- Side Hustle Creator
- Posts
- 3-2-1: 🍿Weekly Case Study
3-2-1: 🍿Weekly Case Study
Deadpool is secretly richer than Batman, how?
Uzman Ali
May 03, 2025
Everyone knows this guy, except for those who haven’t watched Deadpool.
Yes, Ryan is famous for playing the sarcastic superhero Deadpool. But many don’t know that his hidden true superpower is in business.
Yep, you read it right: business.
Ryan Reynolds is a billionaire now, but not from acting. He earned his money with what he calls “fast advertising."
He uses this strategy to turn undervalued brands into billion-dollar empires. Companies he co-owns or has sold are worth ~$14 billion.
F1 Team
Football Club
Alcohol brand
Wireless provider
Ad agency, etc.
Here’s how he did it. Let’s get into this amazing story.
PRESENTED BY AUTHORY
Never lose any work samples work again
Imagine losing years of articles because a site shut down. What would you do if all your work samples disappeared?
With Authory, that’s a nightmare you’ll never have to face. Authory automatically creates a portfolio that backs up everything you’ve ever written and will write, so your work is always safe.
That’s right: Authory finds and backs up all your past work and saves every new piece you publish, no matter where.
Join thousands of writers who already trust Authory to protect their work and never lose a piece again.
Fast advertising formula
Ryan became a billionaire after he switched from acting to entrepreneurship.
Like many actors, he didn’t just rely on big paychecks. He began investing in companies like Aviation Gin and Mint Mobile. He used his marketing agency, Maximum Effort, to create viral campaigns tied to real-time events.
His secret to marketing? Speed and relevance.
Fast advertising means creating ads quickly, usually within hours or days. This often happens after a trending news story or cultural moment. This strategy capitalizes on public attention while it’s still fresh.
Which ultimately allows brands to “newsjack” conversations and earn free media exposure.
Win-Win, right? ✌
Let’s dive into some of Ryan’s business case studies.
1. Aviation Gin brand (case study in speed)
This is actually one of Ryan’s most famous marketing campaigns.
In 2019, Peloton launched a holiday ad. It starred actress Monica Ruiz as a wife who received a bike from her husband. Critics called it tone-deaf, sparking online outrage (idk why).
Full Ads source
Within 72 hours, Reynolds’s team at 'Maximum Effort' hired Ruiz to star in a parody ad for Aviation Gin. The spot showed her laughing with friends at a bar, sipping gin, and moving on from the Peloton drama.
The caption? “Exercise bike not included.”
The ad was cheap to make, but it went viral. It got:
Over 10 million views on Twitter/ X
13 billion media impressions
This wasn’t just luck. It was a calculated move to hijack a trending story with humor and timeliness.
Source medium article here
2. The buy-boost-sell strategy
Ryan doesn’t just make ads; he builds and flips companies. Which is actually the main idea behind his income boost.
He targets low-cost or new niche brands. These brands have strong products but weak marketing. Then, he approaches them and says, “I want to buy your company.”
He used his marketing agency to find trends. This drew attention to their brand and boosted sales a lot.
Lastly, he sold his cheap brands, which became quite popular, for a million dollars.
Here is his 3-step blueprint:
a. Buy undervalued brands/companies.
First, he targets small niche companies with strong products.
Example: Aviation Gin was once labeled a craft spirit. Mint Mobile is a budget wireless provider.
b. Boost with fast advertising
Reynolds injects his signature humor into campaigns and leverages attention marketing.
c. Sell at brands’ peak values
After elevating brand visibility, Reynolds sells for massive profits.
Aviation Gin was sold to Diageo for $610 million in 2020.
Mint Mobile was sold for $1.35 billion to T-Mobile in 2023.
PRESENTED BY MASTERS IN MARKETING
Achieve More With Limited Resources: 15 Small Budget Success Stories
Strategic marketing doesn't require enterprise-level spending. Our latest case studies reveal how 15 small brands achieved remarkable outcomes through creativity and smart resource allocation.
Innovative tactics that delivered exceptional ROI with minimal investment
Strategic approaches that helped small teams compete against industry giants
Data-driven techniques for maximizing impact when resources are limited
Looking for ways to stretch your marketing budget further? These 15 mini case studies show exactly how these small brands made such big waves without breaking the bank.
Why fast advertising works
If fast advertising were that easy, everyone would be working on it.
It’s true. This strategy is cost-effective, as you get more attention for less money. As Reynolds’s team once filmed a Mint Mobile ad in his backyard for under $1,000.
But it isn’t foolproof.
As mentioned at the start, this strategy uses speed and relevance.
But speed can hurt quality, and misreading public feelings can lead to problems. For example, brands risk appearing insensitive if they joke about serious events.
Ryan often points out cultural trends or famous celebrities, but he always stays true to himself. The purpose is to get on the public’s positive side and make them feel genuine.
Today, Reynolds is beyond advertisements
Yes, money attracts money.
Today, Reynolds’ portfolio extends beyond just buying small brands.
He’s invested in:
Sports: Wrexham AFC, etc.
Tech: Stake in the password manager 1Password and the streaming platform FuboTV.
Media: His marketing agency teams up with platforms like Netflix. They produce films and ads, which create opportunities for cross-promotion.
Conclusion
To me, Ryan’s secret to success isn’t actually that he has millions of followers.
He combined attention and quick execution to build billion-dollar brands again and again. Which makes him a marketing genius.
In short, he is a great actor with great talent and a brilliant mind.
What a Superman!
Was this email forwarded to you? sign up
You can sponsor this newsletter. 1,000+ hungry entrepreneurs, 50% open rate.
Email me at ➡ [email protected].
Share your inspiring story to be featured (as a reader). Here
Reply