OKLAHOMA CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov 26, 2024--
Russell Westbrook, NBA MVP, Entrepreneur, fashion icon, and global ambassador has joined forces with Christian Kanady, Founding Partner of Echo, a multi-strategy investment firm, on an eight-figure investment platform to energize Oklahoma City’s sports and entertainment industries. Through Russell Westbrook Enterprises (RWE)’s anchor investment in Echo’s Sports & Entertainment platform, Westbrook and Kanady will focus on opportunities that are authentic and purpose-driven.
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Westbrook’s “Profit with a Purpose” and Echo’s “Connective Capital” investment philosophies underscore a shared commitment to financial returns alongside lasting, sustainable community impact. RWE’s partnership with Echo’s Sports & Entertainment platform includes:
Russell Westbrook Enterprises (RWE) is a dynamic organization committed to aligning profitability with purpose by creating impactful platforms and making strategic investments with a focus on digital advertising and beyond. RWE’s mission centers on driving on-balance sheet investments in supply chain diversity to address the often-overlooked issue of concentration risk. As a trusted partner to some of the world’s leading multinational corporations, RWE is uniquely positioned to help companies achieve their supply chain objectives, enhancing operational efficiency and fostering greater inclusivity.
Echo is a multi-strategy investment firm committed to revitalizing American industries. Echo strategically blends investments across energy, life sciences, national security, and sports & entertainment. Recently, the firm liquidated approximately half of its oil and gas royalty portfolio for more than half a billion dollars. Additional holdings include landmark commercial real estate properties, film production soundstages, and majority ownership of OKC’s professional men’s soccer club set to begin play in the United Soccer League (USL) in 2027. Echo is dedicated to fostering innovation and driving exceptional financial and social returns.
Russell Westbrook, CEO of RWE said: "My time with the OKC Thunder shaped so much of who I am, so becoming Christian’s partner and investing in the city’s continued growth is not only exciting personally, but Echo’s Sports and Entertainment vertical is unlike anything else I’ve seen in the space. The opportunity to collaborate on a shared vision—combining the long-term, purpose-driven work I’m developing at RWE with what Christian is building at Echo and Connective Capital—is something I’m incredibly proud to bring to my entire platform."
Christian Kanady, Founding Partner of Echo said: "Having Russ and his brand involved with Echo in OKC is truly a game-changer. Russell Westbrook is not only a future Hall of Famer, but also a global icon—dominating the court, walking the runways in Paris, and making a meaningful impact through his Why Not? Foundation. We have a strong conviction in a differentiated investment opportunity in sports, and I’m excited to continue building something extraordinary with Russ, Donnell, and the entire Westbrook team."
Donnell Beverly Jr, President of RWE said: "Echo's experience of deploying institutional capital across multiple industry sectors for more than a decade, while promoting thoughtful community development, jobs and education, is the most unique platform we’ve seen that also encompasses RWE’s ‘Profit with a Purpose’ remit. When we discovered that Christian was leading a fresh, innovative approach to investing in sports with soccer and entertainment with soundstages, our response was an immediate and enthusiastic 'yes.'"
About Russell Westbrook Enterprises
Russell Westbrook Enterprises (RWE) is an impact focus organization that bridges Russell Westbrook's influence in sports, culture, and business with strategic economic development. RWE leverages its multifaceted platforms to align profitability with purpose, focusing on delivering innovative solutions in digital media, consumer goods, and technology. By investing in scalable initiatives that drive growth in underrepresented communities, RWE offers products, services, and resources that create employment opportunities and amplify brand impact. Through a combination of capital infusion, strategic partnerships, and community-centric initiatives, RWE serves as a catalyst for both social change and business success, helping some of the world’s leading brands achieve their goals while fostering deeper connections with multicultural audiences.
