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You will probably never be a professional athlete or own your own sports team, but you might soon be able to own a piece of player by buying shares in their "brand." A new company is attempting to set up a sort of stock market for big league athletes, where investors provide upfront payments in exchange for a percentage of that athlete's future earnings.

The first big name to participate will Arian Foster, of the NFL's Houston Texans. The company behind the offering, Fantex, says they are preparing to sell $10.5 million worth of stock in Foster, of which he pockets a cool $10 million. (The rest goes to Fantex to cover their end of the deal.) Those who buy the stock will collectively share in 20 percent of Foster's future earnings, including contracts and endorsements. They can also buy and sell the stock on a special exchange that Fantex will also operate.

This is not the first venture of its kind that attempts to turn an entertainer into a corporation. In the 1990s, David Bowie set up a similar market to allow folks to invest in the future royalties of his albums. But not only was Bowie offering up a more tangible asset (his music) the value of a rock star with a deep catalog and an established track record is a little easier to guess at. An athlete's career — particularly a football player — can end at almost any moment.