Kevin Durant's AI Investment in Hugging Face Grows from $250K to $60M, Exceeding His NBA Salary
- Kevin Durant and business partner Rich Kleiman invested approximately $250,000 in open-source AI platform Hugging Face through their family office 35V, with investments made in the company's 2018 seed round and 2019 Series A round.
- Nvidia's reported acquisition offer of $12.9 billion for Hugging Face would generate a paper return exceeding $60 million on Durant's initial investment, representing a 240x multiple.
- The $60 million paper gain surpasses Durant's annual NBA salary of approximately $43.9 million with the Houston Rockets for the 2026-27 season.
- Durant's venture capital portfolio includes significant positions in Coinbase (+5,275%), Whoop (+7,980%), Robinhood (+1,675%), and Mercury (+5,100%), demonstrating a track record of early-stage tech and crypto investments.
- Unlike peers such as LeBron James and Stephen Curry who focused on brand equity and consumer goods, Durant has pursued a Silicon Valley-style venture capital strategy across AI, crypto infrastructure, and digital health sectors.
Kevin Durant and business partner Rich Kleiman's early investment in Hugging Face, an open-source AI platform, has generated substantial returns. The pair invested approximately $250,000 across the company's 2018 seed round and 2019 Series A round through their family office 35V. Following reports that Nvidia plans to acquire Hugging Face for $12.9 billion, the investment is projected to yield over $60 million in paper gains, representing a 240x return multiple.
This return significantly exceeds Durant's NBA salary, with his 2026-27 contract with the Houston Rockets valued at approximately $43.9 million annually. The investment has drawn attention as a notable example of athlete venture capital success, with industry observers noting it ranks among the best investments by professional athletes.
Durant's broader venture capital portfolio reveals a consistent pattern of early-stage tech and crypto investments. His 35V office has held positions in Coinbase (which appreciated 5,275% from entry to peak valuation), Whoop (7,980%), Robinhood (1,675%), and Mercury (5,100%), among others. This diversified approach across AI infrastructure, cryptocurrency exchanges, sports technology, and fintech platforms distinguishes Durant's investment strategy from peers like LeBron James and Stephen Curry, who have focused on brand equity and consumer goods respectively.
杜兰特AI投资回报超6000万美元，超过其NBA年薪
凯文·杜兰特与商业伙伴里奇·克莱曼通过家族办公室35V对开源AI平台Hugging Face的早期投资已产生可观回报。两人在该公司2018年种子轮和2019年A轮融资中共投入约25万美元。据报道英伟达计划以129亿美元收购Hugging Face，该投资预计将产生超6000万美元的账面收益，回报倍数达240倍。
这一回报率远超杜兰特的NBA薪资。他与休斯顿火箭队2026-27赛季的合同年薪约为4390万美元。该投资因其作为职业运动员风投成功案例而受关注，业内观察人士认为这是运动员投资中表现最佳的案例之一。
杜兰特更广泛的风险投资组合显示出其在早期科技和加密货币领域的一贯投资模式。其35V办公室持有Coinbase（从入场到峰值升值5,275%）、Whoop（7,980%）、Robinhood（1,675%）和Mercury（5,100%）等多个头部项目的股份。这种跨越AI基础设施、加密货币交易所、运动科技和金融科技等领域的多元化投资策略，使杜兰特的投资方向有别于专注品牌股权和消费品的勒布朗·詹姆斯和斯蒂芬·库里等同龄人。