Photo credit: Willie Stark, Wikimedia Commons BE The Game by Edwian Stokes Metta World Peace Learned A Valuable Lesson In His Failure To Invest Former NBA star Metta World Peace explains how missing out on Vitaminwater's $4.1 billion payout influenced his shift to building a portfolio of 40 companies. Metta World Peace recently discussed how missing a major investment opportunity early in his career led to his transformation into an investor with multiple companies. Although he promoted the brand on his jerseys and supported local projects, World Peace chose immediate payment instead of equity. “I turned that deal down because I’m like, ‘Pay me,’” World Peace explained during the episode. By building businesses across industries, World Peace shows how Black athletes and creators can harness investment opportunities to create lasting impact.