love again with ‘Gossip Girl’ star Blake Lively, his co-star in ‘Green Lantern’. The couple’s 2012 marriage was private, yet they later publicly apologised for holding their first wedding at a former plantation, acknowledging and regretting the venue’s racist history. Since then, Lively and Reynolds have become adored for their playful public banter and open displays of support for Wrexham, often attending matches together and sharing their unique humour with supporters.
Now parents to four children, the pair have become one of Hollywood’s most stable couples. Their commitment to family life, combined with their passion for their ventures—on and off the screen—has crafted an image of Reynolds as a multi-dimensional star. Whether he’s fronting another blockbuster, negotiating a business deal, or cheering Wrexham on from the stands, Reynolds remains a figure of fascination to millions.
It is perhaps this everyman charm, coupled with extraordinary success, that has made Reynolds so beloved. Through professional setbacks, highly-publicised romances, smart investments, and now, footballing glory in Wales, he continues to prove that there is always room for reinvention—and that even Hollywood legends can find a home far from LA.
With Wrexham riding high in the Championship and Hollywood continuing to beckon, Ryan Reynolds’s story is far from finished. His journey serves as an inspiration—proof that with humility, humour, and hard work, the best is often yet to come.