About Echo
Founded by Christian Kanady in 2010 and headquartered in the iconic Ziggurat building overlooking Kerr Park in downtown Oklahoma City, Echo is a multi-strategy investment firm committed to revitalizing American industries. Echo strategically blends investments across energy, life sciences, national security, and media & entertainment, with notable investments in local enterprises such as Wheeler Bio. The firm’s holdings include landmark commercial properties, a significant oil and gas royalty portfolio, and majority ownership in OKC’s professional soccer club. Echo is dedicated to fostering innovation and driving exceptional financial and social returns.
Christian Kanady is the Founding Partner of Echo, a multi-strategy investment firm based in Oklahoma City. (Photo: Business Wire)
Russell Westbrook, NBA MVP, Entrepreneur, fashion icon, and global ambassador has joined forces with Echo on an eight-figure investment platform to energize Oklahoma City’s sports and entertainment industries. (Photo: Business Wire)
Ariana Grande, Teyana Taylor, Timothée Chalamet and a sea of other stars said goodbye to color at this year's Golden Globes, opting instead for black. And many in the crowd stuck with tried and true old Hollywood glamour Sunday.
But even in basic black, the red carpet had plenty of personal flourishes and playful embellishments.
Risk-takers Taylor, a winner for “One Battle After Another,” and Jenna Ortega went with “whale tails,” aka the tops of thongs, peeking out the backs of their black gowns. Taylor did it with her custom slinky Schiaparelli gown that showed off a deep low-cut back with a glittery low-hanging bow thong. Ortega, keeping it goth, wore a Dilara Findikoglu gown with black shoulder tassels and a black thong.
“I thought that was such a cheeky callback to Y2K fashion,” InStyle Fashion Director Kevin Huynh said. “I was just like, wow, you wouldn’t expect that on a red carpet.”
Grande left behind her “Wicked” character's signature pink color for a black Vivienne Westwood couture dress but brought back her ponytail. Other notable celebrities in black included Ayo Edebiri, Selena Gomez, Miley Cyrus and Mia Goth.
Edebiri chose a black off-the-shoulder Chanel dress embellished with jewels on the shoulders from Matthieu Blazy’s Métiers d’Art 2026 show.
Celebrities held onto their gowns and watched their steps as they posed for photos on high stairs that served as the red carpet. Like the Met Gala, they lined up at the bottom and had to perilously climb their way up.
The 83rd Golden Globes gives a glimpse into how celebrities will showcase their original take on fashion as the awards season progresses. Since 1944, the show has honored the best in film and television.
The carpet, at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, is a chance for nominees to make a statement, though some are beholden to fashion houses who pay them as ambassadors.
Several, including George Clooney, wore Giorgio Armani. The fashion world lost Armani in September, but his eponymous brand lives on.
“It was nice to see so many attendees, including Julia Roberts and Kate Hudson, wearing the brand and pay tribute,” said Véronique Hyland, fashion features director for Elle.
Not all celebrities followed the black dress trend.
Host Nikki Glaser, who held hosting duty for the second time, wore a strapless satin blush-pink corseted satin gown with a full skirt by Zuhair Murad. Emma Stone stunned in a butter yellow Louis Vuitton skirt set.
“Sinners” star Wunmi Mosaku stunned in a flowy yellow Matthew Reisman gown. The mother-to-be revealed her baby bump on the carpet. Mosaku's co-star Hailee Steinfeld showed off her pregnant figure on the carpet in a peach colored gown.
Stars shone in metallics. “Sentimental Value” actor Renate Reinsve twirled on the carpet in a shimmery silver tasseled dress by Nicolas Ghesquiere for Louis Vuitton. Her co-star Elle Fanning's Gucci dress was embroidered with Norwegian flowers in honor of their Norwegian drama film.
Rising star Chase Infiniti reflected back the carpet and all its stars in her mirrored corseted gown by Nicolas Ghesquiere for Louis Vuitton.
“She’s now Louis Vuitton ambassador, which I think kind of shows her potential as a star,” Vanity Fair style writer José Criales-Unzueta said. “So much of what happens behind the scenes helps define what we’re looking at, whether it’s a deal, whether it sponsorship, whether it is brand ambassadorship.”
