Wondering why so many famous faces are suddenly playing padel?
Padel has become, in the words of one recent Hollywood Reporter feature, the hottest trend among the celebrity luxury class. What started as a niche racket sport popular in Spain and Argentina now counts actors, musicians, business moguls, and retired athletes among its most visible fans, turning courtside padel matches into the new paparazzi-friendly alternative to a round of golf.
This guide looks at how padel crossed over from a regional pastime into a genuine celebrity trend, who's driving it, and why the sport fits so naturally into that world.
From Niche Sport to Celebrity Status Symbol
Padel's celebrity moment didn't happen overnight, but the pace has picked up dramatically in the last few years. David Beckham, DJ Khaled, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jay-Z, and former NBA stars Dwyane Wade and Dwight Howard have all been spotted on padel courts, and comedian Andrew Schulz has talked about the sport on his podcast. Cristiano Ronaldo has even said his love of the game is one of the things he's looking forward to once he retires from football.
Note
Celebrity involvement in padel ranges widely, from casual weekend games to team ownership stakes. Being "into" padel can mean very different levels of commitment depending on the person.
Actors Leading the Charge
Hollywood has embraced padel with real enthusiasm. Tom Holland has described it as his favorite way to stay fit, and Leonardo DiCaprio has been spotted playing as well. Spanish actor Antonio Banderas, who grew up with the sport already popular in his home country, has become a vocal advocate for padel internationally, while actors like Hugh Grant have also been seen on court. Eva Longoria, one of the sport's most visible celebrity champions in the United States, says she was introduced to padel 15 years ago by her now-husband, media executive José Bastón, though it took her another decade to actually pick up a racket herself.
Musicians Have Joined the Court
Free tournament generator — Americano, Mexicano and more. Set it up in minutes.
The music world has taken to padel just as enthusiastically. Jay-Z and DJ Khaled have both been seen playing, British musician Stormzy has become an investor in the London-based Paddle Social Club, and Colombian singer Shakira has played regularly, helping inspire fans to pick up a racket themselves. Puerto Rican artist Daddy Yankee took things further by bringing a Pro Padel League franchise to Orlando for the 2024 season, saying the team would help give more visibility to the sport.
Important
A celebrity playing padel casually is different from one actively investing in the sport's business side. Both matter for visibility, but only some of these names have put real money behind padel's growth.
Crossover Athletes From Other Sports
Athletes from sports that have nothing to do with padel have picked it up too, often introduced by friends already hooked on the game. NBA All-Star Jimmy Butler learned padel from his friend Neymar and now plays regularly with fellow basketball star Dwyane Wade, describing the sport as complementing his basketball skills mentally and physically. Tennis legend Andre Agassi, more often associated with pickleball in recent years, was filmed playing padel with David Beckham in a clip that went viral, with many viewers mistaking the sport for pickleball entirely. Former U.S. Open champion Juan Martín del Potro has taken on a more formal role as a strategic advisor for the Miami Padel Club franchise in the Pro Padel League.
Eva Longoria: The Celebrity Face of Padel's US Boom
Few celebrities have embraced padel as completely as Eva Longoria. She now has padel courts at her homes in Los Angeles, Mexico City, and Marbella, Spain, and says she travels with two paddles wherever she goes. Her involvement goes well beyond playing: in 2024, she became co-owner of the Eleven Eleven padel team competing in the Hexagon Cup, an annual World Cup-style tournament held in Madrid, adding to a portfolio that already included stakes in soccer clubs Wrexham and Necaxa and a Brooklyn pickleball team.
Celebrity Ownership Turns Fandom Into Business
Longoria isn't alone in turning padel enthusiasm into a business stake. Other celebrity Hexagon Cup team owners include tennis star Andy Murray, boxer Anthony Joshua, and footballer Sergio Agüero, alongside Stormzy's investment in the Paddle Social Club. This pattern, casual interest evolving into genuine ownership, mirrors how celebrities have approached other trending sports, treating early involvement as both a passion and a business opportunity as a sport's popularity climbs.
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Actors | Tom Holland, Leonardo DiCaprio, Antonio Banderas, Hugh Grant |
| Musicians | Jay-Z, DJ Khaled, Stormzy, Shakira, Daddy Yankee |
| Crossover Athletes | Jimmy Butler, Dwyane Wade, Andre Agassi, Juan Martín del Potro |
| Celebrity Team Owners | Eva Longoria, Andy Murray, Anthony Joshua, Sergio Agüero |
Beyond Entertainment: Business Figures and Politicians
Padel's appeal among the famous isn't limited to entertainment and sport. Former Spanish Prime Minister José María Aznar has been spotted on padel courts, part of a broader pattern in Spain where the sport has long crossed social and professional lines. Charity tournaments have become a popular venue for this kind of mixed guest list, giving fans a chance to see actors, athletes, and public figures competing together for a cause while generating exactly the kind of shareable, feel-good content that keeps the sport's profile rising.
Why Padel Appeals to the Celebrity Crowd
Part of the appeal is purely practical. Padel matches take under an hour, fit four people on one court, and have a gentle enough learning curve that a total beginner can have a genuinely fun game against friends on their first try. As Longoria put it, describing why she loves introducing people to the sport, it works whether someone is an expert, a novice, or somewhere comfortably in between.
There's also an image factor that's hard to separate from the sport's celebrity appeal. Padel courts photograph well, matches are social rather than solitary, and the sport carries an air of European glamour that fits naturally into a celebrity lifestyle built around visibility and curated moments shared with friends.
Unlike some fitness trends that fade after a season, padel also offers genuine longevity as a social activity. A group of famous friends can keep returning to the same court for years, which explains why so many of these names show up repeatedly in padel coverage rather than appearing once and moving on to the next trend.
Advice
If celebrity clips are what got you curious about padel, know that the sport's appeal holds up without any of the glamour. The same easy learning curve and social format that draws A-listers works just as well for a first game with friends at a local club.
How Fashion Brands Followed the Trend
Sports and apparel brands have taken notice of padel's celebrity moment, releasing padel-inspired clothing and accessory collections designed to work both on court and as everyday streetwear. Seeing celebrities photographed in padel gear during casual games or charity tournaments has pushed brands to design more versatile lines that lean into the sport's growing cultural cachet rather than treating it as purely athletic equipment.
Padel's celebrity trend isn't a single influencer moment, it's a genuine cross-section of Hollywood, the music industry, and professional sports all converging on the same court at roughly the same time. Whether that interest fades or deepens into lasting investment, as it already has for figures like Eva Longoria and Andy Murray, the sport's next few years of growth will likely keep tracking closely with how visible it stays among exactly this crowd.
What makes this particular wave feel different from a passing fad is how many of these names have gone beyond a single photographed match. Team ownership stakes, dedicated home courts, and franchise investments suggest a level of genuine commitment that goes well past a celebrity trying a trendy activity once for the cameras.
