a16z’s Chris Lyons speaks with Earvin "Magic" Johnson about his 30-year journey from athlete to billionaire businessman. They cover the art of deal-making, lessons from mentors Michael Ovitz and Dr. Jerry Buss, and Magic's sports ownership portfolio, from the Dodgers to the Commanders to the Sparks. They also discuss what the next generation of athletes and entertainers should know about equity, building teams, and taking risks. Follow Magic Johnson on X: https://twitter.com/MagicJohnson Follow Chris Lyons on X: https://twitter.com/chrislyons 00:00 — Introduction 05:09 — How Michael Ovitz Became Magic's First Business Mentor 07:42 — The Art of Deal Making and Building a Rolodex 14:54 — Why Boring Businesses Make the Best Investments 17:30 — Magic's First Silicon Valley Investment: Skydio 27:00 — Building a Team: Get People Smarter Than You 29:48 — The One That Got Away: Nike Stock in 1979 37:36 — Why AI Is Changing Everything 44:36 — Sports Ownership: Dodgers, Commanders, Sparks, and LAFC Stay Updated: If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to like, subscribe, and share with your friends! Find a16z on X: https://twitter.com/a16z Find a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z Listen to the a16z Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5bC65RDvs3oxnLyqqvkUYX Listen to the a16z Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a16z-podcast/id842818711 Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see http://a16z.com/disclosures.