Claire Danes eschewed the academic, laid-back tailored looks of her “Beast in Me” character for an effortlessly elegant, couture gown designed by her close friend Zac Posen for GapStudio. Posen and Danes’ friendship and creative collaboration began in high school.
Posen began working on Danes' Golden Globe gown in November. As both creative director for Gap and GapStudio designer, Posen told The Associated Press that elevating the American essential into eveningwear is part of his creative process for the brand.
For Danes' look, Posen transformed the concept of the classic Gap pocket T-shirt into an off-white silk jersey couture gown with subtle bugle beaded detailing and embroidery. The shimmering dress featured a low scoop back and front pocket detail.
“Claire has a great elegance to her and is deeply inherently sophisticated, but yet cool,” Posen said. “Those elements fit perfectly with one of our icons that has built and defined our brands, the pocket tee.
Celebrities are keeping the sheer dressing trend alive with no signs of it slowing down. Lisa of Blackpink wore a black sheer Jacquemus dress, and Jennifer Lopez posed in a see-through dress by Jean-Louis Scherrer.
Jennifer Lawrence walked the carpet in a floral sheer dress by Sarah Burton at Givenchy and accessorized her look with a glamorous floral silk stole.
“Just to go out in a naked dress that leaves very little to the imagination is one thing but what Jennifer Lawrence did was such a romantic approach to it,” Huynh said. “I think that really says a lot to Sarah Burton, the designer of Givenchy. She is a woman designing for women.”
The male nominees didn’t stray too far from traditional looks. Colman Domingo pared down his typical colorful suits for a black suit by Valentino adorned with silver leaf brooches down his lapel. Timothée Chalamet, a winner for “Marty Supreme,” has become one to watch for his fashion choices. Departing from his past colorful looks, Chalamet wore a black velvet vest and jacket from Chrome Hearts with black Timberland boots. Chalamet's partner of three years, Kylie Jenner, did not walk the carpet with the actor, but viewers captured her in a custom silver column look by Ashi Studio. It was hand-embroidered with a fan-shaped crystal bead neckline.
After his viral premiere orange look for “Marty Supreme,” Criales-Unzueta said Chalamet decided on a more traditional movie star style by choosing all black.
“Heated Rivalry” star Hudson Williams brought the cummerbund back but with a laid-back twist. The breakout star paired a white-peak lapel dinner jacket with an unbuttoned silk shirt. Williams, along with his co-star Connor Storrie, were presenters during the ceremony. Storrie wore a black tuxedo jacket by Saint Laurent, with black tie and shades.
“It’s really just sexy takes on classic menswear with just those little bit of edge to things,” Huynh said.
Jenna Rosenstein, beauty director for Harper’s Bazaar, noted Storrie's hair transformation. He plastered his trademark curly locks into a shaggy, retro-inspired mullet. Among the women, beauty highlights included the swoopy bobs of Edebiri and Gomez, she said.
“If there’s one thing you should invest in after this carpet, it’s a really good round brush, a can of hairspray and a statement lipstick,” Rosenstein said.
AP writer Leanne Italie contributed to this report.
For more coverage of the 2026 Golden Globe Awards, visit: https://apnews.com/hub/golden-globe-awards
Timothee Chalamet arrives at the 83rd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Miley Cyrus arrives at the 83rd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Ariana Grande arrives at the 83rd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Ariana Grande arrives at the 83rd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Connor Storrie arrives at the 83rd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Colman Domingo arrives at the 83rd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Ayo Edebiri arrives at the 83rd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Jenna Ortega arrives at the 83rd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Jenna Ortega arrives at the 83rd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Teyana Taylor arrives at the 83rd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
Teyana Taylor arrives at the 83rd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Justine Lupe arrives at the 83rd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Brittany Snow arrives at the 83rd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Brittany Snow arrives at the 83rd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Wunmi Mosaku arrives at the 83rd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Lisa arrives at the 83rd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Ariana Grande arrives at the 31st Annual Critics Choice Awards on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, at The Barker Hanger in Santa Monica, Calif. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
