Michael Phelps Moves to The Familie Agency
After more than 20 years with Octagon, the 28-time Olympic medalist now works with a sports marketing firm focused on business ventures beyond sport.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Swimming
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Michael Phelps has left Octagon, the sports agency that represented him for more than 20 years, and signed with The Familie, a sports marketing agency that helps athletes build business ventures outside of sport. The terms of the deal have not been made public, and the change was reported in Sportico's November 2026 business roundup.
Why it matters
For readers who follow how elite athletes manage their careers after competition, the move shows Phelps reorganizing his business team as he continues working with several major companies. It is a business story rather than a health one, but it sits alongside his ongoing role with the Michael Phelps Foundation, which supports water safety and mental health programs.
The report documents a change in representation rather than a clinical or research finding, and it rests on Sportico's business coverage. The terms of the deal remain undisclosed, so the scope of the new arrangement is not yet measurable.
The players
Michael Phelps
Phelps is a 28-time Olympic medalist and retired competitive swimmer who now runs the Michael Phelps Foundation, which supports water safety and mental health programs.
Octagon
Octagon is a sports and entertainment agency that represented Phelps for more than 20 years.
The Familie
The Familie is a sports marketing agency that helps athletes and public figures build business ventures outside their sports.
Steve Astephen
Astephen is the founder of The Familie, the agency Phelps has signed with.
The details
Phelps is changing his business team by moving from Octagon to The Familie, a firm founded by Steve Astephen that represents athletes, entertainers and other public figures. Earlier in his career, his mother taught him to manage money by letting him spend part of the earnings from breaking world records, an approach he discussed in a July 2026 interview. The Familie's stated model centers on helping athletes build ventures beyond their sport, which is the kind of work Phelps may now pursue.
Timeline
2016: Phelps retired from competitive swimming.
July 2026: Phelps discussed his financial management approach in an interview.
November 2026: Sportico reported the agency change in its business roundup.
Health Landscape
Retired elite athletes frequently restructure their business representation years after competition, as their earning model shifts from prize and sponsorship income toward long-term ventures. Phelps's move follows that common arc, with his foundation's water safety and mental health work continuing alongside it.
For readers who are active in the water or who manage their own mental wellbeing, Phelps's continued work on water safety and mental health is a reminder that both topics are worth staying informed about. This agency change itself carries no direct health implications for the general public.
The takeaway
Phelps's shift from Octagon to The Familie is a business decision that leaves his health-focused foundation work intact. Readers interested in water safety can follow the Michael Phelps Foundation's programs for practical guidance on staying safe in and around water.
Further reading
For more on Phelps's competitive career and the sport that shaped it, browse our Swimming coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Sports Illustrated.
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